Jeffrey

Van Vorst dog park, used by residents as a critical resource for exercise and socialization for their beloved dogs, similar in utility that a kids’ playground provides to its local community, comprable in vitalness.

The immediate issues are apparent; the dog fountain in the big dog area is not connected to the any plumbing pipes, and so water leaks from underneath causing a wet and muddied area in the entrance. Likewise, the absence of proper drainage results in severe flooding that leaves giant bacteria-filled puddles around the gazebo and behind the bench for days, sometimes weeks, whenever it rains. This makes the park nearly unusable, unless you bite the bullet and have your dog play in the mud.

Another, less severe observation is the gazebo area has deep aging, splinters, and chipped paint that isn’t welcoming to sit on. Likewise, there’s giant holes underneath that waste and bacteria seem to pile up in.

These issues may be seem as cosmetic in nature, but combined amount to a discernibly dismayed environment that belittles the beautiful service the dog park provides to the local community.

In my photo I do a comparison of the measures other municipalities have taken in their dog parks; measures that amount to an unforgettable experience. First and foremost, synthetic turf. Weather resistant, bacteria resistant, and beautiful, the turf used in Washington prk in Union City and the Newport dog park is a sight to behold, a night versus day difference in experience. Couple that with some obstacle or agility sets and your dog park is now a dog experience, shared between dog and owner, remembered as a stronghold asset to the community.

If there is any way to consider or lay the groundwork for any of these causes, please let me know. I am also willing to see if there is any corporate/ crowd funding options available locally from coworkers and neighbors. Thank you

The bike lanes on the west/southbound side of Washington Street need protective barriers like the east/northbound side has. The southbound lanes also need to be repainted and have signage updated with the correct straight/turn lane indications. "No Right On Red" at Thomas Gangemi Drive, 4th Street, and 2nd Street would also significantly improve the pedestrian and bicycle safety of these intersections.

Vehicles are routinely using the southbound bike lane and painted median between Newport and 2nd Street as an express right-turn lane, parking lane, and drop-off area, forcing bicycles onto the sidewalk or out into traffic.

Attached is a photo of a bus using the bike lane as a right turn lane. This evening I took a 66-second video and recorded 10 cars driving, loading, or parking in the bike lane in this 3 block stretch. I also have an 11 minute video showing dozens of incidents including 2 near-misses with bicycles.

The Newport Mall security is blocking pedestrians from walking from the Newport PATH station to the Hamilton Park residential community! This is unacceptable as there is no other alternative other than walking an additional 25 minutes around the mall.

Hi JC - I understand the boardwalk has gone under extensive repairs over the past two years (though it does kind of feel like forever, as this construction changes my commute). Do you know when the portion of the Waterfront Walkway between Thomas Gangemi Drive and the Newport Marina will be reopened? (behind the Citigroup building?) Walking on the boardwalk for my commute was one of my selling points for moving here, and I miss it!

A constant noise or sound like that of a very large engine seems to be coming from the Newport area. It happened last year for a few months, then stopped. Now it is back louder than ever. If you stand on the corner of 4th and Manila you will hear it very plainly.

Washington is 3 lanes heading towards Newport until the new bike lane abruptly starts here. There aren’t any signs indicating the lane is ending/merge left/or even right turn lane only. Need some type of signage here.

The newly painted lane stripes on Washington Ave southbound at Newport are incorrect.

It used to be that the left traffic lane would pass the Newport light, and still be the left traffic lane at the N.Garage Driveway traffic light. Left turners would move further left into a left turn only lane.

But now...
The left traffic lane passes by the Newport light and leads head on directly into the median strip!!! It should be left turn only!

I was already cut off several times.

When the Left Turn arrow goes green at N. garage, people in the very left lane sit there. Then when the regular light turns green, they cut across and dive into the traffic lane.

Very Dangerous.

The lane needs to be restriped so that the left traffic lane continues straight through, and a left exit is added to the left of it.

The section of the waterfront walkway adjacent to the Holland Tunnel vent tower access desperately needs to be cleaned of the litter and garbage. If the greenery is trimmed too, great, but the priority is the trash. It's a disgrace this isn't maintained and is both an eyesore as well as a rodent attractor - I often see rats here, even during the day.

My guess is this is Port Authority's property based on the “Thank You for Visiting” (leaving) and “Welcome to Newport” (entering again) signs that bookend this section of the walkway. Please forward this request to the appropriate PANYNJ department to take care of this.

Thank you

Too many geese. There are several large geese families living in the Newport area. Geese are roaming around the area in large groups, sometimes occupying the entire sidewalk, as pictured above. These groups roam into the street and obstruct traffic. Residents are constantly going into the street to try to scare the geese out of the road in order to clear the traffic obstructions. If this fails, motorists honk their horns at the geese. Additionally, the geese fight each other and hiss at humans, scaring children. The geese have covered the area in an excessive amount of excrement, and like to congregate at the entrance to a playground, which is now also covered in feces. While I have not seen an attack occur yet, I am sure its only a matter of time before a goose attacks a child in order to defend its young.

All the delineators have been knocked over This is on Washington in front of the Newport Path station

I see those delineators have been installed all throughout the Newport area expect for this location where the cars are constantly parked in the bike lanes. I’m guessing the city has made some sort of deal with Newport to allow this to continue at the expense of bicycle safety. Correct?