Riverbank Park
{{About|a park in Newark|the park in Manhattan|Riverbank State Park}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Riverbank Park
| nrhp_type =
| image = Soccer_Ground.jpg
| caption = A soccer field in Riverbank Park
| nearest_city = Newark, New Jersey
| coordinates = {{coord|40|43|55|N|74|9|9|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = USA New Jersey Essex County#New Jersey#USA
| built = 1907
| architect = Olmsted Brothers
| architecture = Urban Park
| added = April 16, 1998
| area = {{convert|10.8|acre}}
| refnum = 98000351{{NRISref|2009a}}
| designated_other1_name = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
| designated_other1_abbr = NJRHP
| designated_other1_link = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
| designated_other1_date = October 29, 1999
| designated_other1_number = 60{{cite web | title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Essex County | url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/essex.pdf | publisher=New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office | page=3 | date=January 10, 2010 | access-date=April 13, 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327025729/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/essex.pdf | archivedate=March 27, 2009 }}
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| designated_other1_color = #ffc94b
}}
Riverbank Park is a park in the Ironbound section of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The park was opened in 1910{{Cite web|url=http://dana.njit.edu/files/original/1c805768a95c3b9bf48ec1a6bce2c5b9.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form|website=Digital Archive of Newark Architecture (NJIT)|access-date=2019-04-19}} and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/55294/PDF/1/play/|title=Give Me A "Ball Park Figure": Creating Civic Narratives Through Stadium Building in Newark, New Jersey|last=Troiano|first=Laura|website=RUCore|access-date=2019-04-19}} It is the smallest and one of the most heavily used parks in the Essex County Park System.{{cite web|url=http://www.newarkhistory.com/riverbank.html|title=Riverbank Park, Newark|publisher=newarkhistory.com|access-date=June 21, 2016}}
History
The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. The park land was acquired in 1907 and construction finished in 1910. 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.
An expansion took place between 1926 and 1931. 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.
In 1996, there was an attempt to build the Newark Bears, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium at the site of the park, demolishing the park.{{Cite book|title=No minor accomplishment : the revival of New Jersey professional baseball|last=Golon, Bob|date=2008|publisher=Rivergate Books|isbn=9780813542744|oclc=895786285}} SPARK (Save the Park At RiverbanK) is a community group formed to save the park from destruction. After an unsuccessful attempt to save the park via referendum, they were able to protect it through inclusion in the National Historic Register.
SPARK's work also resulted in the remediation of contaminated soil, which was completed in 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://essexcountynj.org/essex-county-executive-divincenzo-announces-completion-of-project-to-modernize-essex-county-riverbank-park-playground-riverbank-facility-is-first-of-five-playgrounds-to-be-upgraded-this-year/|title=The County of Essex, New Jersey {{!}} ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF PROJECT TO MODERNIZE ESSEX COUNTY RIVERBANK PARK PLAYGROUND Riverbank Facility is First of Five Playgrounds to be Upgraded this Year|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-19}}
In August 2011, plans were announced to create Newark Riverfront Park, next door to Riverbank Park along the Passaic River{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/gov_christie_notes_cooperation.html|title=Gov. Chris Christie touts bipartisanship in Newark park project|publisher=nj.com|access-date=June 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/essex_county_opens_riverfront.html|title=Essex County opens Riverfront Park in Newark, a 30-year dream come true|publisher=nj.com|access-date=June 21, 2016}}[http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/construction_begins_in_newarks.html construction begins] Newark Star Ledger which opened in August 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/with_riverfront_park_newark_reacquaints_itself_with_the_passaic_river.html|title=With Riverfront Park, Newark reacquaints itself with the Passaic River | NJ.com|publisher=nj.com|access-date=June 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=6863|title=Play Along the Passaic - Archpaper.com|publisher=archpaper.com|access-date=June 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://inhabitat.com/nyc/newark-transforms-contaminated-dumping-ground-into-gorgeous-riverfront-park/|title=Newark Transforms Contaminated Dumping Ground into Gorgeous Riverfront Park | Inhabitat New York City|publisher=inhabitat.com|access-date=June 21, 2016}}{{cite web |date=April 2013 |url=http://newarksriver.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/130807newarksriver.pdf |title=Newark’s River: Public Access & Redevelopment Plan |publisher=Newark Planning Office, Department of Economic & Housing Development |access-date=December 24, 2022}} A further extension of parkland along the river was announced in June 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.placenj.com/2016/06/expansion-of-newarks-riverfront-park-to.html|title=Expansion of Newark's Riverfront Park to Bridge Street Moves Forward|website=www.PlaceNJ.com|access-date=November 20, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/was_a_167m_park_project_key_to_a_political_endorse.html|title=Was this $16.7M park key to a critical political endorsement for Christie?|website=NJ.com|access-date=November 20, 2017}} Work proceeded in 2017. Eventually it will reach Bridge Street Bridge.{{cite web|url=https://jerseydigs.com/newark-riverfront-park-construction-progress/|title=Construction Underway to Expand Newark’s Riverfront Park - Jersey Digs|date=November 1, 2017|website=JerseyDigs.com|access-date=November 20, 2017}}
Programming
Currently, SPARK hosts programs in the park including a Learning Program with the New Jersey Historical Society and Greater Newark Conservancy, movie nights{{Cite web|url=https://www.newarkpulse.com/events/event/115235/riverbank-park-family-movie-night-kung-fu-panda-iii|title=Riverbank Park Family Movie Night: Kung Fu Panda III|website=www.newarkpulse.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-19}} and Music and Art Day.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/bzakcohen/status/865943647996567553|title=Making birthday cards for Riverbank Park at music and art Day @IronboundCC @nwkriverfrontpic.twitter.com/XIupUNen6P|last=Zak-Cohen|first=Beth|date=2017-05-20|website=@bzakcohen|language=en|access-date=2019-04-19}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Essex County Parks, New Jersey}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
Category:1907 establishments in New Jersey
Category:Parks in Essex County, New Jersey
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Newark, New Jersey
Category:Geography of Newark, New Jersey
Category:County parks in New Jersey
Category:New Jersey Register of Historic Places
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