100 Steps and Latona Griffin Park

New Jersey

Nov 17

Written By Sustainable Digital

Location
Passaic, NJ

Status
Completed

Construction Completion
2021

Site Area
.1 acres

Construction Cost
$1M

People Served
56,533

Design Consultants
City of Passaic

Special Features
New staircase with accent railings and lighting

Passaic, NJ, one of the most densely populated cities in the USA, is home to the iconic 100 Steps, a monumental set of stairs connecting Harrison Street below to Spruce Street and Latona-Griffin Park above. Built in the early 1900s, for many residents the Steps are much more than just slabs of concrete on a hill. "When I was in high school, in ROTC, we used to go up and down the steps as exercise," resident Jose Pirul said. "It's part of my childhood. We spent a lot of time going up and down the steps."

Despite their local significance, the Steps became hazardous due to neglect and were barricaded for almost two decades. Repairing the 100 Steps and revitalizing the abandoned Latona-Griffin Park (named after two Passaic firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty) was a priority for Hector Lora, Mayor of Passaic. His goal was to give the community, including the nearby elementary school students at Ulysses S. Grant School #7, a place to gather, exercise, and connect with nature. With New City Parks’ (NCP) design and engineering assistance, Passaic raised capital dollars to complete the full makeover of the 100 Steps along with the revitalization of the park in August 2021. The surrounding community and the elementary school can once again enjoy the park and utilize this vital pedestrian connector and point of city pride.