The City of Newark, West Ward Council Member Dupré L. Kelly, and the Fairmount Heights community joined today to reopen the Fairmount Heights Children’s Village Park, located at South 9^th Street and 12^th Avenue in Newark’s West Ward.

Funded by the Mars Wrigley Foundation, Victoria Foundation, United Airlines in partnership with New Jersey Devils, and several other key partners, the $1 million renovation project includes new playground equipment, checker and chess tables, and a water sprinkler to keep children cool during summer months. Fundraising is continuing for a mural design and security cameras.

“This revitalized park is proof of how we cherish our families here in Newark and how we value the importance of play to their development,” said Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “It also is testament to the powers of unwavering perseverance and the unified collaboration. I’m grateful to every sponsor and to the Fairmount Heights community for seeing this project to completion.”

Collaborating with the Newark Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Senior Services, the city’s Department of Engineering facilitated the park’s construction management.

“Fresh air, exercise, and family together time are central to the wellbeing of all city residents,” said Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Senior Services Director Donnell M. Redding. “Providing such a beautiful, safe space for that here, and seeing the community’s faces light up with such happiness, is so gratifying. I rejoice with the West Ward and congratulate them!”

“We never gave up on our commitment to provide the Fairmount community with a place for kids to be kids. The Fairmount community missed the Kaboom Park which had been damaged and an eyesore for quite some time,” said Urban League of Essex County President and CEO Vivian Fraser. “With the support of City of Newark, LISC, funders and community members, we have been able to resurrect Kaboom Park and make it better than ever. The work of the Urban League is to be persistent, regardless of the odds. But we couldn’t plan for the pandemic. LISC had helped to raise the funds needed for the park before the pandemic. But since the pandemic, the park doubled in price. Victoria Foundation and Mars Wrigley Foundation were early funders for the park, and they never lost faith in the park being built. Without the City of Newark stepping in, the park would not have happened. It really did take a village, to make the Fairmount Children’s Village Park a reality and to bring childhood joy back to the neighborhood.”

“As we reopen and rename this space, we are reminded of the vital role parks play in our communities,” said Council Member Kelly. “They are not just green spaces; they are places for joy, creativity, and connection that nurture the dreams and laughter of our children.”

Stephanie Greenwood, Senior Strategy Officer at the Victoria Foundation, added, “Congratulations to the residents and staff who never gave up and who made this happen. And I also want to say thank you for being an inspiration and an example for what can happen when philanthropy follows the leadership of the community rather than trying to parachute into community.”

“Through the Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Community Connection grant program, we aim to create welcoming community spaces where everyone can gather and thrive. The Fairmount Heights Children’s Village Park is an example of how community and collaboration can transform a space into a vibrant hub of connection and neighborhood revitalization,” said Anne Vela-Wagner, Executive Director of the Mars Wrigley Foundation. “We’re proud to invest in Mars Wrigley communities around the world—including right here in Newark—and partner on sustainable, community-informed projects that inspire happiness.”

“As New Jersey’s hometown airline, we take a lot of pride in community engagement throughout the state,” said Derek Russell, Manager of Global Sponsorship Activation at United Airlines. “Our partnership with the New Jersey Devils to help revitalize Fairmount Heights Children’s Village Park and see it reopen today will enable play and activity for the children in Fairmount Heights for years to come!”

Originally known as KaBoom Park, the space had fallen into disrepair and was plagued by safety concerns. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the City, LISC-NJ, formerly known as LISC Greater Newark, the Fairmount Heights Neighborhood Association, the Urban League of Essex County, resident leaders that make up the organizing committee, and various community stakeholders, the park has been transformed into a vibrant and welcoming space for children and families.

LISC, committed to creating healthier and more sustainable communities, played a crucial role in this project.

“Revitalizing the Fairmount Heights Children’s Village Park demonstrates the impact of collaboration between private and public partners. Identified as a hot spot for crime, within an area with a lack of green spaces, this project became an opportunity to enhance both public safety and quality of life. With the support of key funders and the City of Newark, we’re proud to see this vibrant space brought back to life for children and families in Fairmount Heights to gather, play, and grow,” said LISC-NJ Executive Director Jorge Sam Cruz.

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