In process mural at PS 34 in Jersey City, NJ. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Brown

The sun is high, the temperature is warm, the days are long, and our parks are coming alive! Neighbors are venturing out and filling NCP's seven completed parks with laughter and connection. NCP is sticking with our newest parks to ensure they are welcoming, well programmed, and well maintained. And for those underway, the weather is prime for site visits, outreach, and lots of construction progress.

It is not all fun in the sun. Spring is also the time for large community meetings in places like libraries to ensure local voices shape the design of their neighborhood parks. It's also deadline season for many of the public grant applications being compiled on behalf of so many of our cities.

Below is a seasonal glimpse of our progress at every step in the park creation process. Just like gardeners, we sow seeds today so that parks can blossom in the future. I look forward to sharing more updates with you as more and more parks take root.

Rose

The first feature of Westside Park is now complete! In April, NCP was honored to join Mayor Sayegh, the Paterson City Council, and the community in honoring baseball great Johnny Briggs to cut the ribbon for the renovated baseball facility – new field, lights, scoreboard, and bleachers – that bears his name.

Earlier this spring, NCP joined the U.S. Soccer foundation (USSF), the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/NJ Host Committee, NJ First Gentleman Jason Hedberg, and Jersey City Public Schools to celebrate the opening of a soccer mini-pitch recently installed at PS 17. The mini-pitch is just the first phase and catalyst for the development of the whole schoolyard being spearheaded by NCP.

As our finished parks in Paterson, Barbour and Vera Ames, come to life this season, the joy we see as people get outside is a strong reminder of why we do this work. We're excited to bring our Mini-Grant program to these new parks to foster new energy, activities, and community connection. NCP has funded 10 community organizations to create free programs running from June through September. Residents can look forward to arts and crafts, music, sports, community safety, mental health, and more.

A well-loved, well-used, and well-maintained park is the product of care and attention that begins long before the ribbon is cut. NCP embeds planning for maintenance into every design choice and community conversation. With Westside Park's renovation underway, and completion slated for later this year, NCP is working with the City of Paterson and community partner NJCDC to create a durable structure for the long-term care of all new amenities.

NCP's very own Design & Project Management Director, Emmanuel Thingue, was recently awarded a 2026 MASterworks Design Award by the Municipal Arts Society. He and his team at NYC Parks were recognized for creating a Best New Landscape with their work on the dynamic Kelly Park Playground in the Homecrest neighborhood of Brooklyn. NCP was thrilled to join the Celebrating the City ceremony in April as an event sponsor, and to recognize all the amazing projects and people that shape NYC!