Community Workshops

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Community Workshops After a winter of virtual engagement, in late Spring and early Summer 2022 we collaborated with neighborhood organizations throughout Newark to host a series of in-person workshops: 2 workshops per Ward in all 5 Wards, for a total of 10 workshops across 6 weeks. Our neighborhood partners conducted outreach for the events to their local residents, helped locate facilities, helped to facilitate the engagement stations, and provided food for workshop attendees. In exchange they were provided a stipend. Each workshop followed a similar format, with an introductory presentation framing Newark360 and where the workshops fit within the broader Master Plan timeline. From there, participants were invited to rotate through 4 distinct stations, each with a series of questions and a table exercise with either a Ward map or a game to gauge community priorities.

in-person workshops Future Headlines: An introductory icebreaker activity asked participants to brainstorm a “headline from the future,” a headline from 2032 that could encompass a vision for a better tomorrow. The headlines were a quick but insightful way to understand Newarkers’ concerns and hopes. At the end of the workshop, each station facilitator summarized the conversations, and the responses were collected and tabulated. Many themes were repeated throughout all Wards, but some issues were more pressing in specific communities – those are outlined in the following pages. The community workshops were a lively and invaluable opportunity for Newarkers to engage directly with our team, voice their priorities, and help brainstorm ideas for how to collaboratively improve the city around them. DRAFT

image: Bloomberg Associates image: WRT

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Where We Live: 02

Where We Shop and Play:

This station addressed housing, asking participants to assess the Mayor's Affordable Housing Goals and vote for which of the goals were of highest priority. We also asked participants where they saw opportunities for increasing housing supply in their neighborhoods, and what big issues with housing they see in their community. 03 04

Participants at this station were asked about their favorite commercial streets, cultural assets, and other economic drivers in their neighborhood. We discussed how to leverage existing assets and places of pride for further improvements. Where We Gather: This station invited participants to think about how to improve their local parks, add more parks and open space, and increase tree canopy. We also asked about flooding.

Where We Go: At this station we asked participants to tell us about their transportation needs - how to improve streets, where Newarkers go in the city and how, and where barriers exist in mobility and transit. image: WRT image: WRT DRAFT

image: Bloomberg Associates image: Bloomberg Associates

CENTRAL WARD WORKSHOPS

Community Partners: ● United Community Corporation ● Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District Locations & Dates: ● May 18: The Clubhouse, 205 Spruce Street ● May 19: The Rose Garden at Integrity House, 101 Lincoln Park Takeaways: Residents in the Central Ward discussed the need for youth-friendly programming and amenities in Central Ward Parks. As the Arts are a major part of the Central Ward’s identity, residents mentioned a need for more artist housing. Vacant storefronts are a concern, and neighbors talked about how to incentivize businesses to occupy and beautify them. For young people, there is a need for more places to relax and more nightlife options. Extending the light rail was also mentioned as something that would greatly benefit the Ward.

image: Bloomberg Associates DRAFT More space for activities in our parks: tennis, volleyball, bike lanes, seating, lighting. (Central Ward workshop)

image: Bloomberg Associates

Art in our parks, boutiques, jazz lounges - empower local talent and creatives. (Central Ward workshop) DRAFT

NJ Transit is extensive, but there are too many transfers. (South Ward workshop) DRAFT

SOUTH WARD WORKSHOPS

Community Partners: ● Clinton Hill Community Action ● Newark Street Academy ● South Ward Environmental Alliance Locations & Dates: ● May 25: Clinton Hill Community Action Early Learning Center, 30 Demarest St ● June 8: TREC Center, 55 Ludlow St We need training programs in Green jobs, reduction of pollution. (South Ward workshop) Takeaways: In the South Ward, residents mentioned the many ways they thought the communities adjacent to Newark Airport would benefit from a direct connection. A strong senior citizen attendance pointed out major needs for improving senior housing, amenities for seniors, and a jitney or bus service that would help them age in place. They also showed concern about the many abandoned properties in the area and how they affect their way of life. DRAFT

image: Bloomberg Associates image: WRT

WEST WARD WORKSHOPS

Community Partners: ● Urban League of Essex County ● Unified Vailsburg Services Organization Locations & Dates: ● June 1: Newark Collegiate Academy, 129 Littleton Ave ● June 2: USVO Teen Center, 40 Richelieu Terrace Takeaways: In the West Ward, residents mentioned a desire for more community gardens, and the need for early childhood recreation opportunities. The residents discussed the many opportunities for basic infrastructure improvements, including more trash receptacles, fixing potholes, and repaving sidewalks. They also mentioned the need for traffic calming measures.

image: Bloomberg Associates DRAFT Take care of abandoned housing and build more businesses. West Ward workshop)

image: Bloomberg Associates

Use church parking lots and city-owned lots to do pop events for our children. (West Ward workshop) DRAFT

Flooding prevents me from getting to work - I can't get out of the Ironbound. (East Ward workshop)

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EAST WARD WORKSHOPS

Community Partners: ● Ironbound Community Corporation Locations & Dates: ● June 15: Ironbound Recreation Center, 26 St Charles St ● June 21: Early Childhood Learning Center, 1 New York Ave Takeaways: In the East Ward, residents discussed what could be done to improve or rehab abandoned properties. They talked about the need for more multi-bedroom units and had a lot of praise for the street-adjacent outdoor dining spaces. Pollution from the Doremus Industrial Area and Newark Airport were mentioned as huge concerns, as well as the extensive flooding that has taken place in the area. Residents called for tree planting initiatives and taking measures to lower truck traffic on residential streets.

image: WRT DRAFT image: WRT

The Port, Airport, and industries need to combat pollution by paying more taxes that go to greening our neighborhood. (East Ward workshop)

image: Bloomberg Associates

NORTH WARD WORKSHOPS

Community Partners: ● La Casa de Don Pedro Locations & Dates: ● June 29: Newark Public Library, North Ward Branch, 722 Summer Ave ● June 30: La Casa de Don Pedro, 23 Broadway

Takeaways: In the North Ward, residents noted the need for homeowner support in historical districts. They had many ideas for improving amenities in and around Branch Brook Park and talked about the need for an expanded light rail. Traffic calming measures were also mentioned as a need for the area. Other recurring themes came up around how to improve the streets with paving and general maintenance, while creating more frequent avenues for transportation to help them get around easier. We need a tree ordinance to preserve existing trees! (North Ward workshop) DRAFT

image: WRT image: WRT

Allow "granny shacks" accessory units on lots large enough. (North Ward workshop)

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