Internationally Renowned James Corner Field Operations to Lead Landscape Design Efforts for Newark’s Award-Winning Riverfront Park
Newark, NJ (PRWEB) June 14, 2016 -- Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Deputy Mayor Baye Adofo-Wilson and Newark Community Economic Development Corporation Acting President and CEO Scott Blow announced today that James Corner Field Operations (Field Operations) will be the lead designer and landscape architect for over 15 acres of additional Riverfront Park space and walkways, bringing the total size of the city’s only public access to the Passaic River waterfront to well over 31 acres. Field Operations, a leading-edge, urban design, landscape architecture and public space firm is well known for their work across the river, across the country and around the world for New York City’s High Line project, Seattle’s Central Waterfront, London’s South Park at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront in Hong Kong respectively. Newark’s Riverfront Park now joins the list of large, urban, high-profile projects that the Field Operations firm will design.
The City received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Smart Growth Achievement” award in 2015 for transforming this former industrial site along the waterfront into Riverfront Park. The riverfront park system, developed in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and New Jersey's Essex County Parks Department, currently includes playing fields and courts for soccer, football, tennis and basketball. There is also a bikeway and walking trail, a riverfront boardwalk, a floating dock and playgrounds, along with signs detailing the history of the area. The next phase, under the leadership design efforts of Field Operations, will cover one mile of land along the riverfront. This phase of design and development will also improve existing walking and bike trails, provide improved lighting in the park and enhance visitors and residents’ overall park experiences.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the City of Newark to transform and re-focus itself around one of its greatest assets – the Passaic River,” said James Corner, Founder and Director of James Corner Field Operations. “With the goal of attracting more people to live in downtown Newark, this one-mile stretch of park can showcase extraordinary and ecologically sound place-making that gives Newark a new image and identity, reflecting the history, culture and resurgence of the City.”
Field Operations is one of several internationally renowned architectural firms to team up with the Baraka administration and beautify the City. In fact, Adjaye Associates is leading design efforts around an innovative art-wall project that will beautify a switching station in the City’s West Ward. And, Baraka recently unveiled “Gateways to Newark: Portraits” the longest mural on the east coast and the second-longest in the country. This project, in partnership with the Newark Downtown District was also painted by both local and international artists.
“Newark is undergoing a major revitalization that we want everyone to enjoy,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “First impressions matter and we want everyone’s first impression of our City, our gateways and our parks to be a positive one. Working with James Corner Field Operations on Riverfront Park will help give Newark the design-world credibility that we deserve. Our continued work on Riverfront Park will allow the Passaic River to serve as another front-door into the City.”
"Redevelopment and economic revitalization of a major metropolitan city require developers, financiers, architects, designers, artists, builders and the like to work together in concert, " said Deputy Mayor Baye Adofo-Wilson. “It’s when we work together for the good of the City, as we are doing here on the Riverfront Park project, that we are able to re-build a Newark for everyone.”
Funding for the entire riverfront project has come from a variety of sources, including the City of Newark, Essex County and the State of New Jersey. The Trust for Public Land also raised millions in private support from a variety of partners. “The Trust for Public Land is excited to see the City of Newark taking this major step forward to reclaim its riverfront for the public’s use and enjoyment,” said Anthony Cucchi, State Director for The Trust for Public Land. “We’re honored to join forces with the many Newark residents, community groups, funders and other partners who are committed to implementing this vision.”
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NEWARK RIVERFRONT PARK INFORMATION
Newark Riverfront Park Architectural Design Team
- James Corner Field Operations – Lead Designer – Urban Design and Landscape Architecture
- Pennoni – Civil, Structural, Environmental and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) Engineering (Newark based)
- Lomax Consulting Group – Environmental Permitting Support (New Jersey based)
- Yendor Productions – Public Art Advisor (Newark based, MBE)
- Nishuane Group – Planning and Community Engagement Advisor (New Jersey based, MBE/WBE)
- VJ Associates – Cost Estimating (New Jersey based, DBE/MBE)
The mission of the city's department of Economic and Housing Development is to create economic opportunity for Newark residents and enhance the vibrancy of our city. To this end, the department seeks to position Newark to take advantage of its unique assets, including its strategic location, a diverse and underutilized workforce, a large amount of developable land, concentration of corporate and business service firms, several major universities, and a wealth of arts and cultural assets.
James Corner Field Operations is an internationally renowned landscape architecture, urban and public realm design studio based in New York City. The practice is renowned for strong contemporary design across a variety of high-profile project types and scales, from large urban districts and complex post-industrial sites, to small well-crafted design projects. Informed by people, place and locale, Field Operations continually recalibrate the design process to reflect the nuances and intricacies of the local environment. Led by James Corner and Principals Lisa Switkin, Richard Kennedy, Tatiana Choulika and Keith O’Connor, the studio employs over 50 talented design professionals from around the world.
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.
Links to high resolution images can be found here: Riverfront images
Cheryl McCants, Impact Consulting Enterprises, http://www.eimpactconsulting.com, +1 646-872-2377, [email protected]
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