Little by little, Newark is reintroducing itself to the Passaic River.
Newark’s Riverfront Park, a three-acre recreation area along the Passaic, officially opened today, the latest step in a decades-long crusade to reclaim a city waterfront long marred by pollution.
“A healthy river means a healthy city,” East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said. “This is the beginning of a realization of a dream.”
The park – the first city park to offer access to the river — features a floating dock, walking and bike paths, a performance space and an unmistakable 800-foot-long bright orange boardwalk made from recycled materials.
It’s among the first steps in what Newark officials and activists hope will be a much larger effort to reopen access to the waterfront, and a symbolic moment for a city that for years has been trying to remake its image and revitalize its economy.
“This park is not going to stop here,” said Mayor Cory Booker at a ceremony today to mark the park’s official opening. “It is going to roll up and down the mighty Passaic.”
Even beyond the boardwalk, the park demands attention. Its rolling green hills and rich flora strike a direct contrast to a city whose nickname is derived from an abundance of brick.
Nancy Zak of the Friends of Riverfront Park is one of several Newark residents who has spent more than 20 years fighting to regain waterfront access.
“It’s very thrilling,” Zak said as she stood on the beaming boardwalk. “Our hearts are filled with joy.”
Officials say the milestone could be especially meaningful for the city's economy because of its proximity to Newark Penn Station and the Ironbound's many restaurants. Lata Reddy, president of the Prudential Foundation and vice president of community resources at Prudential, which was founded in Newark, said it shows the city's potential.
"Newark is a part of our history. We care deeply about the city and want it to succeed," Reddy, whose company partially funded the park, said. "Projects like this are critical. The creation of green spaces has been shown to have a strong connection to the economy of cities. This will only contribute to the success of Newark."
While officials said the park is an important moment for the city’s revitalization, signs of Newark’s struggle remain.
Police roused a homeless woman who slept on one of the park’s benches as the opening ceremony began. Plastic bags and other litter clung to underbrush along the river’s banks. A large sign warns park goers not to catch and eat freshwater crab from the river, a warning undoubtedly prompted by the region’s toxic history.
It’s that history that makes the park so remarkable, according to Adrian Benepe, director of city park development at the Trust for Public Land.
“A former factory site, a brownfield next to a Superfund site. A lot of people would run from that,” he said. “We had to remove 3,700 tons of contaminated soil and bring in new soil.”
And while expanding the park will likely mean a far more extensive cleanup spanning years of work, many at today's event were happy to be impressed with the simpler things.
“It couldn’t be better with the light rain and the smell of grass,” said Pastor Moacir Weirich of St. Stephen’s Church. “It’s a dream.”
The scent of grass creeps, albeit slowly, back into a city of brick.