Filed under: Public Programs
On Saturday, May 25, come explore the Ironbound Riverfront!
This walking tour will cover nearly 2 miles of the Newark riverfront between Penn Station and Chapel Street: its history, current developments, and visions for its future. Newarkers have been working for more than three decades to create public access to the river; come see how far we’ve come!
Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy closed-toe shoes. You are encouraged to bring a bottle of water.
Saturday, May 25, 2013, 11 am–1 pm
Meet at Newark Penn Station Info Booth
Free and open to the public, but RSVP required!
(973) 733-5736
newarkriverfront [at] gmail [dot] com
UPDATE: The tour has reached capacity, but please call or email to be placed on the waiting list and to receive news of future tours.
Filed under: Building Things
UPDATED Thanks to everyone who shared their suggestions and comments. We got great ideas like adding Kreyol (Newark’s fourth most-spoken language) to the welcomes and showing Speedway School in the West Ward. Sorry we can’t show every park or every Essex County park in the city!
Help us finish the welcome sign for the second segment of riverfront park. What buildings do you recognize or not? What looks good? What looks funny? Post comments here or write newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com.
Click on image for larger version.
A triple-play of Passaic coverage from the Star-Ledger:
“The river walkers stop in their tracks and there is a collective gasp. There are the first orange planks of a boardwalk.”
Star-Ledger, April 14, 2013: Five reasons to clean up the Passaic River
Star-Ledger, April 14, 2013: A grand adventure on the Passaic River: A Q&A with Mary Bruno
Star-Ledger, April 14, 2013: The attempted murder of the Passaic River
Filed under: Building Things
For the first time in 100 years, Newark has a public boat dock. Connected to the orange boardwalk, the dock is made from plastic panels measuring 60 feet across and 10 feet wide. The dock floats, held in place by “strong-arm connectors” attached to the boardwalk. Purchase and installation was funded by a grant to Newark Riverfront Revival from the New Jersey Department of Transportation Office of Maritime Service’s I BOAT NJ Program, which uses a fraction of registration fees paid by boaters to improve public maritime infrastructure. Thanks to the I BOAT NJ team for their patience and continuous helpfulness!
The dock was designed with events like the Passaic River Paddle Relay and Project USE’s boatbuilding program in mind. Newark Riverfront Revival is working to recommend procedures and rules for the dock’s operations. If you are involved with boating, or want to become involved with this effort, email Newark Riverfront Revival.
Filed under: Other river news
NorthJersey.com, January 16, 2013: EPA to outline plans tonight for removal of dioxin-laden mud from Passaic River
Star-Ledger, February 25, 2013: Resolution may be near for towns, companies dragged into massive N.J. pollution case
Star-Ledger, March 24, 2013: 70 firms devise strategy to quash EPA’s plans for Passaic River cleanup
Filed under: Building Things
Following last summer’s opening of Essex County Riverfront Park, Newark’s next segment of riverfront park is nearing completion between Oxford and Van Buren Streets. One of the park’s special elements is a 1000-foot-long orange boardwalk built from recycled plastic planks.
The Orange Boardwalk intersects with the path down from Raymond Boulevard near the Dancing Pavilion.
At Somme Street, the structures for the Overlook and the Osprey Rook have appeared.
Filed under: Building Things
The Seidler Chemical building overlooking Essex County Riverfront Park is transforming into a gigantic panting.
A partnership between the wall’s owner, Seidler Chemical, and the Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) nominated the wall to the Newark Public Art Program‘s annual Call for Walls, explaining that the story of community organizing behind the new park deserved to be told through public art in the park itself. As one of six selected sites for 2012, the Newark Public Art Program convened and led a team of artists headed by Kevin Sampson to work with ICC and Ironbound residents to develop the design and produce the mural.
The painting shows a fantasy steampunk version of the area’s relationship to the river, visualizing how the river, the city, and residents have mechanically grown into one another in both amazing productive and frighteningly poisonous ways. Most of all it shows how people have come together to improve this system, including creating the park that the mural overlooks. The painting team has been hard at work up and down scaffolding on dry days and expects to finish in 2013.
Filed under: Youth education
For the next two years, Ironbound Community Corporation and Newark Riverfront Revival have been awarded funding through the EPA’s Urban Waters program to develop and deliver educational programs for Newark young people about the Passaic River and the politics of the environment.
We are working to recruit a group of young people to work regularly on the project and create materials to help educate the rest of their city.
For our first project, we worked with a group of students from East Side High School. We met early at Cortlandt Street Family Success Center. Nice mural!
The aftermath of Sandy was apparent. The Center was being used as a distribution point for emergency supplies. The goal of the workshop was to gather evidence about how the storm affected Newark.
We visited “the Island,” a part of the Ironbound close to Route 1&9.
We took notes and made photographs.
Here, the impact of the storm was clear and frightening. Many houses had been declared unsafe by the Buildings Department. Some had foundations that had completely collapsed.
We drove near the Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority, which has been in the news due to problems caused by the storm. A guard advised us to move along.
Closer to the seaport, we began to notice strange things about fences.
We could not prove it, but it was easy to imagine these objects being put here by a large gush of water.
Besides the guard, we didn’t see many people. We did see signs of what kinds of businesses exist in this part of the city.
A few times, we saw standing pools of water, but it was difficult to tell if it was a usual situation or caused by the storm.
Stay tuned for further river-related explorations.
Filed under: Public Programs
On Saturday, September 15, join Newarkers and guests in conversation to celebrate the city’s commitment to reviving its riverfront. Speakers and audience members will reflect on lessons learned and brainstorm for the future. How can the riverfront continue to provide concrete benefits to Newark and its residents, manifest the city’s fierce pride, and build on its deep and rich culture?
Newark Riverfront Summit
Saturday, Sept 15, 5-7 pm
Newark Museum
49 Washington St
Newark, NJ 07102
Seating is limited. RSVP to newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com or (201) 563-2834.
Free & open to the public
Event sponsored by Loeb Fellowship Alumni Council and New Jersey Council on the Humanities. Organized by Newark Riverfront Revival, Friends of Riverfront Park, City of Newark, Essex County Parks System, and Ironbound Community Corporation.
Filed under: Public Programs
On Friday, September 14, join us for a free Riverfront Jazz R&B concert featuring Newark’s own Melectrix band and environmental justice storytelling from some of the city’s most experienced community activists.
Riverfront Jazz R&B and Environmental Justice Storytelling
Friday, Sept 14, 6:30 pm
Essex County Riverfront Park
Raymond Blvd at Brill St
Newark, NJ 07105
M1 bus to Ferry & Chrystie Streets, walk north 2 blocks.
Free & open to the public
Bring lawnchairs & blankets!
Event sponsored by Loeb Fellowship Alumni Council and New Jersey Council on the Humanities. Organized by Friends of Riverfront Park, Newark Riverfront Revival, City of Newark, Essex County Parks System, and Ironbound Community Corporation.
Filed under: Building Things
Filed under: Public Programs
Environmental remediation underway.
Essex County Riverfront Park seen from the water
Second segment of riverfront park under construction.
Filed under: Public Programs
We are happy to announce the beginning of free public exercise classes in Essex County Riverfront Park.
Starting Monday, July 9, and continuing throughout the month, free yoga classes will be offered every Monday and free Zumba sessions will be offered every Tuesday. Both classes take place in the Meadow, reached by entering the park at Raymond and Brill and walking to the right towards the river. Participants should arrive 15 minutes before class begins, and yoga participants should bring a mat or blanket.
Free Public Riverfront Yoga & Zumba
Yoga: Monday nights, 6-7 pm (July 9, 16, 23, 30)
Zumba: Tuesday nights, 6-7 pm (July 10, 17, 24, 31)
Organized by Friends of Riverfront Park, Newark Riverfront Revival, Ironbound Community Corporation, and Essex County Parks System.
Filed under: Public Programs
On June 2, Newarkers gathered from all five wards and beyond to walk with the Malcolm X. Shabazz & East Side Marching Bands from City Hall to the Passaic River.
Filed under: Public Programs
On Saturday, June 2, hundreds and hundreds of Newarkers and visitors gathered to celebrate the new Essex County Riverfront Park with style.
The Malcolm X. Shabazz ROTC & Marching Band led the Walk to the Water into the park.
Two trumpets and a drum performed the National Anthem.
Famed historian of Newark Dr. Clement A. Price reflected on the meaning of the day.
Capoeira demonstration by Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira.
Drum circle led by Joni Wellness.
Ecuadoran dancers!
Zumba!
Tiles painted by young and old sharing their experience of the day, to be used in the future as part of a riverfront public art project.
East Side High School Winter Guard!
Oliver Street School Step Dancers!
The Trust for Public Land brought something called a Sewer-in-a-Suitcase to help us understand something called Combined Sewer Overflow!
Traditional Portuguese musicians & dancers!
Yoga class!
Hand-made Portuguese boat!
Bill Good & the band!
Weequahic Park Association represented!
Newark’s Double Dutch team!
Poet Elijah Brown shuts it down
Filed under: Making the Rules for Development
We are happy to release the revised draft of Newark’s River: Public Access & Redevelopment Plan.
This plan updates Newark’s municipal development regulations along five miles of the city’s Passaic Riverfront. It replaces fifty-year-old zoning regulations primarily planned for industrial uses and lacking specific riverfront provisions with a legal framework that allows new uses and mixes of uses, consolidates design standards to create valuable urban places, and provides for public access as required by federal and state law.
Following the release of the public draft on February 27, 2012, a public information session was held at Newark City Hall on March 13, and public comments were collected until March 26. The revised draft represents many small changes made in response to these comments.
A hearing on this plan is scheduled before the Newark Central Planning Board on Monday, June 11, 2012, starting at 6:30 pm at Newark City Hall, 920 Broad Street, in the 2nd floor Council Chambers.
Download the revised plan here (PDF, 17 mb).
Download a synopsis of public comments & responses here (PDF, 150 kb).
For additional background, see the following:
Newark Riverfront Progress Report, August 2010
Draft Proposal: Newark Riverfront Development Framework, January 2010
Making the Rules for Riverfront Development: The Workbook, October 2009
Filed under: Other river news
WCBS 880, 4/27/12: Recycling a River
Newark, NJ Patch, 5/28/12: Judge: Company Liable in Passaic River Contamination
Star-Ledger, 5/30/12: Essex County opens Riverfront Park in Newark, a 30-year dream come true
NJtoday.net, 7/17/12: On The Waterfront, At Last
Plus, the Booker Administration and the Newark Municipal Council have declared their #2 accomplishment of the last five years as “Reconnected Newark to its River”!
After decades of advocacy, organizing, and hard work, this year will see the opening of two segments of Riverfront Park in Newark. The first segment opens June 2. Please join Newarkers and others to celebrate!
1. June 2: Walk to the Water
Saturday, June 2, 10:30 am
Meet on front steps of City Hall, 920 Broad St
Join Newarkers, the Shabazz High School Marching Band, and more to walk from Newark City Hall to the riverfront! We’ll have supplies to paint signs to carry and represent your neighborhood or organization.
To learn more & RSVP:
Call Riverfront Coordinator Chris Caceres at (201) 563-2834
Email newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com.
2. June 2: Celebrate the opening of Essex County Riverfront Park
Saturday June 2, 2012, 11 am–7 pm
Raymond Blvd and Brill St
M1 bus to Ferry & Chrystie Streets, then walk 2 blocks north
Bring lawnchairs & blankets!
11 am–12:30 pm Eighth Annual Passaic River Paddle Relay Race
See the finish of the race!
12:30–1:30 pm Community Dedication
Commemorate the efforts of many to create the new park, with remarks by historian Dr. Clement Price.
1:30–4:30 pm Riverfront Jamboree
Fun & free activities like capoeira, tennis, yoga, step dancing, art-making, face-painting, Double Dutch & Zumba!
4:30–7 pm Evening Performances
Jazz & Blues, Spoken Word, DJ & Dancing.
Organized by Friends of Riverfront Park, Newark Riverfront Revival, Essex County Parks System, Councilman Augusto Amador, & Assemblyman Albert Coutinho. Thanks to support from NY-NJ Habitat Estuary Program, Seidler Chemical Company, The Trust for Public Land, Sovereign Bank, & Fernandes Steak House.
For more information:
Visit http://www.newarksriver.wordpress.com
Call Riverfront Coordinator Chris Caceres at (201) 563-2834
Email newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com.
Filed under: Other river news
As construction continues immediately to the east on two segments of Riverfront Park, the lights shining up on the Jackson Street Bridge have been re-lit, a beacon for the city’s connection to and across the water.
Filed under: Building Things
From Van Buren to Brill Street, Newark’s riverfront is changing quickly. See the design for the parks under construction here.
Filed under: Making the Rules for Development
We are happy to release the public draft of Newark’s River: A Public Access & Redevelopment Plan.
This plan updates Newark’s municipal development regulations along five miles of the city’s Passaic Riverfront. It replaces fifty-year-old zoning regulations primarily planned for industrial uses and lacking specific riverfront provisions with a legal framework that allows new uses and mixes of uses, consolidates design standards to create valuable urban places, and provides for public access as required by federal and state law.
Download the draft plan here (PDF, 17 mb).
On Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 6 pm, there will be a public information session at Newark City Hall, 920 Broad Street, first floor rotunda. Please RSVP to (973) 733-3917 or newarkriverfront [at] gmail.com.
Questions and comments on the draft are requested by 5 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2012 to the email or postal address below. For ease of communication, please reference the page number(s) your comment addresses.
Damon Rich, Chief Urban Designer City of Newark 920 Broad Street Room 407 Newark, NJ 07102 richda [at] ci.newark.nj.usAfter the comment period ends, a revised draft will be submitted for approval to the Newark Central Planning Board and the Newark Municipal Council.
For additional background, see the following:
Newark Riverfront Progress Report, August 2010
Draft Proposal: Newark Riverfront Development Framework, January 2010
Making the Rules for Riverfront Development: The Workbook, October 2009
Filed under: Public Programs
On February 2, 28 people came together in Riverbank Park Fieldhouse for the first meeting of Friends of Riverfront Park.
This group will work to fill the park with positive activity, ensure public safety, and make sure that everyone in Newark has a reason to come to check out the city’s newest parks as soon as they are open. Meetings will be monthly, with more frequent committee meetings. To get involved, email us.
Download the 2/2/12 agenda and hand-outs here (3 mb).
Essex County Parks System Director Dan Salvante answers questions.
