NEWARK, NJ — A county-run park in Newark recently got a $1.7 million facelift, including a modernized playground, baseball field, and tennis and basketball courts.
According to a statement from Essex County, the new improvements at Riverfront Park include a new climbing apparatus and a rubberized safety surface at the playground, new playing surfaces, fencing and equipment on the tennis and basketball courts, and a new synthetic playing surface, fencing and benches on the baseball field.
Land for Essex County Riverfront Park was acquired in 2010 and the park opened to the public in 2012. These upgrades were the first received by the park since its opening.
"In just a short time, Riverfront has become one of our most utilized parks," Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said, adding that it was time to update the facilities because of "normal wear and tear."
County officials released the following funding details about the project:
"Mott MacDonald from Islen was awarded a professional services contract to design the improvements. Shore Top Construction from Freehold was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,627,7900 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to ensure delays were avoided. The improvements were funded with a $1.5 million grant from the New Jersey Green Acres program and from the county's capital fund."
The park upgrades got a thumbs-up a local advocacy group, the Ironbound Community Corporation.
"Our parks are so important to this community," said Nancy Zak, an organizer with the local advocacy group.
"We don't have backyards, so the parks become our backyards and are where our relationships in the neighborhood are formed," Zak said. "It's important to have open space and high-quality recreation areas."
Other supporters included New Jersey Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Essex County Commissioner President Carlos Pomares, and Newark East Ward Councilman Michael Silva.
"Families in this ward are in need of open space and recreation facilities," Silva said, calling the upgrades an "investment in our community."
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