U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today announced that North Jersey had been awarded $3,349,369 from the Biden administration to renovate North Pulaski Park in Passaic. The funding provided by the U.S. Department of Interior comes after Rep. Pascrell had written the government requesting money to reinvigorate the community space.

The funding will be used to install a new, larger playground area, picnic groves, updated tree-lined entrances, fitness stations, native plantings, updated walking paths, and a Riverwalk.

“I am glad the Biden administration heard our pleas and has awarded Passaic with the only Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership award for our state. Over $3 Million will be used to give our neighbors more outdoor access and beautify our public lands,” said Rep. Pascrell. “We are going to make these federal funds count because they will be used to reinvigorating a truly great community park. Expanding North Pulaski will give our current and future generations in Passaic County the opportunity to pull away from their phones and TVs and get more face time with nature. I can’t think of a better use of government support.”

"The North Pulaski Park Renovation project will significantly enhance outdoor recreation in the East Passaic community, one of the densest neighborhoods in the country, and will create jobs and provide economic opportunities for the entire community," said Scott Dvorak, New Jersey State Director for Trust for Public Land. "This federal funding is a game changer and will help realize the needs expressed by the community for improved access along the Passaic River where residents can exercise, walk, play, and enjoy all of the benefits that close-to-home nature can provide."

This project will serve and benefit the community of East Passaic, which has been identified as an “Overburdened Community” under the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law with nearly 66 percent of residents being low-income.

Out of $61.1 million offered and 26 cities selected, the award for Passaic is the only one in the entire Garden State.

Established in 2014, The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) enables urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors in economically underserved communities.