Jersey City is investing $10 million in the construction of Skyway Park, a 32.5-acre park that will be one of the nation’s first COVID-19 memorials. The park is located on the banks of the Hackensack River on top of a 35-year-old toxic Superfund site.
The design will include a pedestrian bridge that’ll connect various sections of the park, a waterfront walkway, and a grove of 502 trees. Each tree will represent a Jersey City resident who lost their life as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the trees will honor those who weren’t able to receive a proper burial due to the safety protocols in place during the height of the pandemic.
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“A tree will be planted for each of the over 500 residents who were robbed of their life and robbed of a proper farewell due to this pandemic to give their friends and family a place where they can reflect and remember their lost loved ones,” said Mayor Steven Fulop.
In 1970, the PJP Landfill site was used as a dumping ground for chemicals and industrial waste. The illegal dumping caused frequent spontaneous subsurface fires, putting the local community in danger until the landfill was capped in 1985 to eliminate additional exposure and prevent future contamination. After the site was cleaned, it was purchased by the city in 2012.
Construction of the new park is expected to wrap up sometime next summer or fall.
