Newark Breaks Ground on Sal Bontempo Green Infrastructure Project
The project will revitalize Sal Bontempo Park into a green recreational space at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue, First Avenue, and North 6th Street.
Newark Water & Sewer team and partners pose in front of the Pequannock Gate Water Tower to celebrate the groundbreaking of Sal Bontempo Park. Photo Credit: Newark Water & Sewer
Newark, NJ - April 29, 2026
The historic 1800s water tower, colloquially known as the “Newark Castle”, stands in the center of what will soon be a newly revitalized green park in Newark’s North Ward.
The Department of Water & Sewer Utilities, alongside Mayor Ras Baraka, the Municipal Council, and partners, broke ground on Wednesday morning at Sal Bontempo Park, a green infrastructure project that will improve stormwater management, provide recreational gathering space for the community, and beautify the area with a new and improved green space.
The Pequannock Gate Water Tower, which demarcates a major aqueduct location where water from the Pequannock Watershed enters Newark, now endures as a monument of history amid these improvements.
Concept map of a newly reconstructed Sal Bontempo Park. Photo Credit: Newark Water & Sewer / HDR, Inc.
“We talk about this project in terms of beautification, collaboration, beautiful landscaping, and the history of this landmark, but to me, stormwater management is the most significant piece,” said Mayor Baraka. “The storms that used to come every hundred years are coming every five now, so it's incredibly important that we do everything we can to manage flooding.”
Newark’s green infrastructure program, also known as RainReady, has identified over 100 sites in Newark that can be converted into green spaces like the one proposed at Sal Bontempo Park.
“Every time the Baraka Administration initiates a neighborhood revitalization project, we see it as another opportunity to install green infrastructure,” said Director Kareem Adeem of Newark’s Water and Sewer Utility. “Sal Bontempo Park is the latest example of proving the City’s commitment to reducing flooding and improving our environment.”
Rendering of a newly reconstructed Sal Bontempo Park. Photo Credit: Newark Water & Sewer
The new landscaping will install planting beds, lawn areas, and selected tree placement to elevate the parks’ appearance. Beyond improved aesthetics the design will yield environmental benefits such as shade and critical storm water management. Updating lighting and outdoor furniture will, improve visibility and safety, while the overall layout creates a more welcoming, flexible park that support everyday use and small community activities.
“Sal Bontempo Park is a powerful reminder that when we invest in our public spaces with purpose and pride, we are ultimately investing in the strength, dignity, and unity of our neighborhoods for generations to come,” said Director Donnell Redding of Newark’s Department of Recreation.
Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark Water & Sewer Director Kareem Adeem, and Water & Sewer Engineers donned shovels and hard hats to break ground on Sal Bontempo Park.
Photo Credit: Newark Water & Sewer
The park will also stimulate economic activity in the neighborhood, which is home to many family-owned shops and businesses.
The Sal Bontempo Park fence with a project banner facing First Avenue.
Photo Credit: Newark Water & Sewer
Newark’s Water & Sewer Utility thanks Mayor Ras Baraka, the Municipal Council, and all partners, including the Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway Business Improvement District (BALBBID) for their ongoing support in moving the project forward.
Mayor Ras Baraka and Newark Municipal Council Members C. Lawrence Crump, Anibal Ramos, Louise Scott-Rountree, Luis Quintana, and Patrick Council. Photo Credit: City of Newark
The Sal Bontempo Groundbreaking Ceremony with heavy machinery, hard hats, and shovels.
Photo Credit: Newark Water & Sewer
