Barbour Park

New Jersey

Nov 24

Written By Sustainable Digital

Location
Paterson, NJ

Status
Stewarding

Construction Completion
2024

Site Area
1.4 acres

Construction Cost
$1.2M

People Served
19,393

Design Consultants
Remington and Vernick Engineers

Special Features
Splash pad spray play area, playground, grills, game tables

Barbour Park, a beloved pocket park in Paterson’s 4th ward, located between Fair Street and Broadway, was once so plagued by drug use and vandalism that it earned the nickname “Syringe Central”. Fortunately, a group of dedicated local activists known as “Occupy Barbour Park” worked tirelessly to take back the park: erecting a fence around the perimeter, creating controlled but regular access, picking up trash, and planting shrubs and flowers to make the park a safe and welcoming place for neighborhood families.

In 2021, Mayor Andre Sayegh, the Paterson City Council, and “Paterson Cares”, worked together to devote attention and city resources to rebuilding the park. Their hope was to transform Barbour from a troubled spot into a community gem, and they turned to New City Parks (NCP) for assistance.

Backed by enthusiastic community support, NCP organized multiple participatory design sessions to re-envision Barbour Park and developed a schematic plan for the park renovation. Guided by this vision, the City hired Remington and Vernick Engineers to create the construction drawings and awarded the construction contract to Green Valley Group, Inc.

Groundbreaking took place in April 2024 and the park re-opened five months later, on September 3, 2024.

New park features include play equipment for all ages, a splash pad, grills, picnic tables, game tables, benches, an improved lawn, and shade trees. The park is set to once again become a vibrant and family-friendly destination, fostering a sense of safety and belonging for residents and students from School No. 6 adjacent to the park. NCP is partnering with the city and local community groups to steward the park.