Children’s Village Park Reopens in Fairmount Heights

The Fairmount Heights Children's Village Park reopened on August 16, after a $1 million renovation project partly funded by Victoria Foundation.

The park, located at South 9th Street and 12th Avenue in Newark's West Ward, was originally built in October 2012 and named KaBoom Park. However, the park fell into disarray over the years. Broken equipment and many safety issues made the park virtually unusable for children in the community. That's when this renovation project came to fruition.

Renamed Fairmount Heights Children's Village Park, the park has been renovated and equipped with new playground equipment, checker and chess tables, and a water feature.

"The park is the manifestation of a dream we shared with the community, Victoria Foundation and others to create communities where children can thrive," said Vivian Cox Fraser, President & CEO of the Urban League of Essex County, a Victoria Foundation grantee. "When the pandemic hit, the park was delayed, and construction costs soared. But the Foundation was our stalwart partner in making this park a reality."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the reopening. Awards were distributed by the Urban League of Essex County to those who participated in redeveloping the park. Food and ice cream were provided to attendees by Victoria Foundation to celebrate its 100^th anniversary this year.

"This is an incredible day," said the Foundation's Senior Strategy Officer Stephanie Greenwood. "Victoria Foundation is so proud to have been part of the support team that stood behind the resident leaders, and nonprofit and City staff that brought us here. Your dedication reclaimed this space for the community."

"We want to emphasize that this is truly a community park, designed not by institutions, but by the residents of Fairmount Heights," added Judith Thompson-Morris, Deputy Director for LISC-NJ. "We're thrilled to celebrate this milestone and are deeply grateful for everyone who contributed. However, we recognize that the community's work is far from finished – residents are continuously planning for a mural design, public safety initiatives, and future activities for the park."

The renovation project was funded by Victoria Foundation, the Mars Wrigley Foundation, LISC-NJ, and United Airlines in collaboration with the New Jersey Devils and came into fruition with the help of other key partners, including the Fairmount Heights Children's Village Park Organizing Committee, Fairmount Heights Neighborhood Association, Friends of Fairmount Heights Green Spaces, Urban League of Essex County, city agencies, and the municipal council. Additionally, the Newark Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Senior Services worked alongside the city's Department of Engineering to oversee the park's construction.

West Ward Council Member Dupré L. Kelly was in attendance and awarded citations to the Urban League of Essex County and the Fairmount Heights Children's Village Park Organizing Committee for their tireless efforts in ensuring the park was repaired and available for children living in the neighborhood.

At the reopening celebration, the park came alive as neighborhood children visited the area to enjoy the new amenities.

"Spaces like the Fairmount Heights Children's Village Park are vital to the development and well-being of our community's children," said Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard. "Children need a safe place in their neighborhood where they can play and just be kids. That is why the Foundation supports projects such as these."

For more information on the Urban League of Essex County and its neighborhood revitalization initiatives, visit www.ulec.org.

PLAYGROUND REOPENING – Pictured are Vivian Cox Fraser, President & CEO, Urban League of Essex County; Judith Thompson-Morris, Deputy Executive Director, LISC-NJ; and Amaris Mitchell, Program Officer - Community Engagement, LISC-NJ standing in front of some of the new playground equipment at Fairmount Height's Children Village Park.