Stormwater management and city beautification are the goals for the revitalization of Sal Bontempo Park in Newark, Mayor Ras J. Baraka said at ground-breaking ceremonies on Wednesday, April 29.
“We talk about this project in terms of beautification, collaboration, beautiful landscaping, and the history of this landmark, but to me, stormwater management is the most significant piece,” Mayor Baraka said in a statement about the North Ward park on Bloomfield Avenue. “The storms that used to come every hundred years are coming every five now, so it’s incredibly important that we do everything we can to manage flooding.”
The park, located at 368-378 Bloomfield Avenue, in the North Ward, is a joint effort between the city and the Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway Alliance. It is named for the Newark politician who died in 1989 after serving in local, state, and federal government roles.
“The Bloomfield Avenue Lower Broadway BID is thrilled to partner with the City of Newark to renovate Sal Bontempo Park,” said the Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway Alliance (BALBA) President P.J. Calello. “This partnership not only improves a neglected park, but also enhances an iconic public space to the benefit of all. This park sits at the crossroads of several of our key businesses, First Avenue School, and the neighborhood they serve.”
Plantings, lawn, and trees will be added, and lighting and outdoor furniture will be updated, according to the city.
“Sal Bontempo Park’s defining feature is the Pequannock Gate water tower, a historic structure that designates a major aqueduct location where water from the Pequannock watershed entered Newark’s mains,” the city’s announcement noted.
