James Corner Field Operations will be the lead designer and landscape architect for over 15 acres of additional Riverfront Park space and walkways in Newark, bringing the total size of the city’s only public access to the Passaic River waterfront to well over 31 acres.
Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Deputy Mayor Baye Adofo-Wilson and Newark Community Economic Development Corporation Acting President and CEO Scott Blow announced today that
James Corner Field Operations (Field Operations) will be the lead designer and landscape architect for over 15 acres of additional Riverfront Park space and walkways, bringing the total size of the city’s only public access to the Passaic River waterfront to well over 31 acres.
The City received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Smart Growth Achievement” award in 2015 for transforming this former industrial site along the waterfront into Riverfront Park. The riverfront park system, developed in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and New Jersey’s Essex County Parks Department, currently includes playing fields and courts for soccer, football, tennis and basketball. There is also a bikeway and walking trail, a riverfront boardwalk, a floating dock and playgrounds, along with signs detailing the history of the area. The next phase, under the leadership design efforts of Field Operations, will cover one mile of land along the riverfront. This phase of design and development will also improve existing walking and bike trails, provide improved lighting in the park and enhance visitors and residents’ overall park experiences.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the City of Newark to transform and re-focus itself around one of its greatest assets – the Passaic River……With the goal of attracting more people to live in downtown Newark, this one-mile stretch of park can showcase extraordinary and ecologically sound place-making that gives Newark a new image and identity, reflecting the history, culture and resurgence of the City.” – James Corner, Founder and Director of James Corner Field Operations
“Redevelopment and economic revitalization of a major metropolitan city require developers, financiers, architects, designers, artists, builders and the like to work together in concert, ” said Deputy Mayor Baye Adofo-Wilson. “It’s when we work together for the good of the City, as we are doing here on the Riverfront Park project, that we are able to re-build a Newark for everyone.”
Newark Riverfront Park Design Team
– James Corner Field Operations – Lead Designer – Urban Design and Landscape Architecture
– Pennoni – Civil, Structural, Environmental and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) Engineering (Newark based)
– Lomax Consulting Group – Environmental Permitting Support (New Jersey based)
– Yendor Productions – Public Art Advisor (Newark based, MBE)
– Nishuane Group – Planning and Community Engagement Advisor (New Jersey based, MBE/WBE)
– VJ Associates – Cost Estimating (New Jersey based, DBE/MBE)
Images | Courtesy of Trust for Public Land