Collins Park (Bayonne, New Jersey)

Collins Park, or 1st Street Park, is the largest municipal park in Bayonne, New Jersey. It is located at the southern end of the city and runs for 0.75 miles (1.21 km) along the shore the Kill van Kull.[1] Once known as Kill van Kull Park, it is named for Dennis P. Collins, who served at mayor of Bayonne from 1974 to 1990. The approach to the Bayonne Bridge crosses over the park at the west, under which will connect to the planned extension of Hackensack River Greenway at Bergen Point.[2]

Collins Park
Bayonne Bridge from Collins Park
Collins Park (Bayonne, New Jersey) is located in Hudson County, New Jersey
Collins Park (Bayonne, New Jersey)
LocationBayonne, New Jersey
Coordinates40.64529°N 74.12536°W / 40.64529; -74.12536
Area40 acres

History

The park comprises what were public and private parcels of land. Killeen Park, which had been upgraded in 1937 WPA project, was incorporated in Collins Park[3][4] It was further built out in the 1950s.[5] Portions were was once property of Uncle Milty's Amusement Park or "Miltyville," which after its closure was purchased by the city in 1969.[6][7] Brady's Dock, once a marina and ferry slip was incorporated the park in the 1980s, when it was rebuilt and the parkland expanded.[8][9][5][10] Collins Park was substantially refurbished in two phases in the early 2020s.[11][12][13] [14][15][16][17]

Memorials
Collins Park (left) along Kill van Kull

Among the memorials in the park are those to veterans of World War II,[18] the Vietnam War,[19][20] the persons who built the Bayonne Bridge, and to victims of the September 11 attacks.[21][19]

In 2022, a statue of Chuck Wepner, former professional boxer and local hero, was unveiled in the park. [22]

See also

References
  1. "Municipal Public Access Plan" (PDF). www.nj.gov. 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2022. An extensive waterfront park along Bayonne's southern shoreline, the park starts under Bayonne Bridge and runs east for 0.75 miles. Built in the 1950s, the park provides opportunities for both passive and active recreation. On the western end of the park, there exists a dock that gives the public access to the Kill Van Kull. The park is the southern-most terminus of the Hudson River Walkway...
  2. Hudson County Planning Board (February 15, 2022). "Hackensack River Greenway". webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  3. "Killeen Park (former) Improvements - Bayonne NJ".
  4. Kofsky, Jared (June 12, 2017). "Improvements Planned for Dennis P. Collins Park in Bayonne".
  5. City (Brady's) Dock Reconstruction (Report). US Department of Commerce NOAA Coastal Service Center. December 1982.
  6. Journal, Jonathan Lin | The Jersey (May 31, 2016). "Vintage summer days: Uncle Milty's amusement park in Bayonne (PHOTOS)". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Hughes, C. J. (October 3, 2018). "Bayonne, N.J.: Grit Gives Way to Luxury, and Skee-Ball" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. "City of Bayonne Marina Study". www.govinfo.gov.
  9. "Kill Van Kull Navigation Project, Newark Bay (NY,NJ): Environmental Impact Statement". August 3, 1981 – via Google Books.
  10. Malinconico, Joseph (April 10, 1983). "IF YOU'RE THINKING OF LIVING IN: BAYONNE" – via NYTimes.com.
  11. "Progress at Dennis P. Collins Park". www.bayonnenj.org.
  12. "Recreation for all". April 18, 2018.
  13. "Collins Park renovations progressing in Bayonne". April 20, 2022.
  14. "Refurbished Dennis Collins Park Taking Shape". TAPinto.
  15. "Improvements to Dennis P Collins Park Phase II". www.constructionjournal.com.
  16. "Bomanite Imprint Decorative Concrete Creates New Look for Park". April 14, 2022.
  17. Israel, Daniel (October 21, 2022). "Bayonne to hold opening ceremony for Collins Park after Phase II of renovations". The park is named after Dennis P. Collins, who served four terms as mayor of Bayonne from 1974 to 1990. Prior to that, Collins was a City Council member from 1962 to 1974. Following his twenty-eight years in elected office, Collins worked as an Aide to Congressman, now Senator, Robert Menendez, Sr. and to former Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr.
  18. "World War II Memorial, a War Memorial". www.hmdb.org.
  19. "Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a War Memorial". www.hmdb.org.
  20. Alarcon, Felix (December 27, 2013). "Bayonne remembers its fallen Vietnam vets with annual Christmas Eve ceremony". NJ.com.
  21. "Historical Markers and War Memorials in Hudson County, New Jersey". www.hmdb.org.
  22. Israel, Daniel (November 3, 2022). "Bayonne to unveil Chuck Wepner statue in Collins Park". Hudson Reporter.
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