Filed under: Making the Rules for Development, Other river news, Public Programs
“Helping Newarkers reach the waterfront is not a luxury.”
Star-Ledger: Take me to the river: On the Passaic
“What if the city had a riverfront park where kids could frolic on grass, families could picnic and one could even launch a kayak or canoe into the water? That’s the vision for the seven-acre Newark Riverfront Park that the city has spent years designing, with community involvement.”
Star-Ledger: New DEP rules prompt concern
“Preparations are underway to remove 40,000 cubic yards of the highly toxic sediment from the Passaic River near the former Diamond Alkali plant in Newark, the Environmental Protection Agency said today.”
Star-Ledger: Workers prepare to remove highly toxic sediment from Passaic River in Newark
Filed under: Public Programs
On Wednesday, August 10, a group of Newark YouthMappers explored Newark’s riverfront between Bridge Street and Penn Station.
Near Penn Station, we spotted the fattest groundhog we’d ever seen.
Filed under: Public Programs
Great to see Councilwoman Mildred Crump!
Newark Riverfront Park construction underway!
“’[The riverfront tour] was incredible,’ said [Central Ward Councilman] Sharif, who was excited by the possibilities the riverfront offers. ‘I was amazed by how little I knew about the history of thePassaic.’”
Read more from “Newark’s Passaic Riverfront Set for Revival” by Sharon Adarlo in WestWardPatch
“The waterfront is getting its first park in the city’s history.”
Read more from “With Help From Others, Newark Is Building for Business” by Ronda Kaysen in the New York Times
Filed under: Public Programs
On July 9, we were happy to host Councilman Sharif for another river ride.
Filed under: Public Programs
On Thursday, June 30, the sold-out inaugural Newark Wine on the Water raised funds for Newark Riverfront Revival programs and brought together an excellent group to converse, relax, and talk about the future of the riverfront. Immense thanks to our sponsors at the Newark Downtown District and Lisbon Wines & Liquors. Special gratitude to Summer 2011 Tour Coordinator Alicia Rouault and Summer 2009 Tour Coordinator Sumorwuo Zaza.
Filed under: Public Programs
To benefit Newark Riverfront Revival’s Boat Tour Program, you are invited to join an exclusive evening cruise on the historic Passaic River on Thursday, June 30 at 6 pm. Wine, cheese, jazz, plus Newark as you’ve never seen it before! Limited seats available at $100. For more information, email newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com or call (973) 733-3917.
Filed under: Public Programs
2011 Newark Riverfront kick-off: Special Father’s Day Boat Tour in partnership with Newark Comprehensive Center for Fathers
Filed under: Building Things
Installation continues on the subsurface “netting chamber” to prevent waste from combined sewer overflows from entering the Passaic River.
Filed under: Public Programs
On Sunday, May 15, three Tibetan monks, accompanied by one hundred others, walked from the Newark Museum to the edge of the Passaic River, into which they poured a vial of colored sand they had just days before arranged into a painstakingly intricate mandala.
Filed under: Building Things
Construction has begun on upgrading the sewer infrastructure under the future site of Newark Riverfront Park. This contract will install a “netting chamber” to mitigate the impact of combined sewer overflow.
Filed under: Building Things
Through their Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA), the National Parks Service has awarded Newark Riverfront Regeneration technical assistance in support of initiatives to increase public access to and along Newark’s riverfront.
RTCA is the community assistance arm of the National Park Service, and supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
Over the course of 2011, RTCA staff will work with Newark Riverfront Regeneration and other partners to test the feasibility of, build support for, and maybe even build modest projects that bring Newarkers and others to and along the water’s edge. Stay tuned!
Filed under: Building Things
The October 2010 issue of Parks and Recreation magazine runs an article on Mayor Booker’s emphasis on creating and improving parks in Newark, making special mention of Newark Riverfront Park.
Filed under: Building Things
The US Army Corps of Engineers has completed construction of new steel and concrete bulkhead between Prospect Street and the Jackson Street Bridge in the Ironbound.
Even better, at the conclusion of bulkhead construction, the Army Corps granted the request of Newark Riverfront Regeneration to cover the site with topsoil and meadowgrass seed instead of gravel.
While it will take some time for the meadow to establish, and further environmental remediation will be required to open this area to the public, it’s nice to see a patch of green at the river’s edge. A vision of bigger things to come!
Filed under: Building Things, Making the Rules for Development, Public Programs, Youth education
At the fourth biennial Passaic Riverfront Institute, Newark Riverfront Regeneration presented an update on two years of riverfront work with “The Riverfront That Newark Wants: Progress Report 2009-2010.” Click below or here to download the PDF.
Designed by students from St. Vincent Academy and the Greater Newark Conservancy Junior Rangers with Damon Rich and Erika Wood. Click to enlarge!
Filed under: Public Programs
On Saturday, June 26, 60 more Newarkers experienced their city from the water.
On Sunday, May 16, students from five Newark schools launched boats they built with help from Project U.S.E onto the cool waters of the Passaic River in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood. Congratulations to University Heights Charter School, Sussex Avenue School, Discovery Charter School, Big Picture Schools, and Ann Street School!
Filed under: Youth education
Students from the Greater Newark Conservancy Junior Rangers and Saint Vincent Academy explored Newark’s riverfront and then helped design a billboard about it’s future.
Billboard design.
Exploring Newark’s riverfront.
Billboard installed.
Filed under: Building Things
Today, Mayor Cory Booker and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Jr. announced the County’s acquisition of 12.3 acres of riverfront property in the Ironbound between Oxford and Chapel Streets. Through the combined advocacy of the County, the City of Newark, Newark Riverfront Regeneration, Ironbound Community Corporation, and others, $7.7 million was made available for the acquisition by the Port Authority in support of the Habitat Estuary Program.
On December 15, over 75 Newarkers came to City Hall to learn about, discuss, and debate proposed rules to govern the future development of the Newark Riverfront. Below, please find links to download the Draft Proposal for a Newark Riverfront Development Framework that was presented at the meeting.
While many details remain to be resolved, the PDF presentation and accompanying maps (10 megabytes) provide a vision for Land Use, Height, Open Space, and Public Access along the riverfront from the North Ward through the Ironbound.
(Further background may be found in the Riverfront Development Workbooks, available for download here.)
Please share any questions or comments with a Comment Sheet. Based upon feedback received at the 12/15 public meeting and subsequently, the planning team will now complete a full draft for public review.
Stay tuned for our next public meeting in the spring later this year.
Making the Rules for Riverfront Development
Public Meeting on Newark Riverfront Development Framework
Tuesday, December 15, 6:30-8:30 pm
Newark City Hall, Basement Rotunda
920 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Please RSVP to newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com.
For decades, Newarkers have discussed visions of the waterfront, including a riverfront trail, new parks, and opportunities for development. (Some of the ways these benefits might be achieved are collected in the Riverfront Workbooks, available for download.) Following the first public meeting on October 13 and workshops in neighborhoods across the city, the project team will now present its draft proposal for discussion. Please come and join the conversation about the future of the Newark riverfront.
