Washington Park — Attraction in Union City

The Suckleys owned the land on which the park was built for generations. Largely a flat expanse of dirt, it came to be used to host visiting carnivals, circuses, and Wild West shows, including Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, performed there in 1908, when the plot was called the North Street Grounds.

On January 12, 1909, a joint committee was formed to petition the relevant government agencies, such as the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, for funds to purchase the Suckley property and other smaller plots. Assemblyman William R. Davidson argued at the committee's first meeting that the 14th Street viaduct being constructed, which the park site overlooked, would be a significant transportation corridor that would increase property values. The Suckley Park Association was founded that same year. Its co-founder and first president was doctor and civic leader Ulamor Allen, who has been called the Father of Washington Park. On June 8, 1909, Allen addressed the Hudson County Park Commission to argue for the park, joining with others who lobbied for the purchase the Curries Woods site for another county park, which would straddle the Bayonne-Jersey City border. The County Park Commission agreed that both "border line" parks deserved to be developed, though bureaucratic red tape would delay the endeavour for years. In July 1914, the Suckley Park Association asked the Park Commission to requisition the Board of Freeholders for $500,000 for the park. The following month, the commissioners passed a resolution asking the Freeholders to borrow that money. In 1917 the county reached an agreement to purchase the land for $562,435.

The park took its current shape in the 1930s, partially as a result of the input of the Works Progress Administration.

At one point the park had pool. It was closed in 1970 and later filled in.

Wave, a sculpture by Chakaia Booker, was placed in the park in 2008. Commissioned by the county, the brushed stainless steel work is 14 feet (4.3 m) high and 35 feet...

The park has served as a pivotal locations for both Jersey City and Union City, serving a Demarcating line between the Two cities. The Jersey City portion of the park contains two baseball fields, a few chess tables adjacent to those fields, as well two entrances, one of which has been recently re-worked. The Union City Segments as of recently have been reworked to maintain many parts of it that were degrading and who needed an updated. The Picnic area has been fitted with new wooden benches and chair, along wit the inner road being re-paved, along with new flora being replanted to improve the aesthetically beauty of the park. The latter two remaining portions of the park, Located between New York Ave and Palisades Ave, as of this review, are not being rework but are often kept tidy and clean, with regular maintenance. There are certain features which required immediate attention, such as many of the statues which need repair and the dog park in need of an updated, but overall, Washington park is a great place to spend time with family, walk around, or to partake in other...

Living in a nearby neighborhood its hard to not have come to this park. I've been visiting since I was a little girl and over the years the park has been modified and fixed up. Its very nice and scenic, makes you want to take a stroll amongst the trees, flowers and bushes. There are many prime locations for sitting and enjoying the sound of your surroundings. Kids laughing, couples enjoying an intimate moment or dogs running and having a grand time. The park is broken into different sections, there is a dog park, baseball, basketball, soccer and football field. There is an outdoor exercise area that is open for anyone to use. In the warm months you can BBQ and no worry about having a picnic table, there are so many you can use. Starting June the kids water park is open with a cushioned ground and so many ways to enjoy water your kid will...