Photo by Neidy Gutierrez / SOC Images.
The town of North Bergen is proposing to remain in its county park space for township purposes because relocating their existing Pre-K program and EMS services would be “an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars in demolition and relocation costs.”
Last month North Bergen held a public hearing where over 30 people spoke during the public comment portion including town officials, employees, residents and organization representatives expressing mixed opinions on the Green Acres Diversion application. The comments start on page 29 of the public hearing transcript.
Before public comments opened up, a presentation was shown both in English and Spanish giving information on the application submitted by the township of North Bergen and Hudson County to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Green Acres Program, proposing to “divert” 1.339 acres of the James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park—Block 437.02, Lot 1—to allow the North Bergen Board of Education’s Pre-K Program to remain in its current location and 0.138 acres at 1812 43rd Street—Block 103, Lot 127—to allow the North Bergen EMS South Unit to remain at that location.
The Pre-K Program’s land is equivalent to an American football field while the EMS South Unit is comparable to two single-family residential homes.
When the meeting’s moderator, Bernadette McPherson with Millennium Strategies, announced that the public hearing was also on Zoom, a few attendees became rowdy because a Zoom link was not provided by North Bergen prior to the meeting. When questioned about this McPherson stated that a public notice of the meeting was posted on the township page, however, “a Zoom link is not a requirement of the DEP regulations.”
What’s Happening In North Bergen?
In the presentation, it explained that the Braddock Park is owned by Hudson County and the 43rd Street Park is owned by North Bergen. Both properties received Green Acres funding over 20 years ago. The Green Acres program provides funding to local governments and non-profits for:
- land acquisition: acquire open space for recreation and conservation purposes statewide
- park development: to develop outdoor recreational facilities in certain urban or densely populated municipalities
- stewardship projects: steward natural resources on land held for recreation/conservation purposes
- and aims to preserve New Jersey’s natural environment and recreational resources for public use.
In 2011, the County and North Bergen officials were notified that the temporary classroom units (TCUs) located at the Braddock Park violated New Jersey DEP Green Acres regulations, which states local governments are only allowed to use parkland funding by the Green Acres Program for recreation and conservation purposes.
At the recent hearing, North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Commissioners spoke in support of building a permanent Preschool in Braddock Park. Earlier this year, Sacco announced that starting in September the school district will offer free full-day Pre-K classes as part of its School Realignment Plan, which also includes:
- The proposed opening of the new North Bergen Junior High School
- Removal of the current TCUs in Braddock Park
- Their ongoing diversion process with the NJDEP in order to attempt to build a permanent modular classroom building on the site
“I’m in full support of this project. I have been from the get-go,” stated Commissioner Allen Pascual.
“It’s about time we start serving the children that have been underserved in this county. They deserve Pre-K. They deserve a facility that is first rate, unlike some of the bordering communities that get tons of Abbott money. We don’t get that. So for those of you that have been up to that site, I think you’ll agree that it’s a safe, secure location and it’s a great location for a Pre-K building.”
How Do Residents Feel?
Attendees were initially given a two-minute limit to speak at the public hearing.
Some residents expressed full support towards North Bergen’s plans, like Susan Saab — who is also a North Bergen teacher—stated that going against North Bergen’s plans is in direct opposition to the plan that serves the “most vulnerable members” of the community: children.
“This idea that there’s something illegal and nefarious going on, not every law that is in position, if it doesn’t serve the community we may need to adjust the law. The idea that we can’t play on monkey bars because kids are using the Pre-K, come on guys. Let’s just think about this. The children are what matter. They might not be your children, but they’re someone’s children.”
– Susan Saab
Other community members supported the town’s plans for free full-time preschool, but opposed the diversion of Braddock for non-recreational use.
“I wholly support North Bergen’s plans to provide full-time preschool, but not in my park. I’m sure it’s a pretty place for a school. I’m sure people love to work there,” said Maureen Foyle. “But it’s a county park and it’s for the community to enjoy, not just for the teachers and not just select kids.”
“I love my county park. Our Braddock Park is a precious green space in this heavily populated area. It is loved and used properly to the max by our community day in and day out. We need to keep this county park and its actual Green Acres footprint intact. Just because they’ve been there illegally occupying the land for 24 years doesn’t justify them staying there.”
– Maureen Foyle
Rachel Stern is a lifelong Guttenberg resident who grew up going to Braddock Park. During the public hearing, Stern voiced experiencing fond memories at the park as a child which carried into the dedication to study environmental studies and coming back to serve the community.
“I did go to preschool. I didn’t have to go to the preschool to love being in the park. I just had to go there,” Stern stated. “I was the kid who spent all day on the playground. I was the tween who went sliding down the hills. I was the teen who walked around the lake with friends. And now I’m the adult who grow up to protect places like this and demand better in my community. I am living proof of the impact of Braddock Park. And I am not alone.”
How North Bergen Pre-K School Landed At Braddock Park
Before placing the temporary classroom units (TCUs) at Braddock Park, the North Bergen Board of Education aimed to build an Early Childhood Annex on Lincoln School at 64th Street in North Bergen, between Durham Street and Smith Street, however the site was found to be contaminated after questionable sub grade conditions were encountered. As an emergency basis following those findings, TCUs were ordered to be placed at North Bergen’s old municipal pool site on Tonnelle Avenue near 89th Street, but that location also found indications of contamination.
Attempting to meet state mandate by the start of the 2001-2002 school year, North Bergen made a request to the county to temporarily lease space within Braddock Park to place the TCU, which was approved.
North Bergen has reported that they’ve made attempts to find an alternative location for the Pre-K classes, but have had no success over the years. North Bergen’s Board of Education has attempted to use the following locations as an alternative:
- a Board-owned property on 64th Street in North Bergen (Block 205, Lot 30)
- an area near Franklin School and 53rd Street
- an area on 16th Street in the southern end of the town
- Temple Beth El on 75th Street
- a portion of “Hudson News” properties which was located on West Side Avenue
More locations were considered, but these locations were considered not “feasible, reasonable or available for a variety of reasons.”
The Current Situation
During the public comment portion of the July 8 hearing, West New York resident Mark Bloomberg expressed frustration over North Bergen’s various potential options that he said “haven’t been explored” and the combined township properties that they have “failed” to look at.
“If these options haven’t been explored, how can DEP say that the regulations have been met and that the Braddock Park Diversion is a last resort?”
North Bergen has also built a firehouse at 1814 43rd Street–for the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Department–which is another Green Acres-funded site. In 2005, it became the North Bergen EMS South Unit as well as the North Bergen C.A.R.E.S (Community Assistance Relief Events & Support) in 2013, which still stands today.
The town has submitted application for a diversion of that property to attempt to comply with Green Acres’ regulations to allow these organizations to remain in place on the .067 acres arguing that, “in densely populated and highly congested North Bergen, the central location and purpose of this property meets the compelling need of providing for the health, safety, and well-being of North Bergen’s residents.”
Continuing their argument from both the presentation and application, the town also states, “there would be irreparable damage to public safety, significant harm to a highly successful public outreach program, and an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars in demolition and relocation costs,” if forced to relocate.
North Bergen will hold a final public hearing on Aug. 13 at the North Bergen High School open to all New Jersey residents. This time, a Zoom link has been posted for anyone who would like to join virtually.
In a town over, West New York Mayor Albio Sires and Board of Commissioners recently posted on their website urging WNY residents to protect the county parks.
Written public comments will be accepted until 8/27. You can send written public comments to the applicants by sending them to [email protected] and [email protected] and including “Braddock Park Diversion Application” in the subject line of any comments submitted. Comments must be sent to both emails to be considered by the DEP.
If you’d like to express your concerns to Slice of Culture, fill out this Google form. To read the full transcript from the July 8 public hearing, click here.
