A park in the shadow of Bayonne’s highways will be undergoing a major overhaul that will add a ton of new features and expand the greenspace to unused properties.
On May 4, Bayonne held a ground-breaking ceremony at Russell Golding Park to mark the start of work on the project. The one-acre park, situated on Avenue E between 48th and 51st Streets, is being renovated thanks to $5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and another $750,000 from the Hudson County Open Space Fund.
City Council President and Third Ward Council Member Gary LaPelusa called it “a great day in the City of Bayonne” during the ceremony and touted many of the upcoming features. The renovated park will feature new playgrounds, basketball courts, pickleball courts, and other features that will enhance the northern gateway to Bayonne.
The project, three years in the making, will include the purchase of the long-closed Exxon gas station just to the south of the park as well as utilizing a parcel to the north owned by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority near the 14A exit ramp.
Other additions coming to the renovated park include a new splash park, a whiffle ball court, and new chess tables. There will also be ADA-compliant restrooms, a concession stand, water fountains, landscaping, and pedestrian safety enhancements around the park.
The park itself is situated near the 45th Street stop of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail and was built in the 1970s on what had been a former junkyard. The park is named after Fire Captain Russell Golding, who led recreational activities for children before he passed away in 1970.
Bayonne Mayor Robert Kubert credited former Mayor Jimmy Davis, who is now County Sheriff, with successfully pushing for the renovation. The overhaul is being undertaken by Picerno-Giordano Construction. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
