EARTH DAY Festival at Liberty State Park

Posted on April 25, 2010 by itees

Yesterday was such a glorious day, the perfect day for an Earth Day Festival! Not a cloud in the sky, 65-70 and a slight breeze, fabulous.

Mary Jo, my business partner for our cause, FROGS ARE GREEN and I, packed up some giveaways and headed over to Liberty State Park. Our plan was to meet some of the other organizations as well as pass out postcards and wristbands to as many people as we could. We were thrilled to see thousands of people, young and old, and knew right away we hadn’t brought enough materials. Nevertheless, we gave out all we had and lots of kids smiled at the cute frog postcard and loved the bright green, eco-friendly wristbands. Folks stopped by and asked questions about frogs, and our cause.

We’ve already ordered more postcards and will tackle the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival next Saturday, May 2. Come out and meet us…

Tents at Liberty State Park, Earth Day Festival 2010

Crumbling Waterfront Walkways are NOT Bike-Friendly

Posted on March 21, 2010 by itees

I just love riding my bicycle along the waterfront in Hoboken, Jersey City and the pathway north toward the George Washington Bridge, but due to either the sloppy construction or the rough winter snows, the pathways are in terrible shape. In Hoboken there are quite a few detours due to the piers crumbling and falling into the Hudson, and in Jersey City, the bricks are loose or missing.

My first complaint is why would they have constructed these pathways using bricks? Didn’t they realize that being that close to the water, with the pounding of the waves, will make the earth move and the pathways start breaking up? Plus, it’s not bicycle-friendly and takes it’s toll on my tires and bicycle.

Next, Hoboken is supposed to be the place to live with the new “W” Hotel, fancy shops and condos everywhere you look, yet there are areas of the waterfront that have been blocked off for years, which is becoming quite tiresome.

Lastly, when are these buildings on the waterfront in Jersey City and the rest of the Hudson area going to finish creating their pathways so we don’t have to take detours… and when are they going to connect Weehawken so we don’t have to ride on River Road with the cars?

hoboken-terminal-pier

Paterson Plank Rd, Jersey City Heights, Needs A Serious Clean-Up

Posted on January 15, 2010 by itees

This afternoon the weather warmed up a bit to the upper 40s and so it was time to get out there and start walking. I love to walk around town, down to Hoboken, along the waterfront, and back up the hill. My route today was a big circle starting from “The Heights” of Jersey City, down the elevator at 9th Street, up to 14th street and across to walk along the water and down to First Street, across to Paterson Plank Rd. and back up.

Paterson Plank Rd. is a route that is mostly used by cars and buses rushing up and down, but there is a walkway and occasionally you see bicycle riders, runners and folks just walking along, more in warmer weather.

What I’d like to know is, who’s job is it to clean this walkway, because the amount of trash I saw on my walk today, was insane. Besides the leaves that had fallen, there was glass, crushed plastic bottles, newspapers, cans, empty chip bags… you name it, I saw it.

I assume this area is considered Jersey City, but have they cut back? Is there no clean-up detail to work this area anymore? Also, you wouldn’t believe what I saw just thrown over the little wall you walk along that is above the Light Rail train tracks. All kinds of assorted trash including a shopping cart from a supermarket.

I imagine people just drop things as they walk along, or perhaps people throw things out of the car windows as they zoom up? All I know is, if they don’t address the garbage there soon, there won’t be any space left to walk.