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Master waterfront redeveloper iStar is donating approximately 6,000 square feet of land to Asbury Park for a public pocket park.

Located at the intersection of Cookman Avenue and Heck Street, the new park will serve as a passive amenity for residents and visitors as they approach Asbury Park’s mile long oceanfront. The community park will include two small lawn areas, 17 trees and 280 native shrubs, as well as ornamental beach grasses and a variety of indigenous flowers.

Construction of the park is expected to begin on March 1, with completion aiming for Memorial Day.

“The idea of bringing new life to underutilized vacant land is consistent with iStar’s longstanding commitment to the community,” said Brian Cheripka, Senior Vice President of Land and Development for iStar.

“Following up on our successful redevelopment of the north end of the boardwalk in 2020, our team worked with city officials to design and obtain approval to install this pocket park as an additional amenity for everyone that comes to the oceanfront,” Cheripka said.

Mayor John Moor said that the Cookman Avenue pocket park will serve “to further connect our wonderful downtown district to the waterfront district.”

“We are pleased to see iStar continue to make investments in our city. At City Council’s request, they have also agreed to maintain the new park for the next five years as part of this project,” said Moor.

As Master Developer of the waterfront, iStar has completed more than $27 million of new infrastructure improvements over the past several years, including upgrades to stormwater and sanitary sewer systems, street paving and LED lighting and installation of native beach landscaping throughout the area.

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