Amend Renovation Plans for Hamilton Park
Amend plans for park
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Letters to the Editor
The Jersey Journal
We are proposing that the City of Jersey City amend the current renovation plan for Hamilton Park. The problem with the plan is that we're told it's what the community wanted based on a survey conducted by a local community group. The survey results show very strong support for adding more landscaping, yet the plans displayed during two public meetings reveal garden areas that are significantly less than what currently exists.
Additional landscaping should be created inside each of the four corner park entrances as well as the two main entrances. We recommend these corner gardens be 60 feet in length (3,600 square feet). The two main entrances should have 5-foot gardens on both sides of the pathway and extend up to the center of the park. All gardens should have a variety of plants to include shrubs, small ornamental trees, rose bushes, perennials, bulbs and seasonal annuals.
Well-designed Victorian gardens will beautify, soften and humanize this special historic park. They should have computerized watering systems and be protected by fencing.
The Friends of Hamilton Park are committed in assisting the city in funding, creating and maintaining all gardens in Hamilton Park and will continue to include residents to assist us in our planting, maintenance projects.
We have chosen to use the results of this same study which serves a purpose of documenting the wishes of the majority of voters that participated. On the first balloting that was conducted, a question asked voters to list their four top concerns or wishes that they would like addressed in the renovation. Residents asked for a sizable dog run, updated toddler playground, more landscaping and gardens and a designated pet-free area.
The study reveals that residents did not place a high value on basketball or tennis courts. Residents want active sports for our older children, but do not want them to take up valuable lawn space in this neighborhood's only community park. Therefore, we're recommending these structures be re-located to a convenient location nearby and outside the park so that residents may continue to use them.
The focus of this renovation should be based on the top results of the study.
JANET ALLEN PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF HAMILTON PARK JERSEY CITY
Halloween 2006
Another fun event!Because of the bad weather on Saturday, the event was moved to Sunday -- but it meant no spooky decorating that we had planned for the gazebo since our decorating crew was out of town and we followed another park event. But that's okay.... the dogs came out to play anyway! And the judges tell me it was a tough one to call because the dogs were dressed up so good and were all well behaved.
The top winning biscuits that took home the three prizes were: Poodle Princess, Hannibal Lecter, and Woof disguised as a Sheep.
We would like to thank you to Fetch-it by the Park and Fetch-it Pet Supplies for the 3 gift certificates and doggie grab bags. Thanks to Julie for all of her wonderful homemade baking which made the treats very special (no store bought cakes today!). And to those that passed out fliers, shopped, prepared, stuffed bags, poured drinks, handled registration, took photographs, and the 3 judges and cleanup crew. Lot's of team work.. and a great job.
Thank you to all the particpating dog owners that shopped and created your pet's costumes and joined our contest because without you we wouldn't have a contest! And to all that came out to watch, laugh, and enjoy this festive occasion. We hope to see you again next year and enourage others to join us in 2007.
Click on the link below to view the photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/friendsofhp/PetCostumeParade
RESCHEDULED: Halloween Pet Parade is moved to Sunday Oct. 29th at 4 pm
Because of the Bad weather today, the Halloween Pet Contest in the Hamilton Park is being moved to Sunday October 29th at 4:00 pm.
The pre-decision was based on the weather forcast because we cannot hold the event indoors. We really do apologize for any inconvenience this will cause and we ask that you tell your friends so the word gets around. We'll post notices in the park.
If you can still come on Sunday... all you need to do is come on out. There is no registration. Just come with your pet in costume. Each participating pet owner will receive a grab bag and be able to win one of three gift certificates from Fetch-it by the Park and Fetch-it Pet Supplies. The contest takes place in the Hamilton Park between 8th and 9th street.
Please gather inside the West Hamilton Place entrance to the park at 4:00 PM SHARP. And don't let a little wind keep you from coming out because it's suppose to die down by tomorrow.
Any questions, contact us:Friends of Hamilton Park: 201-388-4506
Halloween Pet Parade, Sat. Oct. 28
Don't miss Hamilton Park's 2nd annual "Pet Costume Parade and Contest"Saturday October 28th 4:00 PM - sharp! Agenda:
The parade starting point will be on the corner Ninth & Cole Street (at Simple Cafe, 174 Cole St). Get there early and walk with your pet down Ninth Street just 1 block to the park. The contest will take place in the center of the park at the gazebo and will include prizes for best
Pet costumes. Judges will be on hand to award gift certificates to Fetch-it Pet Supply.
If you do not wish to participate in the parade but would still like to enter your pet into the contest, you may meet us directly at the gazebo at 4 pm and enjoy some refreshments, snacks and cupcakes while we await the parade participants to join in. Pet's must be on a leash at all times!
Earlier in the day... a BRUNCH with your Pet will take place at Simple Cafe at 174 Cole St., from 12:00 pm noon until 3:30 pm. If you'd like to join the brunch too... please register soon to guarantee seating and a grab bag. The registration deadline to receive a pet grab bag and brunch is noontime on Oct. 25th. Register online at:
http://www.fetchitpetsupplies.com/Or call: 201-659-2880 or 201-610-9405
Sponsored by: Fetch-it Pet Supplies & Fetch-it by the Park, Friends of Hamilton Park & Simple Cafe
Saturday's garden planting was a success!
Once again, Vinnie from the 14th Street Garden Center hooked us up with some fine looking things... fragrant mums, colorful sedum, montauk daisy, black-eyed susan, echinacea, pink knockout roses, honeysuckle, catmint, quicksilver foamy bells, blue fescue, ruby switch grass, redbeckia, climbing rose, coreopsis, blue fortune agastache, pink gaura, and dutchmen's pipe. As a bonus.... Vinnie threw in some freebies... dwarf korean lilac, purple smokebush, oakleaf hydrangea, japanese dogwood, and a variety of junipers, cypress and arborvitae. The truck was full.... to say the least, but we gladly accepted the generous gift and the larger specimens really made a big difference.
Because of the watering situation, we decided to beef up the south-west garden and have one really nice looking garden, rather than two so-so gardens... and so the south garden was chosen. And it's really quite lovely.
But these things didn't just plant themselves. We started at 9 am and got the hose hooked up, then raked/cleaned up while we awaited the plant delivery mobile. After unloading we arranged the plants by laying them out, taking sun and shade factors into consideration. One of the guys who has a background in this kind of stuff was really great at placing these... and so we decided that the one with the most experience shall lead the way. With plants in the desired locations... we began digging and planting. The earth was a little challenging... we used picks to get down into the hard stuff to loosen it to make proper homes for the plants to live in. Then everything was watered thoroughly. Lastly, the cute little pumpkins were placed about, to add some color and keep the squirrels busy.
The butterfly bushes are doing their job and attracting loads of butterflies. If you have not seen them.. stop by in the next day or two. We found a lot of worms too... something we had not seen last July when we started.. so the soil has improved. And it's organic since we do not treat the plants with chemicals.
Thanks to all the hard working folks that ventured out on Saturday to help improve our park and make a positive difference in such a short period of time.
Residents Enjoy New Benches
Last week, a total of six new benches were installed inside the Hamilton Park, and residents began using them immediately.
There has been a lack of seating in the park and for many years people have been sitting on the concrete bunkers and on steps leading up to the bandstand. The new benches are located in the central, social gathering area and provide seating for special events and relaxation.
The classy (Worlds Fair) benches can be seen throughout NY's Central Park, were selected by downtown residents a year ago, are heavy duty, stylish and were donated by
Newport Associates.
Residents appreciate the generous donation to our community park.
