This ‘Crown Jewel’ Of Newark Got A Big Upgrade: Weequahic Park

NEWARK, NJ — A new, $4.5 million community center at a popular park in Newark got a big round of applause from supporters on Wednesday, including Gov. Phil Murphy.

The governor was among those on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony at a new community center building in Essex County Weequahic Park.

The 7,500-square-foot building replaces a much smaller, concrete-block building without windows that had “outlived its usefulness,” and didn’t have enough space for the community groups that depend on it, officials said.

Comito Associates from Newark was awarded professional services contract for $271,000 to design the new community center. Aps Construction from Paterson was awarded a public bid contract for $4,519,000 to perform the construction work.

The building was funded with a grant from the state of New Jersey. Construction started in December, and was completed in nine months.

“I am honored that we could be a partner on this project,” Murphy said, adding that the park in general “took his breath away.”

“This is a crown jewel within a crown jewel,” Murphy said of the new building.

The new addition to the park also wowed Mayor Ras Baraka, who appeared at the ceremony with Newark Council President Luis Quintana and council members Anibal Ramos and John James.

“This is my neighborhood – we used to come to this park all the time,” Baraka said. “The county executive has done a tremendous job in making sure improvements are continually being done. This building is a tremendous addition to the park.”

According to county officials, the facility was modeled after the new community centers recently built in Essex County Cedar Grove Park and Essex County Watsessing Park. The 7,500-square-foot building has a large room for activities, a full-service kitchen, and office and meeting space for the Weequahic Park Sports Authority and the Weequahic Park Association, two community groups that have partnered with Essex County to maintain the park and provide programming for the community.

Meanwhile, a picture window and high ceiling allow for more natural light into the main room, officials added.

In front of the building, a driveway leads up to a 40-foot-long covered car port to enhance access to the building. In the back of the building is a 100-foot-long patio for outdoor seating that overlooks the Bill Hicks Baseball Field. The building also has restrooms with outdoor access for park visitors.

The community center was named for the late Feldman “Mootsie” Middleton, Jr., in 2016. Middletown was a Newark entrepreneur and one of the founders of the Weequahic Park Association and the Weequahic Park Sports Authority.

The new community center will continue to be named in Middleton’s honor, officials said.

“Recreation opportunities saves lives,” Sen. Teresa Ruiz said.

The state senator, who represents Newark and Belleville in the 29th district, added that the investment in infrastructure will benefit the entire community, from young children to senior citizens.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said the new center will ensure that visitors to the park have a “welcoming public space” that meets their needs.

“This was all made possible with the support of Gov. Phil Murphy, who listened to our request and understood the positive impact this will have on our residents,” DiVincenzo added.

Other support for the project came from:

• Essex County Commissioner President Wayne Richardson – “This is exactly what this community needs and deserves.”
• Doug Freeman, president of the Weequahic Park Sports Authority – “I can assure you that this center will be overutilized.”
• Michael Middleton, son of Feldman “Mootsie” Middleton – “This building is made of bricks and mortar, but it will be the people who use this building that create its legacy. This is a fitting place to honor my father’s legacy of helping others. I look forward to this center being used as a place to bring families together.”

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