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As the final missing link in completing Hoboken’s section of the New Jersey Hudson River Walkway, the Hoboken Maritime Park re-imagines the former Union Dry Dock, the last remaining industrial site along the Hoboken waterfront. The future Maritime Park will create a world-class waterfront park that reflects the significance of the Hudson River in Hoboken’s history and future, through the creation of new maritime-inspired community spaces and amenities, and natural features that increase the park’s biodiversity and resilience to coastal flooding.

As the final missing link in completing Hoboken’s section of the New Jersey Hudson River Walkway, the Hoboken Maritime Park re-imagines the former Union Dry Dock, the last remaining industrial site along the Hoboken waterfront. The future Maritime Park will create a world-class waterfront park that reflects the significance of the Hudson River in Hoboken’s history and future, through the creation of new maritime-inspired community spaces and amenities, and natural features that increase the park’s biodiversity and resilience to coastal flooding.

Dattner Architects led a visioning, planning, and community engagement process with the City of Hoboken, to develop a framework for the transportation of the site. The plan was informed by a robust community outreach and engagement,  creating a unique experience where recreation, education and ecological enhancements seamlessly come together to redefine the relationship between the city and the Hudson River. The framework responds to five main objectives developed in collaboration with Hoboken residents:

  • Establish a connected and accessible Hoboken waterfront for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
  • Plan for the effects of climate change to implement a resilient and enduring waterfront park.
  • Provide a diverse range of programs and activities that meet community needs.
  • Enhance biodiversity and restore native ecologies.
  • Celebrate the unique history and character of the Hoboken waterfront through materiality and interpretive experience.

Dattner Architects led a visioning, planning, and community engagement process with the City of Hoboken, to develop a framework for the transportation of the site. The plan was informed by a robust community outreach and engagement,  creating a unique experience where recreation, education and ecological enhancements seamlessly come together to redefine the relationship between the city and the Hudson River. The framework responds to five main objectives developed in collaboration with Hoboken residents:

  • Establish a connected and accessible Hoboken waterfront for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
  • Plan for the effects of climate change to implement a resilient and enduring waterfront park.
  • Provide a diverse range of programs and activities that meet community needs.
  • Enhance biodiversity and restore native ecologies.
  • Celebrate the unique history and character of the Hoboken waterfront through materiality and interpretive experience.
A Space of Connection and Gathering

The Community Hub at Maritime Park is a structure that connects and gathers; it was designed in response to the robust public engagement process. Informed by public feedback, the range of services, amenities, and programs desired by the public was identified. While amenities such as restrooms and park maintenance storage served as a baseline, there was enthusiastic support for a new pedestrian connection to Elysian Park as well as a flexible conditioned space to support indoor programming.

The Hub celebrates the sites waterfront history through a feature called the Maritime Wall. Located along the southern end of the 1:20 sloped surface, the Maritime Wall facilitates the curation of a historical narrative along an illuminated cut in the weathering steel surface of the Wall’s elevation. This cut is derived by tracing the path of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway closest in proximity to the site. It is imagined that local historians and artists would be invited to collaborate in the further refinement and design of this feature.

The Community Hub at Maritime Park is a structure that connects and gathers; it was designed in response to the robust public engagement process. Informed by public feedback, the range of services, amenities, and programs desired by the public was identified. While amenities such as restrooms and park maintenance storage served as a baseline, there was enthusiastic support for a new pedestrian connection to Elysian Park as well as a flexible conditioned space to support indoor programming.

The Hub celebrates the sites waterfront history through a feature called the Maritime Wall. Located along the southern end of the 1:20 sloped surface, the Maritime Wall facilitates the curation of a historical narrative along an illuminated cut in the weathering steel surface of the Wall’s elevation. This cut is derived by tracing the path of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway closest in proximity to the site. It is imagined that local historians and artists would be invited to collaborate in the further refinement and design of this feature.

A Park to Meet and Recreate
1
Hoboken Cove Beach
As one of the only beaches along the Hudson River south of the George Washington Bridge, the expansion of the Hoboken Cove Beach will allow for additional educational and recreational activities along the Hoboken waterfront. The expanded beach will create a one-of-a-kind water access point and will support in-water activities and hands-on educational opportunities.
Hoboken Cove Beach
As one of the only beaches along the Hudson River south of the George Washington Bridge, the expansion of the Hoboken Cove Beach will allow for additional educational and recreational activities along the Hoboken waterfront. The expanded beach will create a one-of-a-kind water access point and will support in-water activities and hands-on educational opportunities.
Hoboken Cove Beach
As one of the only beaches along the Hudson River south of the George Washington Bridge, the expansion of the Hoboken Cove Beach will allow for additional educational and recreational activities along the Hoboken waterfront. The expanded beach will create a one-of-a-kind water access point and will support in-water activities and hands-on educational opportunities.
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2
Nature Play Area
The Nature Play Area adjacent to the Community Hub offers an immersive space for kids to play and engage in environmental education. Centered around play mounds, timber play equipment will highlight the previous site history and materiality. The loose play area will provide a space for children to interact with natural elements from the maritime forest and will support educational programming.
Nature Play Area
The Nature Play Area adjacent to the Community Hub offers an immersive space for kids to play and engage in environmental education. Centered around play mounds, timber play equipment will highlight the previous site history and materiality. The loose play area will provide a space for children to interact with natural elements from the maritime forest and will support educational programming.
Nature Play Area
The Nature Play Area adjacent to the Community Hub offers an immersive space for kids to play and engage in environmental education. Centered around play mounds, timber play equipment will highlight the previous site history and materiality. The loose play area will provide a space for children to interact with natural elements from the maritime forest and will support educational programming.
Read more +
3
Maritime Pier
In the center of the site, the Maritime Pier will be a major draw for visitors. Offering breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline, the Maritime Pier is a tribute to the rich maritime history of the Hoboken waterfront. Along the pier, historic vessels will have the opportunity to dock and support events and cultural programming.
Maritime Pier
In the center of the site, the Maritime Pier will be a major draw for visitors. Offering breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline, the Maritime Pier is a tribute to the rich maritime history of the Hoboken waterfront. Along the pier, historic vessels will have the opportunity to dock and support events and cultural programming.
Maritime Pier
In the center of the site, the Maritime Pier will be a major draw for visitors. Offering breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline, the Maritime Pier is a tribute to the rich maritime history of the Hoboken waterfront. Along the pier, historic vessels will have the opportunity to dock and support events and cultural programming.
Read more +
4
Skate Park
The development of Maritime Park is an opportunity to expand the beloved Castle Point Skate Park, enhance the user experience and better connect it with the city and its waterfront. Taking inspiration from world class parks, the new skate park creates an immersive experience for users where the lines between skate park and park are blurred.
Skate Park
The development of Maritime Park is an opportunity to expand the beloved Castle Point Skate Park, enhance the user experience and better connect it with the city and its waterfront. Taking inspiration from world class parks, the new skate park creates an immersive experience for users where the lines between skate park and park are blurred.
Skate Park
The development of Maritime Park is an opportunity to expand the beloved Castle Point Skate Park, enhance the user experience and better connect it with the city and its waterfront. Taking inspiration from world class parks, the new skate park creates an immersive experience for users where the lines between skate park and park are blurred.
Read more +
Resiliency & Biodiversity

The design incorporates passive resiliency by elevating structures and optimizing programming such as lookouts and viewpoints. , The elevation of critical parks programming is raised above sunny day flooding projections to maximize long term viability of this  public space. This includes the establishment of an enhanced shoreline that incorporates native ecologies and habitat, including a tidal marsh, on-site stormwater management through rain gardens and bioswales, and a robust tree canopy to reduce the impacts of the urban heat island effect. The park’s programming and topography is also designed in a manner that anticipates sea level rise expected by the end of the century. As the site is located within FEMA AE and VE flood zones, the design considers both regulatory compliance with established flood guidelines as well as sea level rise projections for the year 2100, consistent with NJ DEP guidance on climate change.

The design incorporates passive resiliency by elevating structures and optimizing programming such as lookouts and viewpoints. , The elevation of critical parks programming is raised above sunny day flooding projections to maximize long term viability of this  public space. This includes the establishment of an enhanced shoreline that incorporates native ecologies and habitat, including a tidal marsh, on-site stormwater management through rain gardens and bioswales, and a robust tree canopy to reduce the impacts of the urban heat island effect. The park’s programming and topography is also designed in a manner that anticipates sea level rise expected by the end of the century. As the site is located within FEMA AE and VE flood zones, the design considers both regulatory compliance with established flood guidelines as well as sea level rise projections for the year 2100, consistent with NJ DEP guidance on climate change.

Community Engagement

During the ten-month long process, the team led a robust stakeholder and public engagement process that informed the development of the concept design. The engagement strategy for Maritime Park is built upon the city’s existing outreach efforts and a desire to engage more community members while deepening an understanding of the site through the lenses of access, connectivity, ecology, and resilience.

The engagement process aimed at engaging diverse audiences and was structured around three successive “engagement waves” that included in-person and virtual meetings as well as online surveys. During this process the team received over 2,500 survey responses and the meetings were attended by a total of almost 200 people. Siting and programming for the new Park was driven by this public input.

During the ten-month long process, the team led a robust stakeholder and public engagement process that informed the development of the concept design. The engagement strategy for Maritime Park is built upon the city’s existing outreach efforts and a desire to engage more community members while deepening an understanding of the site through the lenses of access, connectivity, ecology, and resilience.

The engagement process aimed at engaging diverse audiences and was structured around three successive “engagement waves” that included in-person and virtual meetings as well as online surveys. During this process the team received over 2,500 survey responses and the meetings were attended by a total of almost 200 people. Siting and programming for the new Park was driven by this public input.

Location
Hoboken, NJ
Area
8.7 acres
Completion
Engagement & Concept Design—2023
Final Design—2026
Clients
City of Hoboken
Collaborators
SCAPE Landscape Architecture
View Project Facts
Location
Hoboken, NJ
Area
8.7 acres
Completion
Engagement & Concept Design—2023
Final Design—2026
Clients
City of Hoboken
Collaborators
SCAPE Landscape Architecture
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