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In the backdrop, Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” boomed from the speakers, as neighborhood residents enjoyed a cookout, cotton candy, playground, and fountain during the Springwood Avenue Park grand opening Saturday afternoon.

The first park built by the city on the west side of town, the opening coincided Second Baptist Church’s Pre-Father’s Day Festival and St Stephens Church’s car show and flea market, resulting in hundreds gathering to enjoy the neighborhood festivities.

And while the road to fruition was long and fraught with challenges, the result was favorable comments from those in attendance.

 

“I like it,” said 15-year-old Javione Pearson.

“I live up the street, so I will come here a lot,” said Senati Soriano, also 15.

“I’m just enjoying the fact that they are actually doing something like this,” said resident Leonard Carpenter.

The work to bring a Public Park to the neighborhood officially kicked off 8 years ago, said former councilman John Loffredo.

“That’s when we began a big push to get funding and to get people on board,” Loffredo said. “It’s beautiful. It’s so wonderful to see it here.”

 

Former Mayor Ed Johnson, in his address to the public, said a Committee of close to 30 people was organized 12 years ago.

“Teamwork makes a dream work,” Johnson said. “I knew this day would come. “Our kids are here today playing and our community is here today celebrating.”

For Mayor John Moor the dream realized is but a launch of things to come.

Moor said the recent approval of Interfaith Neighbor’s Turf Club redevelopment, a homeowner investment property project that will bring 20 to 24 affordable homes to the neighborhood, and their over 30 completed owner occupied single-family homes helps in the west side revitalization plans.

 

“Greetings from Springwood Avenue Park,” Moor said as he opened the celebration. “This is the second park constructed within the past month and we all know how important play is to the development of our children.”

The first park, built by a community of volunteers with funding by Alexandra’s Playground, was constructed at Mt. Carmel Elementary School. The park is open to the public outside of school hours, officials have said.

Moor also said plans to revitalize the Memorial Drive area into a transit village corridor and the proposed Michaels Orgarnization’s Renaissance are a part of the west side’s revitalization plans. A transit village is defined as a mix of residential and nearby retail around a transportation hub, like the city’s train station. The intent is to make it convenient for residents to get to and from work, run errands and travel via public transportation, Moor said.

 

A 64 unit, affordable townhome project, the Renaissance consists of five buildings across three sites along Springwood Avenue, between Memorial Drive and Atkins Avenue. And while the project received municpal approvals in October 2014, the Evesham Township based Michael’s has applied for funding via the state’s Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

“When I first moved back to town, the Springwood Avenue of my youth had been long gone,” said Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton. “It is my hope is that this park will become a safe haven for children play and a community to gather – not only for the concerts and special events but as a quiet place to go and sit and enjoy nature, a place for parents to bring their children, a place for seniors to go and play cards and talk, a place for everyone to just be outside and enjoy nature.”

Behind the scenes, the long awaited completion was in part thanks to the Monmouth County Freeholders [the first to contribute funding via a Monmouth County Open Space grant, Community Development Block Grant, fundraising and donations from the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, Interfaith Neighbors, and the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, Clayton said.

The park’s performance stage will host arts events and live music, including the launch of next Monday’s Levitt AMP Summer Music Series, administered by The Asbury Park Music Foundation.

“It’s a fitting tribute to the area’s rich musical history,” Moor said.

For more about the summer concert series, visit concerts.levittamp.org/asbury_park.

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