Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, Fourth Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, and City of Hoboken community members today opened the newly expanded Southwest Resiliency Park, an innovative public space that blends recreational amenities with stormwater management infrastructure. The expansion doubles the size of the original park, which opened in 2017, and marks a major milestone in Hoboken’s award-winning efforts to build climate resiliency while enhancing quality of life for residents.
The newly added 1-acre park space features six pickleball courts, a full basketball court, a playground, picnic tables, a splash pad, swings, shade structures, restrooms, and a social plaza. All park amenities were shaped by an extensive open public planning process utilizing community input through public engagement sessions and surveys.
Beyond its recreational value, the park is a key component to the City’s flood mitigation strategy. On rainy days, the newly opened area of the park can capture and detain up to 260,000 gallons of stormwater using permeable pavers, bioswales, rain gardens, and a large underground detention basin to alleviate flooding in one of Hoboken’s most low-lying, flood-prone areas. With the expansion, the combined park space can now detain up to 460,000 gallons of stormwater, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure from increasingly frequent severe weather events caused by climate change.
“In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Hoboken made a commitment to rebuild stronger, smarter, and more resilient,” said Mayor Bhalla. “The expansion of Southwest Resiliency Park is a major step forward in fulfilling that promise, transforming a flood-prone area into a vibrant urban oasis and a national model for how cities can adapt to climate change while enhancing the day-to-day lives of residents through active public space. This park stands as a testament to what we can achieve when all levels of government work together. Thank you to Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Rob Menendez, our partners at Hudson County, and the Hoboken City Council for their critical support.”
“I’ve been advocating for more active recreation in the southwest for years, and I’ve fought to build the kind of parks I didn’t have growing up, so this ribbon cutting is personal to me,” said Fourth Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos. “I remember when this area was just an underutilized parking lot. To see it today transformed into a park with a new playground, basketball court, and pickleball courts that families can enjoy together is a major win for the Fourth Ward and the whole Hoboken community. I want to thank Mayor Bhalla and his administration, my Council colleagues, and our County, State, and Federal partners for helping turn this vision into reality.”
The Southwest Resiliency Park is a key component of the Rebuild by Design - Hudson River Project (RBD-HR) and the City’s comprehensive stormwater management strategy to delay, store, and discharge rainfall. It is one of the earliest projects in the nation to implement the Rebuild by Design framework, leveraging both above and below-ground green infrastructure.
The expansion site, formerly known as Block 10, was acquired by the City in April 2021 through an amicable agreement with Academy Bus, financed entirely through grants and trust funds with no impact to the municipal budget. The expansion project was made possible through a collaborative financing approach that includes funding from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund, the Green Acres Program, and over $6.24 million in federal grant funds.
“After years of consistent advocacy by Hoboken’s leadership and its residents, I’m overjoyed to celebrate the opening of an expanded Southwest Resiliency Park. Not only will this redesign provide much-needed recreation space, it will also play a vital role in helping the city adapt to the realities of climate change and safeguard the community from flooding,” said Senator Cory Booker. “I’m proud to have worked with Mayor Bhalla and the City of Hoboken to secure the necessary federal funding to ensure this project’s success, and I look forward to our continued partnership in support of the residents of Hoboken.”
“I’m proud that federal funding helped make this project possible, investing in new recreational opportunities while strengthening Hoboken’s climate resilience,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “Parks like Southwest Resiliency are an essential component of our communities, bringing neighbors together, improving public health, and protecting our environment. I’ll keep working in Congress to support greener spaces and ensure every family can enjoy them for generations to come.”
“Hudson County is proud to support innovative municipal projects like the Southwest Park expansion project made possible by our Open Space Trust Fund. This project is critical to Hoboken residents, families and visitors, expanding recreational opportunities and actively mitigating flood risk in surrounding neighborhoods,” said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. “This expansion - including new pickleball courts, a playground, a basketball court, and more - reflects the needs of the community and as County Executive I'm thrilled to see this project fulfilled, providing residents enjoyment for decades to come.”
“The Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund is critical to all County residents, especially in Hoboken,” said Hudson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Anthony L. Romano (District 5). “The Board of County Commissioners, working with County Executive Guy, considered the Southwest Park expansion a high priority, ensuring that this project was completed in a timely manner. Along with the many other ongoing projects in the area, Southwest Park will create a hub for everyone to enjoy - from different recreation activities for children to public amenities for all.”
The expansion’s landscape architecture and infrastructure were developed by Starr Whitehouse, whose design emphasizes active recreation and was based on community input with native plantings, shaded areas, and educational green infrastructure elements, turning the park into a teachable landscape of urban sustainability.
Over the past several years, Southwest Hoboken has experienced a number of community investments. The Southwest Resiliency Park has become a vibrant community hub drawing families and neighbors together with a variety of events including the popular farmers market every Thursday throughout the summer and early fall, Summer Fun Fitness in the Park classes, and concerts and holiday celebrations throughout the year. The area has also welcomed innovative new businesses in Mission 50, a dynamic co-working space that supports local entrepreneurs and remote professionals. Additionally, the neighborhood is seeing meaningful progress in housing and community infrastructure, with a new development at 38 Jackson St. that includes affordable homeownership opportunities, and spaces for a school and a much-needed grocery store.
For more information about the Southwest Resiliency Park and the City’s resiliency initiatives, visit https://southwest-resiliency-park-cityofhoboken.hub.arcgis.com/ and www.hobokennj.gov/resources/sustainability.
