PHOTOS: New Section Of Hudson River Walkway Opens In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — By law, developers along the Hudson River, from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge, must add a section of connected public pedestrian walkway.

After much work and cleanup, Hoboken has now opened a section near the north waterfront that's renovated and free of debris.

"Our new, expanded walkway along the uptown waterfront at the former Monarch site is now open!" Mayor Ravi Bhalla said Thursday. "After a long battle where we prevented two large residential towers on the property, this section is now accessible to the public. This project, along with a soon to be park at Union Dry Dock, Sinatra Drive redesign and more all represent major waterfront upgrades we are continuing to prioritize."

2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said, "It’s hard not to be emotional when I see the new Monarch Walkway. The first completed public space built on property that was fought for by so many in Hoboken for the past 12 years."

She noted, "And for me personally, the Monarch battle was my 'get off the couch' moment that led me down this path to advocacy and public service. It is an incredible moment.”

The city announced in February that it would start construction on that portion of the walkway, near a pier that was once slated for two residential towers.

The city pledged to "install a paver walkway along the west side of the site along Shipyard Lane between Frank Sinatra Drive and 15th Street to connect the existing waterfront walkway on those streets." Read more here.