Newark Transforms Contaminated Dumping Ground into Gorgeous Riverfront Park

Last week, Mayor Cory Booker cut the ribbon on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/newark-students-recreate-van-goghs-starry-night-using-5000-bottle-caps/">Newark</a>’s beautiful new Riverfront Park along the Passaic River. The site, once marred by contaminated soil and heavily polluted water, now boasts walking and bike paths, a floating boat dock and an 800-foot bright orange boardwalk crafted from recycled materials. Local residents are taking advantage of the new public green space where riverfront yoga, Zumba classes and live concerts will soon be regular attractions. After overcoming a decades-long fight to restore access to the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/groups-push-to-revamp-historic-port-morris-gantries-into-waterfront-park-for-the-south-bronx/">waterfront</a>, the project is now a neighborhood jewel symbolizing revitalization and restoration.

The park, designed by Lee Weintraub Landscape Architecture and Newark’s Planning Office, features a series of fun and educational pictographs engraved within the orange boardwalk’s rail.

After overcoming a decades-long fight to restore access to the waterfront, the project is now a neighborhood jewel symbolizing revitalization and restoration.

The site, once marred by contaminated soil and heavily polluted water, now boasts walking and bike paths, a floating boat dock and an 800-foot bright orange boardwalk crafted from recycled materials.

Visitors can learn about Combined Sewer Overflow, the town of Harrison, the Dioxin Disaster, the Jackson Street Bridge, and the Passaic River as they stroll along the boardwalk.

Metal lounge chairs are perfect for taking in the summer breeze and tall vertical beams provide inspiration for a great game of tag.

Local residents are taking advantage of the new public green space where riverfront yoga, Zumba classes and live concerts will soon be regular attractions.