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White House Official Joins With Mayor Booker to Open Largest City-Owned Park In Heart of Central Ward

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 July 2009, 13:20 CDT

Nine-acre Nat Turner Park offers area residents state-of-the-art athletic field, running track, green spaces, playground, and amphitheatre

NEWARK, N.J., July 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mayor Cory A. Booker; White House Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew; Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.; Newark Municipal Council Members; The Trust for Public Land Vice President Rose Harvey; President and CEO of The New York Giants John Mara; Former New York Giant Tiki Barber; The Friends of Nat Turner Park and other dignitaries joined the Central Ward's Springfield Avenue community, and other supporting donors, to cut the ribbon to open Nat Turner Park - Newark's newest and largest city-owned park. The nine-acre facility was designed in part by members of the community and students from three adjacent schools.

The construction of Nat Turner Park was highlighted in the Mayor's 2008 State of the City Address as the largest city-owned park initiative in the history of Newark and is an example of the Mayor's commitment to expand and rehabilitate parks throughout the City with state-of-the-art amenities. The new park includes an amphitheatre, community event space, a multi-purpose athletic field, 400-meter regulation track, ornamental perimeter fencing, a playground, picnic areas, and streetscape improvements-all elements requested by community members.

"We have made the dream of a quality, modern, park in the heart of our Central Ward a reality thanks to the partnership we have built with The Trust for Public Land, Newark Public Schools and the creativity and input of the Central Ward community," Mayor Booker said. "Together, we have manifested the spiritual strength that enables us to transform our city into a national leader in urban transformation. We are creating positive social change by improving the quality of life for every resident of our community."

The Mayor also paid tribute to the Central Ward residents who fought for the park. "More than 30 years ago when so many people were leaving Newark and giving up, a small group of residents did not give up. Instead they stood up during those difficult times to form The Friends of Nat Turner Park and advocated tirelessly to keep this land preserved so that one day, this park would be possible."

The land has been owned by the City of Newark since the 1970s. The park is named for black leader Nat Turner, born to a slave family in Virginia in 1800. On August 2, 1831, he led a successful slave revolt, but was later hanged for his rebellious actions. In the 1970s, a group of Central Ward community activists demanded green space because of the lack of major parks in the area. They eventually won the right to have and name a park in the Central Ward.

Roger Smythe, a longtime Central Ward community activist, who was instrumental in creating the park, discussed the project's importance in historic terms. "This project began in the 1970s, during a period of change and conscience, when we began to recognize African-American heroes like Nat Turner. I'm grateful to The Trust for Public Land and Mayor Booker for making this park a reality."

"In a city where more than 50 percent of its children do not live within walking distance to a public park, Mayor Booker's plans to create and revitalize more than 20 parks and playgrounds throughout Newark are both bold and absolutely necessary. By creating a partnership with TPL, the State of New Jersey, private funders and the community, Mayor Booker is quickly succeeding in implementing his vision for quality parks in all neighborhoods of Newark. Nat Turner Park is just one of many on-the-ground examples of how this partnership is leading to real improvements in communities. The Obama administration subscribes to the same belief as you all today: that access to clean, healthy parks is a right, not a privilege, and an absolutely critical component to building livable communities," Mr. Agnew said.

Lead funding for Nat Turner Park was provided by the City of Newark, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Victoria Foundation. Additional support was contributed by Essex County Recreation & Open Space Trust Fund, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, The Kresge Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation's NFL Grassroots Program, National Recreation Foundation, New York Giants, The Prudential Foundation, and New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority. The project was completed in partnership with Newark Public Schools, Springfield/Belmont Super Neighborhood Council, and Friends of Nat Turner Park.

Working in partnership with the City of Newark, Newark Public Schools, and the Central Ward community, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization, took the lead in fundraising and managing the design and construction of Nat Turner Park. Notably, TPL involved the community, including students from three nearby schools, in the process of designing the new park. Nat Turner Park will provide recreation opportunities for the Central Ward's Springfield neighborhood. It is adjacent to Hayes Park West Pool and Recreation Center and surrounded by multi-family residential housing and several schools, including Eighteenth Avenue School, Cleveland School, and the new Central High School.

"Our involvement with Nat Turner Park reflects TPL's ongoing commitment to help in solving the need for recreational open space in the city," said Anthony Cucchi, TPL's New Jersey state director. "Urban parks are a critical component to building sustainable neighborhoods and a good quality of life for residents in Newark and other cities, and we are thrilled that Nat Turner Park is now open to the public."

Participatory design is a signature of TPL's park creation program. The process is both educational and rewarding, helping to establish a community investment in the new park and playground. Guided by a Master Plan Steering Committee with representatives from the City of Newark, Newark Public Schools, and the community, TPL held a series of workshops with local residents and students, providing them with the opportunity to set priorities for the park and create their own models of the design. Other critical factors in the park's success were $3 million in cleanup funding from the state Department of Environmental Protection and $2.1 million in Green Acres funding for the construction of the park's new amenities.

"We are proud to be one of the contributing partners of the City of Newark's new Nat Turner Park. Green spaces are important resources in urban centers like Essex County, providing an oasis for residents of all ages," said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. "There is no doubt that Nat Turner Park will have a positive impact on the immediate neighborhood, and the entire City of Newark. We congratulate Mayor Booker and the community activists who made this happen."

This project is part of The Trust for Public Land's Parks for People-Newark program, launched in 1995 to address the lack of outdoor recreational space in Newark's neighborhoods. TPL is currently working to bring a $30 million investment into eleven of Newark's parks and playgrounds. Other projects include the renovations of Jesse Allen Park, the creation of a new school playground, the expansion of play space at two existing playgrounds, and park development along the Passaic River waterfront. For more information on TPL visit www.tpl.org/newark.

About the City of Newark, New Jersey

Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of over 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation's largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its 6 major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cityofnewarknj

SOURCE City of Newark, Press Information Office

Source: PR Newswire

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