Hoboken’s long-awaited transformation of its Hudson River shoreline has reached a defining moment, as construction officially begins on Maritime Park at the former Union Dry Dock site. The project represents the final and most ambitious piece of the city’s decades-long effort to create a continuous, publicly accessible waterfront stretching the length of Hoboken.
City leaders, including Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and Mayor-elect Emily Jabbour, joined community members and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony at 901 Sinatra Drive, marking the start of an 8.7-acre waterfront park that will convert the last remaining industrial parcel along the river into a major civic destination. When completed, Maritime Park will not only close the final gap in the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, but also redefine how residents and visitors experience Hoboken’s shoreline.
Designed as a blend of recreation, environmental restoration, and education, Maritime Park is envisioned as one of the most comprehensive public spaces on the Hudson. Plans call for an expanded and modernized skatepark, flexible open lawns for events and informal recreation, a nature-inspired playground, and a public plaza shaped by the dramatic Castle Point bluffs that define Hoboken’s geography. A new community building will serve as a civic hub, featuring indoor gathering space and a rooftop observation deck with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline.
Environmental resiliency is central to the park’s design. A living shoreline incorporating tidal marshes, tide pools, rain gardens, and bioswales will help manage stormwater while restoring natural habitats along the river’s edge. These features are intended to protect the waterfront from future storm surge and sea level rise, while also creating hands-on learning opportunities for students and visitors. A dedicated Learning Pier will support marine education programs and offer space for docking historic vessels, connecting the site to Hoboken’s maritime past.
Funding for the project reflects broad public investment, including a $500,000 contribution from Hudson County through its Open Space Trust Fund. The park’s development follows extensive infrastructure work along Sinatra Drive, where a major road and seawall reconstruction project has reshaped the corridor and set the stage for safer pedestrian and cyclist access once construction phases are complete.
The project will be built in stages, with the first phase expected to begin in earnest in early 2026. Initial construction will focus on the skatepark, the extension of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, seating areas, a public plaza, and supporting amenities such as water fountains and a plant nursery to cultivate native species for future phases. Full completion of Maritime Park is currently projected for late 2028.
For Hoboken, Maritime Park represents more than a new green space. It is the culmination of years of planning, community input, and negotiations to reclaim industrial land for public use. City officials have emphasized that the park’s design reflects feedback from residents ranging from families and skaters to environmental advocates and longtime neighbors, ensuring that the space serves a wide cross-section of the community.
As development along New Jersey’s waterfront continues to reshape urban landscapes, Maritime Park stands out as a landmark example of how public access, climate resilience, and thoughtful design can coexist. The project also underscores the growing importance of waterfront investment within the broader context of urban planning and redevelopment across the state. Readers interested in similar projects and development trends can explore more coverage in Explore New Jersey’s real estate section, where ongoing updates highlight how communities are reimagining space along the Hudson and beyond.
When Maritime Park opens, Hoboken will, for the first time, offer an uninterrupted public path along its entire waterfront, transforming a once-industrial edge into a shared civic front yard that looks firmly toward the future.
