FITZPATRICK PARK

An Old Park Sees New Life Post-facelift

Story and Photos by Daniel Israel

Those who live near Avenue C in Bayonne, specifi cally the area around 27th and 28th Streets, now have a new gem of an amenity at their fi ngertips.

The city has reopened Fitzpatrick Park across from City Hall following a major facelift. And residents have had nothing but compliments for the new upgrades.

The park was renovated by contractor Picerno-Giordano Construction, a regular contractor for park construction in Bayonne. The upgrades include a roller hockey rink, a fi refi ghter-themed playground area, a police-themed playground, a water spray area, landscaping, and benches. A clock and bell tower are in the works.

Additionally, there were storm water management upgrades in the form of a new storm water collection cistern and a new storm water piping system, separate from the existing sanitary piping from 26th Street to 28th Street. New drainage structures were installed at each of the Avenue C intersections with 26th, 27th, and 28th Streets.

The overhaul of the park was much needed, as it hadn’t seen any work done on it in many years. Firzpatrick Park was fi rst constructed in the 1970s on the site of the former Police and Fire Headquarters, thus the appropriately themed playgrounds. It is named for former Mayor Francis Fitzpatrick, who served 12 years in offi ce from 1962 to 1974.

Officials proud of double investment

Offi cials from the city, state, and county were present at the reopening ceremony back in December of 2021. Mayor James Davis is proud to tout the duality of the park renovations as not just bringing Fitzpatrick Park back to life with new amenities, but also tacking storm water management.

“This is a collaboration between the state, county and the city, to not only help open space, but to also help with the problem of fl ooding that every city in New Jersey deals with,” Mayor Davis said.

Mayor Davis said that there would be additional anti-fl ooding initiatives elsewhere in Bayonne. He thanked Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and the Hudson County Open Space Fund for their support.

“This is the fi rst project that we were working on that is completed now,” he said. “We are going to go to all the areas that historically fl ood in the city of Bayonne and start engineering it so that we can start changing the fl ood areas.” Mayor Francis Fitzpatrick holds his granddaughter Allison at the first dedication of the park. Photo courtesy of the Fitzpatrick family

Mayor Francis Fitzpatrick holds his granddaughter Alison at the first dedication of the park.

Courtesy of the Fitzpatrick Family

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said that the park renovations were more than just a physical upgrade to the park amenities.

“We’re not just investing in our environment, a garden, a swing set, or a hockey rink,” LaTourette said. “We’re investing in our communities and in our people.”

LaTourette said investments in parks like this can spur other investments in the city.

“They can spark and even drive economic growth, but most importantly, they give space: physical space, emotional space, a place to connect with nature and with one another,” LaTourette said.

Francesca Giarratana, Chief of Hudson County’s Division of Planning, highlighted that the project was in part funded by the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund. The approximately $3 million in improvements were funded partially by about $661,713 from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund and approximately $1,478,547 in funding from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank or I-Bank, which is a program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“The County Executive was proud to recommend this project to receive funding for the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund, a half a million to start and some reprogrammed funds after to bring it to a total of about $660,000 in county funds,” Giarratana said.

Many members of the Fitzpatrick family came to the event including Liz Fitzpatrick, Krissy Fitzpatrick Ryan, Katy Fitzpatrick, Mary Liz Fitzpatrick Myers, and Allison Fitzpatrick Weir.

Fitzpatrick Weir, the granddaughter of Mayor Fitzpatrick, cut the ribbon at the rededication ceremony. Fitzpatrick Weir, who was also present at the original dedication of the park in 1974, said that seeing it renovated made her proud of her grandfather.

“He was such a great man and I am so proud of him,” she said. “He would be so proud of this because he loved Bayonne more than anyone. He would to have such a beautiful park across from City Hall, where all the kids can come and play and have a good time.”

Upgraded park gets rave reviews

That was in December. Since then, it has been relatively cold until recently. However, the park has seen use by children and students alike.

Teacher Samantha Maggio from Phillip G. Vroom School brings her preschoolers to the park frequently. She said the diff erence between the renovated park and the former state of the park was tremendous.

“It’s a great addition. The playground is so much better than it was. Overall, it’s much nicer than the park that was here. Our kids love it. We come here every day when it’s nice out.”

And this is not just a new thing as spring beckons. Maggio said she brings her students here throughout the year. That is, as long as the weather permits.

“We come in the fall and even in the winter as long as its warm enough,” Maggio said.

While not everyone was eager to talk, the adults with children at the park who did speak with BLP had nothing but praise for the park.

Kathy Perkins-Czander watches her two grandchildren multiple times a week, often bringing them to the facelifted park.

“I’m glad they cleaned it up,” Perkins-Czander said. “It looks great.”

As spring erupts, Perkins-Czander added that it was nice to have the park available for the kids.

“It’s nice to have the amenities,” Perkins-Czander said. “And it’s very close to home.”

Perkins-Czander applauded this and other park upgrades ongoing throughout the city.

“You’ve got to keep current with that kind of thing for the kids,” PerkinsCzander said. “We need a lot of open space.”

In addition to Fitzpatrick Park, Morris Park recently held a “soft reopening” following a major overhaul for the fi rst time in many years. And Collins Park is under construction also receiving a facelift as well.

As the city takes care of its existing parks, it also looks to the creation of new parks such as those slated to be constructed as part of the redevelopment of the former Texaco and former A&P sites. Needless to say, Bayonne is embracing its greener side as more open space is added and upgraded. Once known for its vast industry, the Peninsula City may soon be known for its top-tier parks. — BLP

Officials cut the ribbon reopening the park in 2021