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Walk the Walkway

Bayonne Golf Club – April 29, 2012

On a sunny and breezy morning, 18 walkers including 5 members of the Board of the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy (HRWC) met at 9:30 AM at the South Cove Commons Mall near the entrance to the Bayonne Golf Club Walkway. Walkers came from as far away as Cresskill in Bergen County and Red Bank to participate in the Walk.

Helen Manogue, President of the HRWC welcomed and addressed the group and described the threats to public access to the Waterfront that exist because of “The Waiver Rule” being implemented by the Christie Administration. Helen also provided the history of the Walkway at the Bayonne Golf Club, which was built on the old Bayonne Land Fill, and the disastrous DEP settlement with the Bayonne Golf Club. The settlement allows the Golf Club to use part of the Waterfront for exclusive golfing facilities rather than completing the Walkway for use by the public as required by law. It also allows the completed section of the Walkway to be closed from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM also in violation of NJ law.

The walkers began at 10:15 and proceeded along the Walkway enjoying the vista of the lower New York Harbor and the old Bayonne Military Port facilities which are now owned by the City of Bayonne and contain condominiums, a Cruise Port and the Bayonne 9/11 monument which was donated by Russia in memory of the tragedy of 9/11.

Along the way, fishermen were having a great day as the bluefish were jumping in the water and several fish over 24” had been caught.

The Walkway was generally in good condition with benches, trashcans and lights all in place. Graffiti had mostly been removed, the trash cans are being serviced and there was minimal litter in the surrounding area. The two bridges over the wetlands show signs of peeling paint will need to be painted soon.

As we proceeded to the end of the current Walkway we observed the illegal stub barge which is being used as boat dock for the Bayonne Golf Club Ferry, the helipad in the middle of the area where the Walkway should be built, and the illegal driving range which uses the wetlands and bay as a landing field for floating golf balls.

 

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