Photo of the Day: Woodcliff Lake, Braddock Park, North Bergen NJ

A month ago, from the window of a bus going into New York City, I took the accompanying photo of James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park, in North Bergen NJ. 

(This park is named for James Braddock, a longtime Hudson County resident whose dramatic rise to become heavyweight champion in the midst of the Great Depression was chronicled in the Russell Crowe biopic, Cinderella Man.)

Photo of the Day: “Shinin’ Brightly” in North Bergen, NJ

“The dark clouds are rollin' away

Oh and it's shinin' brightly

And I think it's gonna be okay.”—Bob Seger, “Shinin’ Brightly,” from his Against the Wind LP (1980)

Whenever I hear Bob Seger’s underrated gem, I feel exultant. It came automatically into my mind this morning, on the slow, local-stop bus ride into New York City from my home in Bergen County, NJ.  From the window of the bus, looking west, I took this shot of James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park, in North Bergen.

Photo of the Day: Woodcliff Lake, Braddock Park, North Bergen NJ

I took this photo from a bus nearly four years ago, on the verge of spring. It sjpws Woodcliff Lake in the 167-acre James J. Braddock/North Hudson Park in North Bergen, NJ.

Now, it seems, according to this article by Patrick Villanova in the Jersey Journal a couple of days ago, the area surrounding the lake will get a $4 million restoration involving  restoring the lake wall, repaving the lakeside walkway, and installing new benches, trash receptacles, and signage. The project is projected to be completed by October 1.

Photo of the Day: Lake Walking, Before A (Last?) Arctic Blast, NJ

This is another shot I took from a passing bus, a week ago today, of James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen, NJ. (This link is the earlier photo I posted.) The body of water around which these walkers are passing is the park’s 16-acre Woodcliff Lake.

Photo of the Day: Braddock Park, North Bergen, NJ

Late Wednesday morning, the paucity of non-rush-hour transportation alternatives to New York City left me no alternative except one of those slow buses that stop seemingly every other street. There was one small bit of compensation, however: it gave me the opportunity to take this shot of James J. Braddock North Hudson Park in North Bergen, NJ.

Not that I’ve ever lacked any reason to pull out my camera in the presence of that park. This link, for instance, is a closeup from the arboretum there.