Construction has officially begun on the first phase of Church Square Park’s improvement project in Hoboken, New Jersey. The park, which was originally built in 1875, is bordered by Garden Street, Fourth Street, Willow Avenue, and Fifth Street. It is one of the city’s oldest and most-used public spaces.
The City of Hoboken and Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla confirmed this week that workers have started site preparation. This includes installing temporary fencing and beginning sewer work near Fourth Street and Willow Avenue.
The city expects Phase 1 construction to last about five months.
- The park will have a safe, inclusive, and educational play area with modern features like play panels, ramps, and all-user swings.
- The old playground will be replaced with a lawn and seating. The dog run will be improved by a sound-buffering landscape, and new public bathrooms will be added.
- The upgrades follow a year-long engagement with Hoboken residents, ensuring the park’s history is preserved while improving its function for future generations.
The Plan Was Built with a Full Year of Community Input
This project follows a full year of planning and public feedback. In early 2023, the City of Hoboken began developing the Church Square Park Vision Plan, which was shaped by public surveys, meetings, and hearings.
The first public event was held in the park on March 29, 2023. It was set up as an open house where people could stop by and share their opinions. Two more virtual public meetings followed—one on July 13 and another on December 14—where the city showed early design ideas and collected feedback.
On December 20, 2023, the Hoboken City Council held a public hearing at City Hall to review the plan. A second hearing focused on grant funding through Jake’s Law took place on January 17, 2024. Jake’s Law provides funding for accessible playgrounds, and the city is applying for it to help pay for the new play area.
In December 2023, the city hired the planning firm Arterial to create the construction documents. This step moved the plan from a concept to a build-ready design.
New Playground, Lawn, Buffer, and Bathrooms in Phase 1
The upgrades in Phase 1 include a new toddler playground, a green lawn area, a sound-buffering landscape near the dog run, and modern public restrooms.
First, a new playground for children aged 0 to 5 will be built in the park’s southwest corner, along Fourth Street near Willow Avenue. This playground will include ramped play structures under the existing tree canopy, play panels, all-user swings, play mounds, a junior round climber, a whirl for inclusive play, curved benches, magnet play features, and safety surfacing. The design supports both accessibility and early learning.
Second, the old toddler playground will be removed and replaced with an open green lawn. This space will include new seating and plants, providing a quiet area for relaxing.
Third, the dog run along Willow Avenue will receive a landscape buffer to reduce noise. This buffer will include a concrete curb fence with soundproofing material, a planting bed fence, and shrubs. All existing trees in that area will remain in place.
Fourth, a new public restroom and utility building will be added to the park’s southeast corner, near Garden and Fourth Streets. The restroom will be accessible to all users.
Temporary Closures Will Take Place During Construction
The city expects Phase 1 construction to last approximately five months. Contractors have already started setting up temporary fencing around the construction zones, and work is beginning on the sewer connection near Willow Avenue and Fourth Street. As with any major construction project in a busy neighborhood, some short-term inconveniences are expected.
Sidewalks along Willow Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets will be temporarily closed during parts of the day. There may also be road closures between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., but city officials have promised that emergency and truck access will be maintained at all times, with help from the Hoboken Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management.
The city has committed to keeping residents updated through weekly construction updates posted at www.hobokennj.gov/construction. For those looking for even more detail, including presentation slides and recordings from the Vision Plan meetings, the city’s website also hosts a dedicated Church Square Park Vision Plan page at www.hobokennj.gov/resources/church-square-park-vision-plan.
A Historic Park Designed to Serve the Next 150 Years
While the city has not released the final construction cost, the current estimate for Phase 1 sits at around $850,000. To help cover expenses, Hoboken is in the process of applying for funding through Jake’s Law, which supports inclusive, accessible playgrounds across New Jersey.
Church Square Park has always been more than just a playground or a green lawn. It’s a part of Hoboken’s identity. Originally built in 1875, the park has grown and changed with the city. Over the years, it’s become a space for passive enjoyment beneath a lush tree canopy, active sports like basketball, and everyday gatherings with friends, families, and dogs.
In 2020, Hoboken conducted an in-depth tree assessment and began an arboriculture program to protect the park’s mature trees. Then, in 2022, Hoboken carried out a test landscaping project in the center of the park—called the “central spine”—to try new ways to improve and maintain the green space.
With Phase 1 underway, Hoboken is starting a larger plan to protect and improve Church Square Park for today and for the next 150 years. Just like earlier generations cared for the park, today’s community is doing its part to keep it alive and well for the future.
