A partnership has been established to create the first-ever public park in Jersey City’s Journal Square.
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and Jersey City Major Steven M. Fulop on Wednesday announced the partnership, which will create a 3-acre outdoor complex as part of the Honorable Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex.
“Our partnership will create a beautiful new public park for residents to enjoy as the new courthouse complex serves as a catalyst for the revitalization of Journal Square,” DeGise said. “This long-overdue project will not only serve as an anchor for the neighborhood, but will also deliver much-needed traffic and circulation improvements.”
Jersey City said it will pay for the demotion and removal of the existing but antiquated Hudson County Administration Building located at 595 Newark Ave. while the historic William J. Brennan Courthouse will remain and be partially renovated. Once the HCAB building is gone, Hudson County will turn over the land that the building sat on to Jersey City for open space use.
“This agreement will bring the first park to the Journal Square area, where many kids and adults alike who live or work in the area will now have an open public space to enjoy,” Fulop said. “This is the latest example not only of our continued efforts to transform areas in need of improvement for the betterment of our residents, but it also highlights the importance of partnerships between city and county government. I also want to thank our local neighborhood organizations for working with us to find a plan that best meets the community’s needs.”
“Thank you to the county for working with us to create some much needed green space in Ward C,” Councilman Richard Boggiano said. “With development happening everywhere in my ward, I’m really excited to have something like this for the thousands of people and families who live near Journal Square.”
