For many years, residents near Riverview-Fisk Park in Jersey City Heights have urged the city to repair a worn and uneven walkway along the park’s eastern edge. After a long wait, visible progress has finally started. On Thursday, October 23, city crews placed fencing, caution tape, and safety signs around the northern staircase that runs between Griffith Street and Bowers Street. The concrete steps and surrounding path contain loose rocks and uneven surfaces, a condition neighbors have viewed as hazardous for a long time.
Walkers, joggers, and cyclists heavily use the walkway, and the concern has been present for years. The walkway has not undergone major repairs since 1934, and residents began to notice a rapid decline in its condition around 2015. In response, community volunteers documented the damage and collected more than 300 signatures in a petition delivered to city leaders last year. According to city representatives, construction is planned to begin in December, pending final budget decisions and project planning.
- Jersey City placed barricades on October 23 to begin addressing long-delayed repairs on a hazardous walkway and stairs at Riverview-Fisk Park.
- Residents and the Friends of Riverview-Fisk Park pushed for repairs since 2015, collecting over 300 petition signatures; work may begin in December.
- The city has already invested $2.1 million in 2021, and $1.8 million is now allocated for new design work, adding to other recent upgrades.
Funding and Earlier Improvements Shape the Project Plan
According to Jersey City spokesperson Kim Wallace-Scalcione, the city has set aside $1.8 million to start the design stage for this new round of work. This upcoming effort follows earlier upgrades at the same park. A multipurpose turf field was completed last year for local recreation needs, and in 2021, the city finished $2.1 million in renovations. That project brought new landscaping and lighting, a splash park, a bocce ball court, a plaza with a fountain, historic monument restorations, and improvements to underground systems such as drainage, stormwater lines, and water pipes.
City officials have explained that environmental and infrastructure reviews are still underway, so the final construction details may change once those studies are complete.
Community Ideas Highlight Accessibility Needs
During a recent walk-through with TAPinto Jersey City, residents shared suggestions about what the updated walkway could look like. One proposal involved replacing the long-standing stairs with a ramp to serve people using wheelchairs, strollers, or bicycles. Supporters of the idea have said a ramp could offer better access if it fits within budget limits. Community leaders have also indicated they support exploring that option if it is financially realistic.
Artists in the neighborhood have even used the worn textures of the park’s surfaces in creative work, though they also acknowledge that safety must come first and that the space needs improvement to prevent injuries.
Park History and Community Role in the Heights
Riverview-Fisk Park has been part of Jersey City life for 101 years and sits along Palisade Avenue in The Heights. Visitors come for wide views of the Manhattan skyline, the Hudson River, the Verrazano Bridge, and the George Washington Bridge. The park also includes two basketball courts, a playground, a weekly farmers market, gardening programs, the Riverview Jazz Festival, and seasonal community events. Every Fourth of July, thousands gather there to watch fireworks across New York City.
Friends of Riverview-Fisk Park, formed in 2019, helps with upkeep and works with the city on planning discussions and park feedback. The Riverview Neighborhood Association, founded in 1983, is a 501(c)(3) group serving the eastern area of Jersey City Heights. Its mission centers on building neighborhood pride, supporting parks, promoting responsible development, improving services, and creating meaningful community connections.
The association holds public meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM at AlarisHealth at Harborview Health Center, located at 178 Ogden Avenue. The group co-hosts and sponsors events such as Park Fest/Flea Market, Movies in the Park, the Riverview Farmers Market, community cleanups, and a Halloween Dog Parade. It also works on voter registration, public forums, transportation advocacy, enforcing city agreements, homelessness outreach, literacy support, sustainability, small-business partnerships, and arts support. The organization is part of the Jersey City Parks Coalition and the JC Reservoir Alliance.
