HOBOKEN, NJ — A five-acre "resiliency park" in Hoboken is on track to break ground in autumn 2019, officials say.

On June 19, the City of Hoboken awarded a contract to Tomco Construction, Inc. for construction of Northwest Resiliency Park, which will become the municipality's largest park. According to a news release from city officials:

"The Northwest Park's final design, based on feedback from the community includes an athletic field, open lawn space, park pavilion and shade structure, ice skating rink, spray water feature, playground equipment for children of all ages, lowland gardens, and more. It also includes above ground green infrastructure and an underground detention system which together will withhold up to 2 million gallons of rainwater to help reduce flooding in Northwest Hoboken." Learn more about Northwest Resiliency Park. Mayor Ravi Bhalla praised the City Council's approval of the construction contract, adding that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank will provide low-interest financing that will save the city "millions of dollars."

"This park will become a model for the rest of the state with its above and below ground flood mitigation infrastructure, while providing state-of-the-art open space amenities for our community," he said. A city Facebook post about the park inspired several questions and comments. Some supported the park, like one resident who wrote they were "so, so excited."

"We desperately need that baseball field," another resident said. "Hope it will be dedicated strictly to baseball March through September. We have a plethora of talent that isn't reaching its potential due to lack of field space."

Others residents had much more critical comments. Seen online: