Parks and Recreation, Hoboken-style

Correction appended.

Church Square Park was the topic of heated discussion Saturday afternoon when about 35 residents gathered during a public meeting  to discuss proposed upgrades to some of its playgrounds.

The park is known in Hoboken for having served a diverse range of purposes throughout its 200-year history. 

The meeting began calmly enough with Zabrina Stoffel and Regina Gannon, the two residents spearheading Project Play, introducing their plans to a group of roughly 35 residents that included council members Peter Cunningham and Carol Marsh, Hudson County freeholder Anthony Romano and Assemblyman Ruben Ramos.

"This is a concept meeting," Stoffel began, noting that the designs she and Gannon would be unveiling are subject to community input and, therefore, change. "Our guiding principles are to replace the current equipment with safe, fun, and innovative equipment using environmentally sustainable materials," said Stoffel.

Stoffel went on to give residents in attendance background on how Project Play reached its design decisions, saying that the group conducted research by visiting parks throughout the area, county and state and by polling parents and kids on what types of improvements they'd like to see made. Stoffel said security, aesthetics,  community building and a design that is in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act were the chief priorities that influenced the concept the group has developed.

The meeting was arranged by Environmental Services Director Jennifer Wenson Maier, who worked as the director of public works and urban development in Plainfield, NJ, before being appointed in Hoboken on March 1. Prior to the meeting, Maier said that she has extensive experience working on park renovations and enjoys such work immensely.

"These are the most fun projects that I work on," Maier said without the slightest hint of irony. Little did Maier know that about 45 minutes later she'd be almost nose-to-nose with a resident in a heated exchange, threatening to shut down the meeting.

Stoffel and Gannon conducted a show-and-tell demonstration, presenting examples of various RePlay TimberForm materials, made from post-consumer recycled plastic. The duo also introduced playground concept designs prepared by Columbia Cascade, an Oregon-based company that specializes in landscape architecture.

Stoffel explained that Project Play plans to fund the upgrades with money raised through government grants, donations and corporate sponsorship, while keeping the project nearly cost-free to the city. Companies or individuals who donate to the cause, she said, would have their names displayed on engraved bricks or on plaques affixed to benches.

The floor was then opened for questions from residents, where several residents voiced concerns and outright disapproval of Project Play's plan. The majority of attendants expressed enthusiasm and gratitude to Stoffel and Gannon.

Perhaps Project Play's harshest critic, longtime Hoboken resident Mary Ondrejka detailed a litany of problems she has with the plans, ranging from the proposed recycled plastic materials to the proposed new swings not being designed with adults in mind.

Providing one of the more amusing moments of the meeting, Ondrejka declared that she likes to use the swings at Church Square Park and that she's not the only adult who uses them. "That design is not good for adults," said Ondrejka, gesturing toward Project Play's swing set diagram.

"You shouldn't be going on the swings," Kate Gillian, a 28-year-old pre-school teacher at The Brandt School and Hoboken resident, shot back at Ondrejka. "They're for kids."

People's attitudes toward the proposal seemed to be inextricably tied to whether or not they have children. Ondrejka was joined in her opposition by fellow longtime residents Dan Tumpson and Cheryl Fallick, neither of whom have children.

Tumpson disapproved of the plan for additional fencing around the playground areas, increases to the amount of artificial lighting and corporate sponsorship. "Kids won't be in the park when lights are on," said Tumpson of Project Play's contention that the playground is inadequately lit at night. "That doesn't make sense."

Hudson County Freeholder and Hoboken police captain Romano interjected, saying that lighting is necessary at night because without the lighting, the park's security cameras would be rendered useless.

About seven people opposed the initiative, one of whom described the designs as "very unimaginative" and "very mediocre." Another resident, who said he is a parent, also opposed the plan.

But, those who have young children overwhelmingly showed support for Project Play, mainly because they believe the improvements will contribute to making Hoboken a city where young families will choose to stay, instead of moving to the suburbs.

Shan Gettens, 38, the mother of a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old, said she and her husband have lived in Hoboken for 10 years and they want to continue living here. She said improvements to Church Square Park and other city parks would be an enticement for her to stay.

As the meeting looked to be winding down, one resident praised Stoffel and Gannon for working to make Hoboken more family-friendly, which drew a round of applause. But Fallick bluntly contended that families with young children aren't the only interest group in town.

Maier approached Fallick and told her to stop speaking out of turn. The two women began shouting at each other and the usually soft-spoken Maier roared, "I'll shut this meeting down right now if this continues."

Emotions became so heated during the dustup that Peter Cunningham used his arms to create a makeshift fence between Maier and Fallick. 

Tzveta Ivanova, 31, who moved here almost five years ago from Bulgaria liked what she heard. She and her husband have 3-year-old twin daughters and had been entertaining the idea of moving to Battery Park City in Manhattan, but instead have decided to buy an apartment in Hoboken.

Ivanova wasn't aware of Project Play until yesterday's meeting and she applauded Stoffel and Gannon for taking proactive measures to improve the park. Moreover, she was unfazed by the idea of corporate sponsorship to help fund the upgrades.

"If that's the price to pay for new equipment," said Ivanova, "that's a small price."

Yesterday's meeting was not an officially sanctioned meeting, just the first step in the public hearing process, Maier said. There will be a public meeting held at night that is advertised with at least 30 days notice prior to the meeting in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Meanwhile, Maier said, anyone is welcome to work up a conceptual design and submit it to the director's office.

Afterwards, Stoffel said she viewed the meeting as moving one step closer to Project Play realizing its goal.

A previous version of this article misspelled Cheryl Fallick and Mary Ondrejka's names.