On Thursday, March 5, officials from the Hudson County Planning Department led a discussion about the possibilities for ferry service to and from the west side of Bayonne.  Meeting virtually, more than fifty people took part in the event.  The discussion included Hudson County officials, City of Bayonne representatives, real estate developers, Bayonne commuters, and others.  (Note:  Possible ferry service on Newark Bay – on Bayonneâ€s west side – is not to be confused with ferry service to New York that has already been planned between the former Military Ocean Terminal – on Bayonneâ€s east side.)

          Kevin Force, Principal Planner from the Hudson County Department of Planning, cited several reasons for the countyâ€s interest in ferries. Hudson Countyâ€s dense population, waterfront access, congested roadways, and crowded transit systems all point to the need to expand local transportation options.  Force polled meeting participants about the factors involved in taking a ferry.  The most important factor for participants was having a ferry that would travel to where they want to go.  The second most important factor for participants was the availability of ferries and their schedules.

          Among the areas Hudson County officials are studying for possible ferry service are Bayonneâ€s west side (Newark Bay) waterfront; the Bayfront area on the west side of Jersey City; South Harrison; South Kearny; West New York; and Hoboken.

The post Newark Bay Ferry Service for Bayonne Discussed at Virtual Meeting first appeared on River View Observer.

 Bayonne Mayor Mark A. Smith  announced that the Bayonne Nature Club has volunteered to lead a shoreline clean-up at Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski Park on Saturday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. Rutkowski Park is located in the northwest corner of Bayonne, on Newark Bay, just above the northern end of Stephen R. Gregg-Bayonne County Park. Mayor Smith said, “I would like to thank the Bayonne Nature Club volunteers for spearheading this shoreline clean-up. Their efforts will help to maintain the park in its natural condition. The Bayonne Public Works Department will provide logistical support for the work of the volunteers. The Nature Club and the City of Bayonne encourage any interested organizations and individuals to join the shoreline clean-up on Saturday.”

 The Passaic Valley Sewage Commission will assist the clean-up by removing some large objects from the park.

 According to its website, the Bayonne Nature Club “appreciates, protects, and improves urban nature sites.” In addition to clean-up projects, the Bayonne Nature Clubâ€s activities include birdwalks, wildflower walks, and kayaking.

 Rutkowski Park was designed to showcase the natural environment of the Newark Bay waterfront. The property consists of thirty-two upland acres and ten acres of wetlands. Thanks to the wetlands and an open water habitat, a large variety of birds and wildlife is available there for viewing and studying.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) own the park property. The state acquired the land many years ago for the now-defunct West Side Highway project. The completion of Route 169 (now a part of Route 440) on the east side of Bayonne made the land on the Newark Bay waterfront available for a park rather than a highway.

Under an agreement with the NJDEP and the NJDOT, the City of Bayonne has long-term management rights to the park site.

 There are two entrances to Rutkowski Park. Visitors to Stephen R. Gregg-Bayonne County Park have access to Rutkowski Park via the footbridge located at 48th Street and Newark Bay. Parking is available at the northern end of the county park around 48th Street. Motorists may also approach Rutkowski Park by driving southbound from Jersey City on Route 440. The vehicular entrance to the Rutkowski North 40 Park is located south of the Kennedy Boulevard entrance on Route 440.

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Shoreline Clean-Up at Rutkowski Park Set for Saturday, March 23

 

          

The post Shoreline Clean-Up at Rutkowski Park Bayonne Set for Saturday, March 23 first appeared on River View Observer.