Earlier today, it was reported that a 24-year-old Jersey City man fell into the Hudson River off Hoboken’s Sinatra Park on Sunday while reportedly trying to retrieve a soccer ball. Thanks to the fast action of the Hoboken Police Department and Hoboken Fire Department, the young man is okay. Here are more details on what happened:
Chief Ferrante tweeted today about the rescue, shouting out the first responders who saved the day:
Teamwork saves a life tonight. @HobokenPD @HobokenFire @FollowStevens PD & @jcmcems ! Detectives Globke & L. Rodriguez with waterbag & lifeline save. Also assisting, Sgts. @W_Collins_ & Zeszotarski who did an awesome job supervising the scene, Dets. A. Colon & @Ryan_Houghton_ https://t.co/IHxn6vz1Uz
— Chief Ken Ferrante (@KenFerrante) August 31, 2020
According to an original report by Tap Into, Hoboken Police Detectives Rodriguez and Globke were dispatched to Sinatra Park on the report of a person in the river around on Sunday evening around 7:00PM.
A reader sent us a photo of the crowd already assembled around the area where the man fell in right near the soccer field.
The detectives attempted to locate the male and also get their lifesaving water bag — which contains a rope can help bring a drowning person to safety.
A witness saw the victim try to retrieve a soccer ball, and they were able to point out the location he was in the water. Sgt. Zeszotarski and Officer Bullock set a perimeter, according to Tap Into, in an effort to control the growing crowd and provide space to the detectives, who feared he was stuck beneath the walkway.
Luckily, according to the Chief, the victim could grab the life raft water bag —and was able to be pulled onto the boat ramp in front of Blue Eyes.
Hoboken Fire Department Rescue 1 Unit, under the command of Battalion Chief Joe Turner, assisted him out of the water. The victim was then transported to the hospital for precautionary measures, and shortly after, released. He noted to responders that he had just swallowed a lot of river water.
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New Art Installation ‘Star Light Star Bright’ at Hoboken’s Pier A Park
In 2023, an array of miniature glass houses were scattered throughout Hoboken. In 2024, towering Electric Dandelions lit up the City from 28 feet above the ground. In 2025, Hoboken Business Alliance continues its tradition of inventive art installations with a new, interactive pavilion at Pier A Park. Called Star Light Star Bright, the activation is the work of Nancy Hou and Josh de Sousa of Hou De Sousa, a design studio with roots in downtown Brooklyn. The installation will open to the public on the evening of February 5th, 2025 and remain in town until the first week of May. Read on to learn more about Star Light Star Bright, Hoboken's newest art installation at Pier A Park.
The Details
Nancy Hou and Josh de Sousa run an architecture and design studio called Hou de Sousa based in downtown Brooklyn. The duo specializes in colorful installations and larger-than-life structures. Their work can be found throughout the country — from Kansas City Missouri to New York City.
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Per a video from @onlyinhoboken, the duo's latest project is right here in Hoboken at Pier A Park. Called Star Light Star Bright, the space is a "pavilion" with openings and gateways that invite locals to play, gather, and explore. It was designed to form the shape of a star when looking down on it from the top — and even better, as night falls, all of the art pieces' colorful chords light up to illuminate the NYC skyline. Nancy suggests taking a walk around Pier A to get the full experience.
Read More: 2 Hoboken Firefighters + Friends Step in to Reopen Green Pear Cafe
The goal of the installation, according to Nancy and Josh, is to create a shared space for the community. Star Light Star Bright opens to the public on February 5th and will remain at Pier A Park until the first week of May.
As in previous years, Star Light Star Bright is part of an ongoing initiative from Hoboken Business Alliance, which funded the project. You can learn more about HBA's public art initiative here.
To check out more of Josh and Nancy’s work, keep up with @hou_de_sousa on Instagram.
See More: A Guide to Public Art in Montclair, New Jersey
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