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Inspired by the Asbury Park Downtown Merchants Guild – a grassroots effort to spotlight the eclectic and unique nature of the city’s shops and entertainment offerings in the ever evolving downtown, The Merchants Park Revitalization was realized Monday.

In September, the Merchant’s Guild set out to create an iconic gateway to the historic downtown corridor.

“We turned our sights on the neglected but very visible corner of Cookman and Main – the very entrance to the downtown shopping district,” Michael Sodano said. “Research showed that this corner was indeed zoned as a park or greenspace so we approached Tom Pivinski and the Environment and Shade Tree Commission [ESTC] to address how we could improve the park.”

The goal was simple: provide an iconic “gateway” to the downtown that passersby, visitors, shoppers and residents could marvel, Sodano said.

The undertaking launched via social media. A GoFundMe campaign raised $4,915 and work commenced: tree removal by the Department of Public Works, and the grading and planting by ESTC volunteers.

“The park previously had an invasive species of Norway Maple trees which were at the end of their life span and were progressively dying,” said ESTC’s Tom Pivinski. “Once they were removed, the area was revitalized with topsoil and new plantings were purchased.  The new species include River Birches, Alaskan Cedar, Laurels, Crape Myrtles, Green Giant Arborvitae, Witch hazel, Beach Plum, and over 1200 spring bulbs of daffodils, grape hyacinths and tulips. The perimeter of the park was planted with grasses donated by the Wesley Lake Association.”

Pivinski said they will continue to plant perennials and annuals throughout the coming growing season.

“It was an all-volunteer endeavor and they did a great job,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said during Monday night’s City Council Workshop meeting.

Sodano said the next phase of the park’s upgrade will be the production of an artwork mural on the façade of the adjoining Brando’s Citi Cucina Restaurant.

The municipality’s Public Art Committee is working in conjunction with ArtsCAP to fund the public art installation, Sodano said.

“Merchants Park symbolizes the spirit and community that is all around us in Asbury Park and the power of how an idea can turn into reality,” the ShowRoom Cinema owner said.

[Photos courtesy of Ellen Gaynor and Merchants Guild]

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