Mayor Zimmer: Opening of 1600 Park Delayed

The soccer field at 1600 Park, will not be opened until some time next year, Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in an interview in her office on Wednesday.

Zimmer said she is postponing the opening of the uptown park because of "public safety concerns." The crossing from Park Avenue to the park, Zimmer said, is too dangerous without a traffic signal there.

The park will open "some time next year," the mayor said.

The installation is the county's responsibility, because it's on a county road, Zimmer said.

Director of Transportation and Parking Ian Sacs said that it's not clear yet when the light will be installed, but that the city and the county are working together.

"The county has expressed the willingness to install (the signal)," Sacs said. "We had a very detailed meeting with the county earlier this week."

An agreement on how to expedite the installment of the signal between the city and the county will have to be struck and voted on by the city council.

Zimmer said she's afraid a child might cross the street and get hurt by a car.

"I don't want to put the children of Hoboken at risk," she said. "I have to make sure the community is safe."

Zimmer added that analysis has showed that the vast majority of cars up there drive more than 40 miles per hour.

The field will also look a little different. The retaining walls around the soccer field that will be installed up there will also be lower, now that the opening of the park has been delayed. During a July council meeting, some worries were expressed about the high retaining walls, elevating the soccer field.

During a council meeting in July, the council majority approved a resolution to award a contract of a construction firm to complete the park by September. That resolution was presented to the council by Zimmer.

Technically, the mayor explained, opening the park this fall is feasable, but she decided to wait until the traffic light (and crosswalk) are installed. 

Director of Health and Human Services Leo Pellegrini said the leagues will be able to play ball come September, on different fields. The city has entered an agreemenet with Weehawken to utilize a field there. Mama Johnson Field in the Hoboken Housing Authority, the High School's athletic field and the little league field will also be used instead.