Reimagined, Re-engineered Feaster Park Opens in New Brunswick

A boy came hurtling to the bottom of a slide, planted both feet and dashed off to get back in line for another turn.

A girl’s ponytail flew in the air as she picked up momentum on the swings.

Three girls held on tight as a couple of boys pushed a mini merry-go-round faster and faster.

If the squeals of pure joy from the Paul Robeson School students as they ran here, there and everywhere were any indication, the new playground equipment at Feaster Park gets top marks.

The reimagined, re-engineered 5.04-acre park was unveiled Thursday with new features for children of all ages.

Dozens of exuberant students and about 250 eager residents set out to explore the park with Mayor Jim Cahill and other elected officials, community leaders and members of the public school district after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The reimagined, re-engineered 5.04-acre park was unveiled Thursday with new features for children of all ages.

Dozens of exuberant students and about 250 eager residents set out to explore the park with Mayor Jim Cahill and other elected officials, community leaders and members of the public school district after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

At the other playground, the one reserved for kids ages 2-5, a mom lifted her daughter so she could insert a disk in an oversized, tic-tac-toe-type of game.

Volunteers handed out bags of popcorn and containers of sidewalk chalk on this side of Feaster Park, while members of Unity Square led a ceremonial planting in the community gardens nearby.

Cahill pointed out that it takes a village to create a community park that will be shared by faith-based communities, summer recreation, school-based programming, community gardening, sports leagues and fitness initiatives.

He said it was a partnership between the city and the school district, with $1.5 million of financial help from Middlesex County, and financial aid and planning assistance from the state’s Trust for Public Land and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. And then there was invaluable input from local residents who attended several planning meetings.

Cahill also recognized the efforts of C. Roy Epps of the Greater New Brunswick Civic League, who initiated the development of nearby Pittman Park nearly 50 years ago. (Pittman Park received new plantings and fencing as part of the Feaster Park renovations.)

“And here we are today, celebrating the fruits of your continued involvement because you were so helpful in the community engagement and outreach part of this,” Cahill said. “So, Roy, you are a gift that just keeps giving. Thank you so very much.”

The day was made complete by the participation of the Feaster family. The park was renamed in 1937 in honor of Joseph Feaster, who lived on Throop Avenue and served as the city’s director of streets and public improvements before he died suddenly on New Year’s Day in 1935.

City Council President Rebecca Escobar, Vice President Kevin Egan and Council members John Anderson, Petra Gaskins, Suzanne Sicora Ludwig and Manuel Castaneda attended Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. So did Superintendent of Schools Dr. Aubrey Johnson, Board of Education President Jennifer Sevilla, Board Vice President Ivan Adorno and Board members Benito Oritz, Ed Spencer and Yesenia Medina-Hernandez.

Middlesex County Board of Commissioners Director Ron Rios and Commissioner Claribel Azcona-Barber also attended Thursday’s event.

The final component of the Feaster Park facelift is scheduled to come in spring with the opening of the Paul Robeson Plaza, which will feature a statue paying tribute to the late academic, athlete, actor and activist.

Story & Photo Credit: Chuck O'Donnell