Renovated Jesse Allen Park In Newark Reopens To Cheers (Photos)

NEWARK, NJ — Plans to renovate the second-largest city-owned park in Newark have been in the works for years. And earlier this week, they came to fruition.

On Tuesday, community members and elected officials gathered for a ceremony to celebrate the reopening of Jesse Allen Park, which is located between Muhammad Ali Avenue and Avon Avenue.

According to the office of Mayor Ras Baraka, the eight-acre park underwent three phases of renovations, beginning in 2009, which included a playground and water play spray area, basketball courts, sports lighting, and a Fitness Zone area. The third phase completed this year upgraded turf playing fields. Efforts to create a Master Plan for the renovation began with a series of community and city meetings in 2007.

The amenities featured in the new Jesse Allen Park were designed over a decade-long process in collaboration with local residents and community groups including The Friends of Jesse Allen Park, Newark Public Schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Springfield/Belmont Super Neighborhood Council, officials said.

Jesse Allen Park, Newark’s second-largest city-owned park, serves more than 18,000 people who live within a half-mile radius, including students attending the adjacent Louise A. Spencer Elementary School.

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