Get Involved
The Reservoir Preservation Alliance, of which the Conservancy is a constituent member, is devoted to the Preservation of Reservoir No. 3 in Jersey City Heights and its use as passive open space. In 2007, this group secured an amazing victory when Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy declared that the Reservoir would be protected from outside interests and preserved as "an urban oasis."
The Embankment Preservation Coalition is fighting to preserve the Harsimus Stem Sixth Street Embankment and utilize it as open space. The group has secured millions of dollars in funding and has spearheaded the legal fight to prevent a developer from destroying the landmark.
The Friends of the Loews was successful in one of the City's most storied preservation battles, saving the landmark Loews Jersey Theater from demolition. It now continues its mission by working on restoring the theater and showing movies, concerts and other events at the landmark movie palace.
Friends of Liberty State Park has, since 1988, worked to ensure that New Jersey's most visited state park remains free and green, and that that the historic elements of the park remain intact.
The Village Neighborhood Association was organized in 1993 and focuses on Downtown Jersey City's "Little Italy" or "Italian Village" neighborhood, an oft-overlooked district dotted with quaint streets and historic homes. JCLC and the VNA have collaborated on historical walking tours.
VNA NEWS: Transformation of 1974 "Legacy of Parks" Site in Old Italian Village Set To Begin; Phase One Construction Under Way; JC Landmarks Plays Pivotal Role
Above: The winning vision for the transformation of the long-abandoned, locked and neglected First Street Park in the old Italian Village section of Jersey City, New Jersey by Future Green Studio.
The Village Neighborhood Association (VNA), in collaboration with Gotham West Development, JC Landmarks, Jersey City Parks Coalition, the City of Jersey City, and Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop, is proud to announce the designation of Future Green Studio of Brooklyn as landscape architects of First Street Park in the Italian Village section of Jersey City.
Above: Entry view of the winning concept rendering for First Street Park, which will be renamed "The Village Park" in order to reflect and serve the entire Italian Village neighborhood.
David Seiter is founding Principal of Future Green Studio – a design-build firm in Brooklyn, New York specializing in landscape architecture and green roof design. His portfolio includes international, high-profile, large-scale urban parks and waterfronts, high-end residential garden and estate planning for celebrity clients, and green roof design and implementation. He also owns and operates New York City’s first green roof plant nursery – Gotham Green Roof Nursery – in Gowanus, Brooklyn. In addition to designing and building, David also teaches “An Introduction to Green Roofs and Living Walls” at CUNY Citytech and will be teaching at Pratt Institute of Design in the fall. He authors a widely-read green roof blog on the popular Brooklyn website, Brownstoner. David is in the process of designing an interpretive solar panel/art walls project for Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.
For nearly four years the VNA and historic Village community have worked toward transforming the long-closed, abandoned and neglected pocket park into a reinvented open space that will be unlike any Jersey City has ever seen. A competitive and exciting pro-bono design competition was recently conducted via a Request for Proposal and called for feedback and suggestions from Village residents. At the October VNA meeting, over 60 attendees viewed four amazing visions for First Street Park and overwhelmingly selected Future Green Studio for an imaginative modern design that uses recycled and sustainable materials; provides playful passive sections for children; features restive, meditative elements like a central lawn, gravel walking paths and reflecting pool; and pays respect and homage to the neighborhood’s Italian-American heritage.
Future Green Studio has formed a unique creative partnership with Gotham West Development, the developers of a residential lot that flanks the park. Gotham West Development has raised the developer-community relationship bar by jumpstarting the first phase of the project with a generous donation of $50,000. The City of Jersey City has committed to assist with initial construction, and future, phase costs; contributions from preservation-minded developers, corporations, institutions and citizens are anticipated and will bring the circa-1974 park back to life for the Village and entire City’s use and enjoyment.
Above: First Street Park, Summer 2009. This photo shows the original circa-1974 rainbow climbing arc, metal and concrete benches, light poles, green rubberized asphalt carpet, and bocce ball court walls.
As the design phase continues, keep up-to-date with the latest design revisions and park news by entering your email address under the eNews and Updates section. With the expected completion of the adjacent building to the park slated for Spring 2011, the First Street Park redevelopment project is expected to be completed by Fall 2011. To participate in the rebirth of First Street Park, please contact the Village Neighborhood Association.
Above: First Street Park, October 2009, Phase One Construction. Some original circa-1974 park furniture has been removed for reuse in a nearby historic cemetery memorial park; remaining items will be sustainably reused in Future Green Studio's new design.
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