Vera Ames Park

New Jersey

Nov 19

Written By Sustainable Digital

Location
Paterson, NJ

Status
Pending Construction

Construction Completion
2025

Site Area
2 acres

Construction Cost
$3M

People Served
16,389

Design Consultants
French & Parrello Associates

Special Features
Musical themed splash pad, performance pavilion, upgraded basketball facilities

One of four projects New City Parks (NCP) is completing in the City of Paterson, Vera Ames Park (formerly Wrigley Park) is in the Fourth Ward between Rosa Parks Boulevard and Mercer Street.

Paterson, one of New Jersey’s oldest cities -- and now its third largest – is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution but was marked by dramatic decline in later half of the 20th Century. While almost a quarter of the population lives below the federal poverty line, incomes have been consistently increasing the last three years and Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is committed to the city’s transformation – including a commitment to parks as building blocks of quality of life.

The story of Vera Ames Park mirrors the city’s transitions. Gifted to the city in 1902 in memory of a prominent businessman and philanthropist, Thomas Wrigley, the park was renamed in 2021 for Paterson’s Fourth Ward’s first African American female council member.

Despite the fact that the park’s amenities and facilities are in disrepair, it provides a home to a wonderful array of robust programs, hosting summer camps, city-wide basketball tournaments, midday Bible study groups, and the Annual Day of the Babies Back-to-School Giveaway.

NCP was invited by the city to work with local leader Dr. Will Moody to coordinate the community outreach to inform the redesign of the park. The city hired French & Parrello Associates as the lead designer and NCP is collaborating with them on project management.

Originally conceived as a typical Progressive Era city square encircled by a stone wall, the revitalized park will include resurfaced basketball courts with new lighting, new hoops, bleachers and benches as well as a basketball-themed wall mural. Reflecting Paterson’s rich musical history and culture, there will be a new music-themed play area with playground equipment and music-themed splash pad, new shade structures and benches; a refurbished, reseeded lawn area, a pavilion with raised stage, and a plaza with game tables. In addition, there will be security lighting throughout the park, the stone perimeter wall will be restored, and a recognition garden for Vera Ames-Garnes will be installed.