Riverbank Park | |
Nearest city | Newark, New Jersey |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°43′55″N 74°9′9″W / 40.73194°N 74.15250°W |
Area | 10.8 acres (4.4 ha) |
Built | 1907 |
Architect | Olmsted Brothers |
Architectural style | Urban Park |
NRHP reference No. | 98000351 [1] |
NJRHP No. | 60 [2] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 16, 1998 |
Designated NJRHP | October 29, 1999 |
Riverbank Park is a park in the Ironbound section of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The park was opened in 1910 [3] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1998. [4] It is the smallest and one of the most heavily used parks in the Essex County Park System. [5]
The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. [3] The park land was acquired in 1907 and construction finished in 1910. [3] A driving force behind the building of the park was Franklin Murphy (governor) who wanted his workers at the Murphy Varnish Works to have open space. [5]
An expansion took place between 1926 and 1931. [3] The baseball fields are on the former location of the Balbach Smelting & Refining Company, one of the largest metal processing companies in the country, which closed in the 1920s. [5]
In 1996, there was an attempt to build the Newark Bears, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium at the site of the park, demolishing the park. [6] SPARK (Save the Park At RiverbanK) is a community group formed to save the park from destruction. [6] After an unsuccessful attempt to save the park via referendum, they were able to get the park on the National Historic Register. [4]
SPARK's work also resulted in a remediation of contaminated soil in the park, which was completed in 2003. [7]
In August 2011, plans were announced to create Newark Riverfront Park, next door to Riverbank Park along the Passaic River [8] [9] [10] which opened in August 2012. [11] [12] [13] [14] A further extension of parkland along the river was announced in June 2016. [15] [16] Work proceeded in 2017. Eventually it will reach Bridge Street Bridge. [17]
Currently, SPARK hosts programs in the park including a Learning Program with the New Jersey Historical Society and Greater Newark Conservancy, [4] movie nights [18] and Music and Art Day. [19]
Riverbank Park | |
Nearest city | Newark, New Jersey |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°43′55″N 74°9′9″W / 40.73194°N 74.15250°W |
Area | 10.8 acres (4.4 ha) |
Built | 1907 |
Architect | Olmsted Brothers |
Architectural style | Urban Park |
NRHP reference No. | 98000351 [1] |
NJRHP No. | 60 [2] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 16, 1998 |
Designated NJRHP | October 29, 1999 |
Riverbank Park is a park in the Ironbound section of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The park was opened in 1910 [3] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1998. [4] It is the smallest and one of the most heavily used parks in the Essex County Park System. [5]
The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. [3] The park land was acquired in 1907 and construction finished in 1910. [3] A driving force behind the building of the park was Franklin Murphy (governor) who wanted his workers at the Murphy Varnish Works to have open space. [5]
An expansion took place between 1926 and 1931. [3] The baseball fields are on the former location of the Balbach Smelting & Refining Company, one of the largest metal processing companies in the country, which closed in the 1920s. [5]
In 1996, there was an attempt to build the Newark Bears, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium at the site of the park, demolishing the park. [6] SPARK (Save the Park At RiverbanK) is a community group formed to save the park from destruction. [6] After an unsuccessful attempt to save the park via referendum, they were able to get the park on the National Historic Register. [4]
SPARK's work also resulted in a remediation of contaminated soil in the park, which was completed in 2003. [7]
In August 2011, plans were announced to create Newark Riverfront Park, next door to Riverbank Park along the Passaic River [8] [9] [10] which opened in August 2012. [11] [12] [13] [14] A further extension of parkland along the river was announced in June 2016. [15] [16] Work proceeded in 2017. Eventually it will reach Bridge Street Bridge. [17]
Currently, SPARK hosts programs in the park including a Learning Program with the New Jersey Historical Society and Greater Newark Conservancy, [4] movie nights [18] and Music and Art Day. [19]