The Revitalization of Military Park

Renewing Newark’s Town Square for the Present and Future

Prepared for the New Jersey Future Redevelopment Forum – March 13, 2015

Project Summary

• New, single-purpose, non-profit management entity, the Military Park Partnership, to ensure long-term maintenance and care

• Emphasis on filling the park with dozens of activities and amenities to draw and keep visitors

• Critical public space linking NJPAC and the Prudential Center

• Potential model for other parks and cities

Project Supporters

The MCJ Amelior Foundation

Benefits to the City of Newark

• Military Park Partnership assumes all ongoing costs for maintaining and operating Military Park, saving the City money

• Demonstrated link between public space improvements and real estate values means an increase to the City’s tax base

• Opportunities for Newark institutions, non-profit organizations, and businesses to market themselves and engage the community through park programming

• Military Park Partnership will partner with dozens of local non-profits, schools, and businesses to provide free public programming

• Permanent jobs for Newark residents

Scope of Construction Project • Restored southern plaza

offers new amenities

• 1 ¾ acres of new gardens

• Restored “Great Lawn”

• Signature floral display in antiquated reflecting pool

• Improved park lighting (paths, trees, monuments)

• Renovated garage entrance buildings

• New restaurant/café offering year-round, sit down dining

• New public restrooms

• Infrastructure to support dozens of new programs (free Wi-Fi, expanded farmers’ market, chess, musical performances, art exhibitions, etc.)

Physical Upgrades to the Park

Defunct sword pool transformed into signature floral

display.

Broken light poles replaced

throughout park.

Parking garage exit replaced by

well lit, glass building.

New trees and bushes added

around the lawn.

New planting

beds created around

monuments.

Electrical outlets installed for tree lighting

and public use (throughout park).

Trees moved 15’ toward curb to

create new plaza for community programming.

Trees moved 15’ toward curb to

create new plaza for community programming.

New gardens.

New gardens

New gardens

New gardens New gardens Restored

Great Lawn

New gardens

New plaza with restaurant (left) and

public restrooms (right).

Trinity & St. Philips Cathedral

Programming Map

Imagination Playground Children’s Arts & Crafts

Carousel (coming August 2015)

Yoga Zumba Cardio Line

Dancing

Games Cart Chess Lessons

Farmers’ Market

Signature Floral

Display

Piano

Restaurant (coming

June 2015)

Restrooms and Park Office

Reading Room Author Series

Dodge Poetry Festival Poetry Open Mic

Movie Screen

T’ai Chi Kung Meditation

Family Yoga YMCA Fitness

History Tour Starting Point

Guard d’Avant Progressive Music

Festival

Ping Pong

Lawn Games Station

Figure Drawing

Gardening Demos

Summer 2014 Calendar

Fitness Talks, Readings, and More Children's Garden Entertainment & Special Events

Full Body Cross Training with the YMCA

QBR The Black Book Review and the Harlem Book Fair present Author Talks

Chess with Newark Chess Club

A Midsummer Night's Dream with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Mondays, 11:30 am - 12:15 pm Wednesdays, 12:30 pm - 1 pm Weekdays, 4 pm- 5 pm June 21, 7 pm Saturdays, 1 pm - 2 pm

Zumba with Betty Robertson Beginner Meditation with NCMC Military Park Farmers Market Mondays, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Wednesdays, 6:15 pm - 6:45 pm Imagination Playground Tuesdays, starting at 10 am

Daily, 10:30 am - 6:45 pm Tai Chi Kung with Kazi Meditation with NCMC MP Summer Movies Tuesdays, 12pm - 1 pm Wednesdays, 7 pm MP Kids Coloring & Crafts Tuesdays at Sunset, starting July 8

Wednesdays, 10:30 am - 11:30 am Yoga with Newark Yoga Movement Poetry Open Mic Guard d'Avant Progressive Music Tuesdays, 6 pm - 7 pm Wednesdays, 7 pm Games Festival with The Honors Program Wednesdays, 12:15 pm - 1 pm Military Park Partnership Wednesdays in July, 5:30 pm

Lunch & Learn Gardening Demos Ping Pong Playoff (MPPPPP) Zumba with Ana Garcia with Greater Newark Conservancy Fridays, 12pm - 2pm Piano in the Park Thursdays, 12pm - 1pm Alternating Thursdays, 12 pm Fridays, 12:30 pm - 2pm

Military Park Board Games Mad Cool Fitness in Military Park Dodge Poetry Readings Tournament Amenities Thursdays, 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm Thursdays, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Saturdays, 3p - 5p Imagination Playground

Reading Room Line Dancing with Najah & The History Tours with NJHS Chess & Board Games Cart Brick City Soul Line Dancers Fridays and Saturdays, 12pm - 1pm Ping Pong Tables Thursdays, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Lawn Games & Fitness

Figure Drawing Equipment Family Yoga with Lotus Yoga Saturdays, 1 pm available daily, 11 am - 7 pm

Saturdays, 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Yoga with Newark Yoga Movement

Zumba with Betty Robertson

Tai Chi Kung with Kazi

Farmers Market

Chess with Newark Chess Club

Ping Pong

Reading Room

Author Readings

Poetry Open Mic

Lunchtime Poems with the Dodge Poetry Festival

History Tours with the New Jersey Historical Society

Guard d’Avant Progressive Music Festival

Imagination Playground

Story Time with the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health

Distinctive Events

Left: glass blowing demonstration and glass art workshop. Top: James Moody Jazz Festival, NPL Book Sale. Bottom: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Selected Media Coverage

“After $3M facelift, Newark's Military Park is the center of splendor”

“In Newark, a campaign to restore Military Park monuments”

“Award-winning Jersey City restaurant owners to open 'BURGer' eatery in Newark”

“Parkgoers at Military Park in Newark treated to poetry through lunchtime poems series”

“Military Park opens with music, politicians’ praise”

“Newark’s Military Park Makeover Attracts New Visitors”

“Military Park Makeover”

“Newark’s Military Park Rededicated”

Selected Media Coverage

“Behind reborn Newark oasis stands a ‘Park Whisperer’”

“ Exploring Cafes and Culture in Downtown Newark”

“Newly renovated Military Park reopens”

“Planners of reimagined Military Park planted lots of flowers. Now they want to plant people.”

Selected Media Coverage

Future Plans

• 2015

• All-college ping pong tournament in April

• Restaurant to open in June • Carousel to open in August

• 2016

• Monument restoration • Return of the Dodge Poetry

Festival

• Long-term

• Winter village and/or ice rink • Sounds of the City and other large

concerts • Accommodate new residents