Wednesday, June 29, 2016

As Newark Prepares to Expand Riverfront Park, Visitors Asked to Complete Survey


Newark, New Jersey: As local officials prepare for the expansion of Riverfront Park in Newark from the Ironbound through Downtown, input is wanted from members of the public.

Currently, the park, which is managed by Essex County, consists of 12 acres along Raymond Boulevard in the Ironbound with athletic fields, walking trails, a dock used for boat tours, and playgrounds. Under the new project, Riverfront Park will be expanded to the Bridge Street Bridge in Downtown Newark. It will pass the Jackson Street Bridge and Newark Penn Station, and will be built adjacent to McCarter Highway/Route 21. It will include the trail near the FBI's Newark office. 

Pedestrian and bicycle pathways, benches, a boathouse, athletic fields, habitat areas, a new floating dock, a stage, an amphitheater, exercise courses, fitness equipment, playground equipment, restroom facilities, and decorative fences are planned for the expanded park, according to a legal notice.

Once the expansion is complete, Triangle Park will be located at the south end of Newark Penn Station while Riverfront Park will be located at the north end.

James Corner Field Operations will be the lead designer landscape architect for the next phases of the park. According to the City of Newark, Corner's projects have included the High Line in Manhattan, the Race Street Pier in Philadelphia, and Freshkills Park in Staten Island.

Now, the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation and the City of Newark have created the Newark Riverfront Park Pre-Design Survey to gather feedback from the community. Questions range from 'What is your greatest ambition for the Newark Riverfront?' to 'Which area of the Riverfront has the most potential?' to 'What features would you most like to see along the Riverfront?'.

Click here to fill out the survey.

Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Like us on Facebook - Essex County Place