Outgoing Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, state Senator Angela McKnight (D-31), and Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley are announcing a $1 million allocation for the Bayside Community Center.
Instagram photo.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
McKnight secured the funding from the state via funds from the American Rescue Plan, which was established by the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With this $1 million investment, we are moving forward with this community-driven project to provide all residents with access to safe spaces and vital programs that support health, education, and opportunity,” Fulop said in a statement.
“Centered around each neighborhood’s needs and priorities, the new community centers will include flexible spaces for youth programming, fitness and wellness activities, educational workshops, cultural programming, and community-based services for all residents.”
Bayside is the first of six planned community/recreation centers to be built across the city under the 2024 ordinance to establish recreation centers in each ward, a plan Ridley and Fulop made public in November 2024, as HCV first reported.
They both held a community meeting on the project back in May.
“For years, residents have called for more accessible, high-quality community spaces. This brings us closer to delivering a center in Ward A that truly serves the people who live here and strengthens the fabric of our neighborhood,” added Ridley.
“We held the first community meeting last year and have made the commitment under the next administration to continue those meetings so that we can maximize this opportunity and fulfill residents’ needs.”
Located within Bayside Park in the city’s Greenville section, design plans for the new multi-purpose hub will be developed with direct community input to ensure the facility reflects local priorities.
To that end, more public meetings are being scheduled for 2026 to ensure residents’ feedback is incorporated.
“The American Rescue Plan was designed to rebuild communities and invest directly in people,” noted McKnight.
“Securing this funding for the Bayside Community Center ensures that federal resources are being used where they matter most by creating a permanent space for connection, learning, and support in a neighborhood that deserves it.”
A portion of the funding will support design and planning, with community engagement sessions to be scheduled to gather resident feedback before construction proceeds.