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After months of planning and weeks of readying desolate plots of land for planting, a new Art Park is taking shape between Atkins Avenue, Avenue A, and Borden Avenue in the southwest neighborhood of Asbury Park.

Funded through the $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods grant awarded to the Asbury Park by the federal Housing and Urban Development [HUD] department, the all volunteer endeavor is being led by the City’s Environmental Shade and Tree Commission with aid from the Department of Public Works.

“The Art Park project is the third early implementation item of the HUD Choice planning grant,” Director of Planning and Redevelopment Michele Alonso has said. “The goals of the project are not only to create a new pocket of green space on what were two empty lots, but to have local youth gain skills in creating art and to have residents learn more about the greening work of the Environmental Shade and Tree Commission.”

The ESTC, which provided all the supplies, also administers care to the city’s open spaces and parks.

On Saturday the ESTC’s volunteer greening team planted trees and close to 50 perennials, bringing them closer to completion, Chair Tom Pivinski said in a written statement.

“Soon, children’s art projects will decorate the park [and] benches,” Pivinski said. “Lighting will be installed and the entire area will be mulched with wood chips.”

Thus far the team of volunteers have cleared debris and weeds from the barren land, planted 10 Laurel shrubs and 10 Yuccas, constructed raised beds and filled them compost topsoil.

“Several neighbors passed through while the volunteers were working and expressed many thanks and appreciation,” Pivinski said. “This barren passageway is becoming a new pocket park.”

[Photos courtesy of Tom Pivinski]

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