Jersey City Waterfront Park / Paulus Hook

Jersey City, NJ

Paulus Hook’s open waterfront looks across New York Harbor to Lower Manhattan and is in a prime, accessible location for Jersey City’s downtown businesses, transportation, and growing residential community. The contrast of the natural history of the area — the vast harbor and estuary, wide rivers, islands— and the metropolitan area’s powerful density are... Continue Reading

Paulus Hook’s open waterfront looks across New York Harbor to Lower Manhattan and is in a prime, accessible location for Jersey City’s downtown businesses, transportation, and growing residential community. The contrast of the natural history of the area — the vast harbor and estuary, wide rivers, islands— and the metropolitan area’s powerful density are tangibly felt at the site. Yet, the separate waterfront parcels are unimproved or in poor condition, making an uninviting environment.

Starr Whitehouse, teaming with nARCHITECTS, has designed a new plan for the waterfront, connecting the disparate parcels to create one contiguous park that responds to the community’s needs while speaking to the site’s natural beauty within a regional waterfront park system. As a result of input from a community workshop, the park design features a large open lawn for flexible use, wetlands, a dog run, an amphitheater, kayak launch, and unique play features for children. A bridge over the canal will connect the park, allowing accessibility and circulation from both the north and west entrances. This compelling design will attract families and visitors, enriching the neighborhood and transforming Jersey City’s waterfront into a distinguished urban jewel.