Spring has arrived and beckons us outside, as signs of new life begin to transform our communities. From the smallest street trees to the largest local parks, barren branches are replaced with shades of green and new blooms bring a symphony of colors. As the days grow longer, there is a bit more skip in our steps and we are reminded that we are all part of this awakening too. 

Each and every one of us benefits from the opportunity to connect with nature as part of our daily life. This understanding is a big part of what motivates New City Parks (NCP) as we work to provide vibrant, safe parks so that everyone can experience the wonder of watching a flower bud or a bird snag a worm. 

Over the last few months, NCP has made great progress towards creating and rehabilitating more parks in more places where they are the most needed.  

This March, the final piece of the funding puzzle in NCP’s efforts to rehabilitate Paterson’s 27-acre Westside Park fell into place with the award of a $4.9 million federal grant from the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program. NCP’s public finance team provided critical hands-on technical support and know-how to apply for and ultimately secure this funding. Paterson was one of only 14 cities across the nation to be awarded a grant. 

Schematic Plan by NV5 for Westside Park in Paterson, NJ

Westside’s transformation will include a complete overhaul of the recreation facilities, including the tennis courts, a baseball field, and the Totowa Oval complex, which will be used for football, baseball, and cricket. There will also be a new park circulation system that favors pedestrians and cyclists, including an extension of the riverwalk along the Passaic River. 

Mayor Andre Sayegh praised NCP’s team: “NCP’s process of working closely with local groups and members of the community means that Westside Park truly reflects the communities’ wishes and visions. It will be a place where they can bring their families to walk, to play sports, to get fresh air, and to gather socially. The City of Paterson is fortunate to have them as a close partner in this transformative work.” 

Finished PS30 Schoolyard in Jersey City, NJ

NCP’s successful transformation of Jersey City’s PS 30 schoolyard into an oasis for play, nature, and learning has catalyzed a new district-wide commitment to create 12 additional green schoolyards. NCP is already underway on stakeholder outreach and designs for the next two schoolyards, PS 12 and PS 34, which will feature areas for play and sports, rain gardens and trees, and unique elements such as water sprays and murals. This new initiative is a shining example of how NCP’s work not only creates dynamic new open spaces, but also creates the inspiration and momentum needed to shift existing systems in the places we work in, generating investment for more open spaces in more neighborhoods.

Existing conditions (left/top) and preliminary design (right/bottom) for PS 34 Schoolyard

A basketball game at Malcolm X Park in Poughkeepsie, NY. Photo courtesy of ScenicHudson.org

Earlier this year, NCP joined over 140 other nonprofits, health systems, insurers, food banks, municipalities, and universities across the country, with a commitment towards the Biden Administration’s White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. NCP met the call to improve health outcomes for millions of Americans by 2030 by pledging to create 20 new parks in low-income areas that sorely lack access. Healthy communities are places where every resident, child and family can get outdoors and access a great park.