Index River Barge Park Proposal Slide1  Next

Courtesy Katy Weidel, N.J. Meadowlands Commission
At a public meeting on October 24, 2007 Katy Weidel, FASLA, Supervisor of Park Planning for the NJ Meadowlands Commission presented the Commissioners with details of a site development plan for River Barge Park on the Hackensack River near the Meadowlands Sports Complex.  John Ponticorvo, Sandy Sobanski, Lori Baumann and Jim Mc Loone, representing the paddling community had an opportunity to meet with the architect after the Commission meeting.  Lori's take from the meeting is reproduced below from an email to HRCKC.
 

An email to HRCKC members from Lori Bauman:

Thanks for sending out this info to us.  I saw your email this morning and went to find out what they are doing.  I must say:  It looks   g r e a t !! 

 

This RIVER BARGE PARK  is located  in Carlstadt off Paterson Plank Road and Outwater Lane.  There was an old marina and restaurant there and the Commission acquired the land.  They already demolished three barges that were moored there and Katy Weidel, Supervisor of Park Planning and Landscape Architect is working on the design of the Park. 

 

I have preliminary designs and will bring them to the meeting on Tuesday.  Jim Mc Loone was there and might have a chip with the same information to project onto a screen.  The completion date is somewhere in 2009.  There are still more permits to be requested and dredging of the Hackensack River has to be done.

 

The Park will hold a building as Paddle Center (for their own canoes etc) and a building as Rowing Center (for scullies from high schools or colleges)  There will also be a storage building and an education pavilion  for the Commission's use but as of now - no storage facilities for private boats.  Everything will be "green" - that is with solar power etc.

 

There will be a marina for pontoon boats and other motor boats (I think up to 25') and there will be a boat launch facility.  There will also be washdown facilities and 24-7 restrooms for all seasons. 

 

Katy invited us (three Canoe Club members from Wanda, Hoboken and us ) and John Ponticorvo to her office and was grateful for any input we could come up with.  Especially our suggestion to enlarge the boat launch from 40 feet width for motor and motorless,  to 40 feet for motor and a separate larger launching area for motorless boats close to a parking area for unloading was accepted favorably. 

 

I would suggest that we invite Katy to speak at one of our meetings.  She is very vivacious and interesting and she would accept the invitation.  She is looking for input from the clubs.

 

This will be a great place for all paddlers, rowers and any other water rats.

 

Lori Baumann