Description

• Online Tools:

• Print Page
• Share
• Bookmark

There are approximately 1,550 acres of parks and open space in Jersey City, including Liberty State Park, Hudson County's Lincoln Park, and over 50 major municipal parks and smaller "pocket parks." Many of Jersey City's public parks have playgrounds, ball fields, basketball courts and other recreational facilities used by local families, schools and even college-level athletic teams. All provide welcome respites from the hustle and bustle of Jersey City life.

Located in the Heights District and is best known for its sculptures of Buffalo and Bears. The park was designed by the landscape architect John T. Withers who left much of the rocky terrain in its natural state. Leonard J. Gordon Park is nearly six acres and contains a children’s playground, two basket ball courts, a tennis court and a ton of beautiful open space.

Home to the best sledding in Jersey City and absolutely stunning views of the Pulaski Skyway and Secaucus, Dr. Leonard J. Gordon Park is named for one of Jersey City’s most illustrious nineteenth century citizens. Popular with local roller hockey and soccer aficionados, Gordon Park is often affectionately referred to by local residents by its nickname, Mosquito Park.

History
Built at the height of the City Beautiful movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, today Leonard J. Gordon Park is best know for its iconic reclining statues Buffalo and Bears, by renowned sculpture Solon Hannibal Borglum, which grace its northern and southern entrances.

A prize-winning member of the 1875 Graduating Class of Bellevue Hospital Medical School, Dr. Gordon was a life-long civic activist. In addition to founding a medical dispensary for the indigent, he also convinced the Lorillard Tobacco Company, for whom he worked as a chemist, to open a 6000 volume reading room for all the company’s (mostly immigrant) employees. He once famously quit a local athletic club because a mail carrier was denied membership. His crowning achievement, however, was his push for and founding of the Free Public Library of Jersey City in 1894. Dr. Gordon served as supervisor of the Library until his death in 1907 at his home at 485 Jersey Avenue, which still stands today. He is also responsible for the Soldiers and Sailors Victory Monument located on Grove Street in front of City Hall.

In addition to the Buffalo and Bears, other park statuary includes a World War I Memorial Doughboy Statue, probably cast by the J.W. Fiske Company of New York, a granite memorial from the Raymond Sipnick Post of the Jewish War Veterans, and a bronze reclining lion.