hoboken

The City of Hoboken unveiled preliminary concept designs for Tom Olivieri Park improvements, including new inclusive playground equipment, an upgraded spray area, a public bathroom, and other amenities. The City also launched an online public survey to gather community feedback, which will be used for the creation of the final concept design of the park.  

The online survey can be found at https://arcg.is/qLLD11. It is scheduled to close on Monday, June 23, at 5 p.m.  

“Tom Olivieri Park is an important public space that honors a Hoboken hero and provides vital recreational space for families and children,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “This renovation reflects our commitment to inclusive, accessible, and culturally significant green spaces. I encourage every resident to participate in the survey and help us create a park that truly serves our diverse community.”

The concept design includes an inclusive playground with two connected play structures and accessible, safe surfacing that allows children of all ages and abilities to play together, as well as a redesigned water spray area with modern geometric spray features to enhance the water play experience.  

The proposed project’s color schemes and artistic elements, selected by the project consultant, Arterial, are inspired by Puerto Rican heritage, paying tribute to the park’s namesake, tenants’ rights advocate Teofilo “Tom” Olivieri.

The proposed preliminary design also prioritizes the preservation of the existing mature tree canopy to provide shade and a natural ambiance throughout the park, with new furnishings to offer comfortable seating that accommodates parents and caregivers.

The proposed redesign was developed with input from nearly 400 residents who participated in an earlier community survey conducted in January 2025. That feedback was incorporated into the preliminary concept design, which was presented at a public meeting on June 5.  

The City received $750,000 from the NJDEP and is recommended to receive an additional $750,000 from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund to support the Tom Olivieri Park Improvement Project at 1225 Willow Ave.

“Parks are vital to high quality of life in Hudson County, so I was proud to recommend almost $12 million through our Open Space Trust Fund to upgrade play areas throughout our 12 municipalities like Hoboken's Tom Olivieri Park,” said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. “Investing in green spaces is a high priority for my administration, and I will continue working with all our municipalities to provide the funding they need to improve, repair, and create open spaces in their communities.”

Tom Olivieri Park is a 5,000-square-foot pocket park located in northwest Hoboken. To learn more about the park, the Tom Olivieri Park Improvement Project, and review preliminary concept designs, go to hobokennj.gov/tomolivieripark.

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