Activists, Officials Call On NJ To Fund Building Of Capital Park In Mercer Co.

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Three New Jersey nonprofits and officials have called on the state government to fund and build Capital Park, which is located behind the NJ State House in Trenton.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation), New Jersey Future, and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (NJLCV) ramped up their public campaign this week.

As the renovation of the historic State House nears completion, advocates are urging Gov. Phil Murphy and state legislators to set aside $15 million in this year's budget to build the urban park.

On Monday, April 24, NJ Conservation’s Co-Executive Director Jay Watson led state officials and the public on a walkthrough of the prospective park site, which would provide a vibrant, publicly accessible green oasis, and connect important city and state cultural assets.

Guests included Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and State Senator Shirley K. Turner.

“Capital Park will complement our great State House while addressing the needs of sustainability through green design techniques,” Watson Coleman said.

“It will provide a space for cultural events and social gatherings. It will be a venue for Trenton residents and visitors to enjoy. And it will set the stage to reconnect the Capital City and its people to the Delaware River, serving as a gateway to the city and making Trenton a destination for tourists seeking to learn and connect with our shared past as we approach the nation's 250th Anniversary celebration."

Turner said that the concept of a Capital Park has been put on hold for nearly 15 years and it was time to revive the project.

“For a community that has been historically burdened by environmental injustice, prioritizing the park would be extremely meaningful,” Turner said. “After spending nearly $300 million on renovating the State House, the park would be the perfect finishing touch that everyone can enjoy – our residents, children, workers, and tourists.”

The site on which activists are calling to build the park is currently used as a construction vehicle staging area. The state would require to make a financial commitment of $15 million to redesign and build the Capital Park. Activists say the space is important and necessary for the urban population that lives in the state capital.

"This green space would remove some of the pavement that consumed an incredible stretch of Trenton parkland over the years, severing the state capital from its magnificent Delaware River,” NJ Conservation’s Watson said. “We hope the governor and this legislature will approve funding for Capital Park as an investment in our city and in their legacy here.”

The new park would be designed to manage urban stormwater challenges and improve city air quality through tree plantings. The trees would also increase shade in the area, reducing the urban heat island effect and impacting the city.

The nonprofits have drafted a letter that residents can sign on to urge Murphy and state legislators to fund the urban park project. To sign the letter, visit: tinyurl.com/srtem3hu

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