Piece Of The Berlin Wall Permanently Installed At Laurel Hill Park

SECAUCUS, NJ — A piece of world history can now be seen right here in Secaucus.

A piece of the Berlin Wall will be on permanent display at Laurel Hill Park. The wall is part of a mural at the park that tells the story of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Russia.

Both were unveiled Tuesday. They are located across from the playground. The Berlin Wall sits at the top of the amphitheater, and the mural is located behind the wall. Considered about security for such a valuable piece of modern history? There is currently a security camera on the wall, and the county is adding another camera. Hudson County is also considering putting an anti-graffiti sealer on the wall.

In 2007, the city of Brandenburg, Germany donated this piece of the Berlin Wall to Hudson County as a symbol of peace between the United States and Germany, which today are key allies. Hudson County Executive Craig Guy unveiled the wall and mural Tuesday. He said Hudson County had been trying to find a suitable place to display the wall piece "for more than a decade" before finally settling on Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus.

Weather conditions and security were the main reasons Laurel Hill Park was finally chosen to house the Berlin Wall and mural.

The Cold War was a period of tension between the U.S. and Russia that lasted a very long time, from 1947 to 1991. President John F. Kennedy is in the mural, as is Soviet president Nikita Khrushchev.

This incredible gift came about because of Hudson County's "sister-county" relationship with Oberhavel County, in Brandenburg, Germany. It was former Hudson County Director of Cultural Affairs Bill LaRosa who was instrumental in getting Karl Heinz Schroter — the equivalent of a county commissioner in Oberhavel County, Germany — to donate this historic piece of the wall.

"Hudson County is proud to unveil a piece of world history right here in Laurel Hill," said Guy. "During the Cold War, the wall was used to block the right of passage from thousands of families, and today it stands as a reminder of the value of unity and freedom for generations to come."

This piece of the wall weighs 26,156 pounds. There are minimal signs of graffiti on this piece because it is believed that this section was not facing the western side of Berlin. There are however, signs of bullet holes and weathering due to extended exposure to the elements.

“Projects like the Berlin Wall Installation serve as a living classroom for children and adults alike to learn and remember the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall — a symbol of triumph for freedom and democracy worldwide," said Gina Hulings, Director of the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development.

Oberhavel and Hudson County have been sister counties since 2000, sharing student, cultural and sports exchanges.