Overview
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Skyway Park is located along the shore of the Hackensack River, under the magnificent Pulaski Skyway. It is bordered on the east by Routes 1& 9, at the foot of Sip Avenue.
The 32.5 acres of Skyway Park was a dumping ground for years. On occasion, it would spontaneously erupt into flames due to the drums of toxic waste that were illegally buried below the surface. After an initial effort to remove the most dangerous contaminants succeeded, the site once again became a dumping ground, this time for abandoned car and truck bodies.
In 1982, 87 acres of the former PJP Landfill were declared a Superfund site. In 2009, Jersey City acquired the property with grants from Hudson County and the Port Authority. Waste Management implemented a remediation plan approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection.
Since that time, the area has been planted with native grasses and wildflowers, creating a gorgeous natural contrast to the imposing industrial structures that otherwise dominate the landscape. Although already a picturesque natural oasis and a refuge for wildlife, Skyway Park is not yet open to the public.
In December 2020, Jersey City held a press conference to announce that it would build a COVID Memorial in Skyway Park and move forward on developing the entire park. Throughout 2021, representatives from the city met regularly with the Skyway Park Conservancy to review plans for the park. This partnership led to a design that presents great opportunities for a large park with multiple purposes.
Along the COVID Memorial, the plan– consistent with the public input– calls for a natural and passive areas that would provide the people of the Marion neighborhood, nearby Journal Square and others easy access to enjoy the Hackensack River Waterfront.
The Skyway Park Conservancy is committed to working with JC to complete the vision of Skyway Park that includes open lawns, native plants, trails and more. Skyway Park, when completed, will also be a major part of the Hackensack River Greenway, which (eventually) will run along the river shore from Bayonne to the south through Jersey City up to Secaucus to the north.