State Tells Weehawken To Let Hoboken Residents (And Others In NJ) Into Their New Pool

HOBOKEN, NJ — Just in time for summer, Weehawken's got a large new outdoor pool complex. Their neighbors to the south in Hoboken — who have no town pool — are not only green with envy, but they have every right to use the pool too, the state told Weehawken officials a month ago.

But it seems the state is being ignored.

Weehawken opened their new pool for the season in May to residents only, according to their website — not even allowing guests. But a state DEP official told a Hoboken resident in an email on May 17, and in several subsequent messages, that residents of other towns should be able to access the facility, because the recreation complex/park was created with state Green Acres funds.

Patch has reached out to Weehawken Township Manager Gio Ahmad for comment.

Hoboken approved an agreement recently with the Stevens Institute of Technology for residents to use their indoor pool this summer (for a fee), publicizing its availability for the first time ever. But that doesn't mean Weehawken should ban residents from their new outdoor pool, Hobokenites say.

'The facilities must be available to the general public'

Maude Snyder, a compliance officer with the Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration, part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, wrote to Hoboken parent Andrew Strobel back on May 17, "I will just address the Green Acres funding portion of your question. The entirety of Waterfront Park is Green Acres funded – part through GA funded purchase and part through parkland replacement for a diverted, funded park. Since the land is funded, the facilities must be available to the general public on a reasonable basis."

She added, "That means that Weehawken may give some preference to their residents but that nonresidents cannot be excluded."

Snyder also told Strobel that she had left a message for Gio Ahmad a week earlier, on May 11, after someone else complained.

"Today I sent him an email detailing the GA encumbrance at Waterfront Park and the Township’s obligation to open those park facilities to nonresidents," Snyder added in her May 17 message.

But as of Monday morning, the Weehawken recreational website says the pool is still restricted to residents only.

The last correspondence Snyder sent Strobel, this past Wednesday, said, "I have not yet heard from the Weehawken Manager or the Recreation Department."

Snyder had also noted in a June 1 email, "I have since received other complaints. Yesterday I sent Mr. Ahmad another email asking for confirmation that my emails were received. To date, I haven’t received a reply."

Choppy Waters

Weehawken's website says, "Weehawken Residents ONLY proof of residency is required. Restriction is applied due to the increase in the COVID level in Hudson County from low and fluctuating moderate to high as per the New Jersey Department of Health CALI report. Which results in occupancy restrictions."

It's unclear why people living in other towns couldn't be also counted toward that limit.

Strobel, the Hoboken parent, also received a response on June 3 from Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, saying, "The City of Hoboken is aware that a municipal pool opened last year in neighboring Weehawken Township, and that the Township has restricted access to only Weehawken Residents. The Township has now noted that this restriction is applied due to the 'increase in COVID-19 levels in Hudson County which results in occupancy restrictions.' We also understand that the project received funding from the New Jersey Green Acres Program which should open this recreation amenity to all New Jersey residents, per Green Acres rules. My Administration is actively speaking with both the Green Acres Program and the Township to resolve this issue as soon as possible."

Regarding COVID, Snyder told Strobel on June 3 that she was asking the legal team if the town can restrict the pool for that reason.

She also noted, "Green Acres paid Weehawken just over $2M for the acquisition of Block 36.04, Lot 6 (Waterfront Park). The other lots within Waterfront Park were acquired as replacement compensation for Weehawken’s two diversions of funded parkland. The entire park is therefore considered funded."

Patch will update this story when new information is received.

Other updates:

• Read about the deal between Hoboken and Stevens to use their indoor pool here.
• Read about other pools Hoboken residents can use within this story.
• Comment on this issue below or email Hoboken Patch here.