Facelift Planned For Army Base-Turned Art Park In Livingston

LIVINGSTON, NJ — In the 1950s, the 42-acre Riker Hill Art Park in Livingston was a U.S. Army Nike Missile Base. Now it’s a place where 38 local artists-in-residence have much-needed studio space.

On Thursday, Jan. 11, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Livingston Mayor Shawn Klein will host a public meeting about the Essex County Riker Hill Art Park Master Plan. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from the community about what improvements they would like to see at the 42-acre artist colony.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at Livingston Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue.

According to county officials, Essex County purchased the property from the federal government in 1974 for $1 and converted the buildings that once housed army facilities into studio space for artists. There currently are 38 artists in residence at Riker Hill Art Park.

Artists-in-residence work in various disciplines such as painting, fine metal jewelry, ceramics, pottery, glass-blowing, fine prints, photography and sculpture.

“Essex County Riker Hill Art Park has long been a hidden gem in our community and we are pleased to be partnering with the county executive to improve the facility so more people can enjoy it,” Klein said. “[DiVincenzo] was very open to our suggestions about Riker Hill, and developing a Master Plan and hosting a public meeting is the first step in this process.”

“When the mayor and [Livingston Town Council] approached us about updating Riker Hill, of course we were very supportive,” DiVincenzo said. “The meeting will give us an opportunity to listen to the public’s ideas and creating a Master Plan for Riker Hill will help us set priorities to enhance the facility.”

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