Newark, NJ – August 25, 2009 – Mayor Cory A. Booker, Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell, and other Newark dignitaries joined with residents of the city’s Central Ward for a ceremony today to re-open the newly-renovated First Street Parks and Thomas Silk Park located at 258-264 First Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
 
The 85,554 square-foot area of all three city parks was renovated by MAST Construction and designed by Neglia Engineering. The renovated parks now offer residents an enhanced green space with decorative incandescent energy efficient lighting, walkways, landscaping, brick piers, and a decorative fence. In addition, the larger First Street Park, which is located at First and Third Streets, offers a new basketball court, playground equipment, bike racks, and water sprinklers.
 
“This administration has made a commitment to providing our residents with state-of-the-art recreational spaces to improve their quality of life. The renovation of these three parks will give our Central Ward residents a new green space for relaxation and recreation. Everyday in Newark we are building a stronger, safer, and prouder City,” said Mayor Booker.
 
“Our efforts to renovate Newark’s parks are one of the most significant initiatives this department has undertaken,” said Acting Director of Engineering Mehdi Mohammadish, whose department oversaw the renovation.
 
The renovation of the Thomas Silk Park, which is located at First and Fourth Streets, will give residents a new fenced in community garden with fruit trees and bushes for quiet relaxation and meditation.  In 1943, the City of Newark named the park after the first member of the City of Newark’s Fire Department who lost his life during WWII.

Newark Fire Department Director David Giordano said in a statement, “It’s great that we are continuing to recognize the legacy of one of Newark’s bravest firefighters by rehabilitating this park in his honor with a community garden. We will never forget the years of service and dedication that Thomas Silk gave to the citizens of Newark throughout his career.”
 
Pastor Thomas Reddick, Jr., the Founder and Executive Director of the Renaissance Community Development Corporation Center, blessed the parks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony and said, “The renovation of these parks represents an important step forward in the City of Newark’s neighborhood revitalization effort.  The families of this community will now have a safe place to take their children to play. Additionally, the renewal of this park gives the residents of this community an increased sense of civic pride.”
 
During the ceremony, Mayor Booker and Councilman Bell acknowledged the philanthropic support the city has received from Leon Cooperman and his family foundation which is helping to make the city's parks initiative possible.
 
“My family and I are very pleased to be a part of the GreenSpaces partnership which is helping to beautify the City of Newark,” said Leon Cooperman. “It feels wonderful to see all of the children enjoy the re-opening of these new parks today and I hope the community takes on the responsibility to ensure that First Street Parks and Thomas Silk Park remain just as beautiful two, five, ten years from now for future generations to enjoy.”
 
Councilman Bell said,” Projects like this take a cooperative effort and we need as much help as we can get. We appreciate the support of everyone who came together to make the rehabilitation of these parks possible, especially the support we have received from the Cooperman Family Foundation. Now it’s up to us as a community to maintain the beauty of this new green space.”
 
For the children from the Newark Pre-school Council Head Start Program at Garden Spires and La Casa de Don Pedro Early Childhood Pre-school who attended the ceremony, it was a great day to test out the new playground and cool off under the water sprinklers.
 
"The children are very happy and excited to have a new and safer park to play in.  When we take them outside for their daily recreational activity this will be the first stop on our route. It's amazing what a difference this makes to our neighborhood," said Martha Villegas, the Director of Early Childhood Education for La Casa de Don Pedro.
 
First Street Resident Darlene Miranda attended the park opening ceremony with her two nephews and said, "It's about time we have a safe place for the smaller children to play that is closer to their homes. This park looks beautiful and it's very much appreciated."
 
Cynthia Andrews has lived on North Seventh Street for the past 15 years and said, “I wish my daughter would have been able to grow up with a park in the neighborhood like this but I'm happy it's now a place that I can enjoy with my granddaughter."
 
The City of Newark is in the midst of its biggest park expansion and rehabilitation initiative in more than a century. The City, working with GreenSpaces, a public/private partnership, and the Trust for Public Land, has committed $40 million for parks in our City. Thus far, Newark has completed new parks and fields at West End Park, St. Peter’s Park, Ironbound B Field, Boys Park, and, in cooperation with the Newark Public Schools, has rebuilt Untermann Field, the athletic complex at Weequahic High School. In addition, Mayor Booker recently opened up the largest city-owned park in the Central Ward, named Nat Turner Park. A total of 20 new or enhanced parks are planned for completion by the end of 2010 in every ward.
 
For information about City of Newark programs you can call the Newark Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.  
 
 
Contact:  Newark Press Information Office – (973) 733-8004
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