Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today announced that the City has been awarded a $6.24 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the expansion of the Southwest Resiliency Park. FEMA awarded funding to various projects through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, that provide greater resiliency to local communities. The expanded Southwest Resiliency Park will include above ground green infrastructure and an underground detention system to withhold up to 328,000 gallons of stormwater caused by heavy precipitation.
“The Southwest Resiliency Park has long been a cornerstone of Hoboken's commitment to creating a more sustainable and resilient community,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “With this generous grant from FEMA, the City will be able to further its efforts to mitigate flooding, while also increasing the overall quality of life for residents. I’m extremely proud that this will become Hoboken’s next resiliency park, further underscoring our efforts to combat the effects of climate change. I offer my sincere thanks to U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, as well as Congressman Rob Menendez Jr. and former Congressman Albio Sires, for their strong support for this project and the park's expansion.”
“As an advocate for the flood resiliency efforts of the City of Hoboken and its residents, I am thrilled to announce the $6.24 million FEMA grant that will allow the region to continue to mitigate flooding while providing recreational amenities through the Southwest Park Expansion project,” said Senator Menendez. “As one of the most densely populated cities in the country, and one that regularly faces the challenges of high and frequent flooding, projects like these are critical to reduce the property damage and financial burden residents and their families shoulder following flooding disasters."
“I’m proud that this $6.24 million federal grant will allow Hoboken to expand Southwest Resiliency Park, enhancing the city’s flood-mitigation infrastructure and helping to protect Hoboken residents from severe weather,” said Senator Booker. “We must ensure the safety and resilience of our communities in the face of natural disasters and create a more sustainable future.”
The project is a component of the Rebuild by Design (“RBD”) – Hudson River Project and the City’s comprehensive water management strategy to delay, store, and discharge stormwater that, during intense rain events, often times overwhelm the combined sewer system and flood low-lying areas of the surrounding neighborhood.
The detention system of the 1-acre expansion of the park, located at 58 Harrison St., will more than double the existing 200,000-gallon capacity of the current Southwest Resiliency Park to further mitigate area flooding.
The expansion will significantly increase the park's size, providing more green space for residents to enjoy. The park’s new open-air amenities, selected through an open public planning process, will include a playground, splash pad, six pickleball courts, a basketball court, picnic area, and native plantings.
The project aligns with the City of Hoboken's commitment to environmental sustainability and resiliency as the green infrastructure elements will help improve air quality, reduce heat island effects, promote biodiversity in the area, and mitigate flooding by converting the former impervious surface parking lot into a public park with stormwater detention.
The City is scheduled to break ground on the expansion by the end of 2023.
For more information about the Southwest Resiliency Park expansion project, visit www.hobokennj.gov/swparkphase2.
