I hope they buy the 41 acres next to Lincoln Park. It makes no sense having building an industrial area right next to a park, and we all know that the jobs generated by such a project will be given to out-of-towners, regardless of what polticos promise. Once the land is built then it is gone forever. The City needs as much open green space as possible, and there is a need for more athletic facilities.
How about a stadium so we can have a pro-sports team at least?

Jersey City won't be touching the money since it is for county parks, some located in Jersey City. The money will not go toward HP or VVP.

Quote:

Does anyone know the break down of how Jersey City will use this money? I assume Hamilton and Van Vorst will get some but there are a lot of parks in JC and how is our share to be spent?

OPEN SPACES ARE HOT COMMODITY
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
By JENNIFER MARKOWITZ
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Hudson County just got greener.

At their meeting held earlier this month, the Board of Freeholders allocated $9.3 million for 15 open space, park improvement, and historic preservation projects.

The largest pool of this Open Space Trust Fund money - $4 million - is earmarked to help acquire a chunk of the old PJP landfill on the west side of the city. County officials would like to see Lincoln Park extended to a 41-acre plot owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

But there's another contender for this land. With the firm backing of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, the California-based AMB Corp. wants to build a mega-warehouse on the property.

By the county's own estimate, the land is worth at least $15.4 million. If the warehouse plans falls through, county officials hope to acquire the additional dollars through the state's Greens Acres program.

Several other projects received funding, including a pool complex under construction in North Bergen that snagged $750,000.

"The township is thrilled that the county considered our project and has decided to fund it," said Township Administrator Chris Pianese. "This amount of money helps tremendously."

Local residents who attended the two-hour meeting Aug. 10 urged the freeholders to keep the funding of open space a top priority.

"Hudson County needs as many recreational facilities for children as we can get our hands on," said Daniel Sicardi of Jersey City. "Jersey City children have nowhere to go."

To help create more open areas, Freeholder Bill O'Dea suggested a public meeting be held with officials of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"We must be engaged in a dialogue to solve an issue," O'Dea said. "Leadership cannot wait and see, it must be proactive."