07 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES FACELIFT AT ESSEX COUNTY RIKER HILL ART PARK IS COMPLETE
Published on October 7, 2019
Livingston, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Monday, October 7th that a $1.1 million facelift at Essex County Riker Hill Art Park has been completed. The upgrades improve public access, address flooding concerns and enhance aesthetics.
“Essex County Riker Hill Art Park is a hidden gem in our historic Parks System and the upgrades have made the facility more user friendly and encourage the public to experience the natural beauty of the landscape and the creativity of the artists,” DiVincenzo said. “A great deal of thought and public participation went into setting the priorities for this project. It’s evident improvements were needed at the Art Park and it became clear during the public hearings that the neighbors and residents were ready to see changes made. I thank the members of the Township Council for joining with us and supporting this process and the improvements,” he added.
The improvements were lauded by local elected officials and the artists.
“It’s wonderful to see the relationship that has been fostered by the County with the artist community to provide this different kind of venue. Riker Hill Art Park presents a wonderful opportunity for the public to experience art and it’s unique because it connects green space, art and the community together,” NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“This is a unique location and the project should be used as a model,” Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. “It is exciting how the park has been brought up to date,” Freeholder Patricia Sebold said.
“We stood here in December 2016 and the County Executive promised changes would be made. Today I want to thank him for fulfilling his promise. This looks gorgeous and we appreciate all you have done for us,” Livingston Mayor Al Anthony said. “The County came through to make improvements and now the art park is better than before,” Councilman Rudy Fernandez said.
“I was here when the park was first opened and today it looks nothing like it did then. We appreciate the drainage improvements and the other upgrades,” Riker Hill Artists Association Vice President Sue Sachs said.
The improvements include the installation of sidewalks and curbing, drainage systems to address flooding issues along the western section of the roadway, the repair of stairways, making sure the artists’ studios and the main exhibit building are handicap accessible, creating a designated scenic overlook site that includes message boards that tell the history of the former missile base and park, updating directional, parking and building signage, updating the facades of the artists’ studios, and creating a community garden that has some plots designed to allow people with disabilities the opportunity to garden.
Suburban Consulting Engineers from Flanders was awarded a professional services contract for $56,515 to design the improvements. APS Contracting from Paterson was awarded a publicly-bid contract for $1,186,010 to perform the construction work. The project is being funded through the County’s Capital Budget. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019.
Several public meetings were held throughout 2018 to hear public opinion and ideas about improving Riker Hill Art Park. In August 2018, DiVincenzo immediately addressed concerns raised about traffic safety on Beaufort Avenue, the road leading into the park. Trees and overgrown brush were cut back and removed to improve sight lines and the drainage system along Beaufort was upgraded to address flooding.
DiVincenzo had proposed to make improvements to Riker Hill Art Park in 2008, but the plan was met with a great deal of opposition from area residents and artists who rent space in the park.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, paddle boating, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. The 42-acre Riker Hill Art Park was a U.S. Army Nike Missile Base in the 1950s. Essex County purchased the property from the federal government in 1974 and converted the buildings that once housed army facilities into studio space for artists.
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