Future Site Of Newark Park Has Remained Unused For Decades – Until Now

NEWARK, NJ — After decades of laying unused, an effort to transform an “untapped” space in New Jersey’s largest city has begun.

Newark officials and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony last week at Broadway Park, a new, two-acre respite in the city’s North Ward.

Subscribe

The park will stretch between Broadway and Oraton Street, and is located next to Luis Muñoz Marin Elementary School in a space that has remained unused since the early 1980’s.

When complete, the new park will have a community garden, a meditation area, a musical play area, an exercise area, a large lawn for outdoor movies or performances, and a “splash pad” for hot summer days. There will also be a playground with a slide embedded into the slope of the park.

Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2027.

Article continues below

Last week’s groundbreaking ceremony included participation from several community organizations, dignitaries and residents – many of whom had a stake in the planning process, officials said.

According to the mayor’s office:

“During the design process, TPL worked with students at both Luis Muñoz Marín Elementary School and Elliot Street Elementary School, as well as local community organizations and partners in the neighborhood, to develop a design that incorporated everyone's ideas and preferences, with their priorities centered in recreation, community, culture, comfort and access… In addition to Luis Muñoz Marín Elementary School, TPL collaborated closely with the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Senior Services, Council Member Anibal Ramos Jr.’s office, Elliot Street School, the Newark Police Division 2nd Precinct, FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Ahavas Shalom, La Casa Don Pedro, the Riverside Tenants Association, Jannah on Grafton, and others to create a park in the neighborhood’s image.”

“Today our shovels don’t just turn soil – they are turning dreams and wishes into a dynamic, high-value recreational green space for more than 7,000 residents within a 10-minute walk from here,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“More than 2,000 of them are children,” he added. “And 62 percent are considered well below the income median.”

Councilman Anibal Ramos said the project will convert multiple abandoned lots next to one of the North Ward’s largest elementary schools into a “beautiful green space.”

“This is part of a great expansion of park and open space in the ward that also includes the construction of Sal Bontempo Park and the Essex-Hudson Greenway,” Ramos said.

Other support came from:

New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz – “After decades of untapped potential, this once-underutilized asset is being transformed into the North Ward's newest dynamic green space and is a testament to the ambition and vision of its community. Every playground feature, walkway, and garden is rooted in the boundless imagination of the students, advocates, and residents who recognized an opportunity to create a vibrant park for generations to enjoy. Once completed, Broadway Park will stand as a flourishing monument to the power of community collaboration, where children can play, friends can gather, and Newarkers can take pride in another piece of the city they continue to shape.”

Luis Muñoz Marin Elementary School Principal Daniel Guerra – “The park will serve as an extension of our school, supporting outdoor learning, physical activity, and community engagement, and we look forward to seeing it become a place where friendships grow, creativity thrives, and our community comes together.”

Mid-Atlantic Region for Trust for Public Land Vice President Walker Holmes – “The North Ward of Newark is a vibrant community, and Broadway Park will create a welcoming outdoor gathering space that reflects the neighborhood’s energy and identity.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.