Military Park in Newark Formally Opens on Friday

Historic town square underutilized for decades becomes a symbol of downtown revitalization

Military Park in Newark Formally Opens on Friday (Photo: Business Wire)

NEWARK, N.J.--()--The newly renovated Military Park will formally open to the public on Friday, June 13 at 12:30 p.m. with a rededication ceremony hosted by the Military Park Partnership and Biederman Redevelopment Ventures.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Newark Mayor Luis Quintana, Prudential Vice Chairman Mark Grier, and Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV Corp.) President Dan Biederman will be in attendance.

The re-opening is the culmination of a one-year revitalization of the public space in downtown Newark. Since the groundbreaking, the park has undergone a makeover, including a new soon-to-open restaurant, public restrooms, over an acre of new gardens, and two plazas that will host dozens of free activities and amenities for Newarkers.

The reopening ceremony will be followed by a showcase of the free programming and amenities that will draw people to the park. This showcase will feature fitness classes and activities for children, and will be highlighted by a performance by a quintet of players from the brass section of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and a performance by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Brick City Jazz Orchestra.

Biederman, who led the Military Park makeover and will continue to manage the park, is best known for revitalizing New York City’s Bryant Park in 1992. He believes the same transformation will happen in Military Park, giving downtown Newark a signature public space and vibrant town square.

“Military Park stands at the center of so many exciting developments in downtown Newark, from Prudential’s new office towers to the announced Whole Foods to several new residential projects,” said Biederman. “Military Park is well positioned.”

“The renovation of Military Park provides an accessible, vibrant green space that will enhance the quality of life for those who live, labor and leisure in Newark,” said Lata Reddy, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Prudential and president of The Prudential Foundation. “This project has reinvigorated one of Newark’s oldest and most treasured landmarks and we look forward to seeing the park once again used to its fullest potential.”

Military Park had been underutilized and in need of significant renovations. The Newark Municipal Council approved the redevelopment of Military Park in October 2012 and chose the Military Park Partnership to lead the revitalization project, as well as operate the park for the next twenty-four years.

The Military Park Partnership and BRV completed decades of deferred maintenance, restoring elements of the park’s historic design. They will now turn their attention to offering free fitness classes, games, musical performances, art exhibitions and other activities to turn the venue into a downtown destination.

“The renovation and rededication of Military Park is just the first step in our efforts,” said Vaughn Crowe, chairman of the Military Park Partnership. “This revitalization has always been focused on creating a vibrant town square that is sustainable for generations, and we will be working with dozens of community partners to that end.”

The park is located across the street from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and will serve to extend the campus of Newark’s largest cultural attraction.

“We are looking forward to partnering with the Military Park Partnership on a variety of cultural programs and engaging even more people in the public space outside our physical building,” said John Schreiber, CEO of NJPAC and a Military Park Partnership board member.

About Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV Corp.):

Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corporation is the private consulting firm of Daniel A. Biederman, co-founder of the Bryant Park Corporation and 34th Street Partnership, and creator of the largest complex of private urban redevelopment projects in the United States. Additional information is at: http://www.brvcorp.com.

About the Military Park Partnership:

The Military Park Partnership is a New Jersey not-for-profit corporation dedicated to revitalizing and maintaining Newark’s historic Military Park, and was co-founded by the City of Newark, The Prudential Foundation, and the MCJ Amelior Foundation in 2011.

About PFI

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1.1 trillion of assets under management as of March 31, 2014, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential Financial Inc.’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential Financial, Inc.’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.

About The Prudential Foundation

The Prudential Foundation is a nonprofit corporation supported by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, an insurance subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc. of the U.S. The Prudential Foundation advocates for systemic change focused on eliminating barriers to financial and social mobility in the areas of meeting basic needs, connecting people to quality jobs, building personal assets and transforming communities. As a strategic investor, the Foundation makes long-term commitments that yield tangible results through both grants and program related investments.

Contacts

Biederman Redevelopment Ventures
John Goodman, 914-793-1277
914-841-6214 Cell
john@johnlgoodman.com

Contacts

Biederman Redevelopment Ventures
John Goodman, 914-793-1277
914-841-6214 Cell
john@johnlgoodman.com