Passaic wants to replace basketball courts, playground with splash park and pirate ships

PASSAIC — City officials are hoping for a big turnout Thursday when a plan to convert Colonel Johnson Park into an aquatic park will be discussed.

Mayor Hector Lora said he's "going all in" in seeking Green Acres funding to pay for the conversion of the park, which has playground equipment and basketball courts, into a summertime oasis for the city's youth, specifically for the youngest residents of the city's 4th Ward.

A key part of the grant application includes soliciting local opinion. The mayor said he is confident that residents will approve the plan because the nearby Harrison Street park also has playground equipment and a basketball court.

Colonel Johnson Park "is the worst in the city," Lora said, adding that he hopes significant upgrades will make summer entertainment for children more affordable for local families. "Not every family or their kids can afford to go a waterpark or to take the time off," he said.

The plan is to remove the basketball courts and playground equipment and make it a splash park attractive to the city's youth.

"There will be two pirate ships and splash pads, a complete waterpark," Lora said. "There will be new amenities like charging stations where kids can go and do their homework. We want to afford kids the opportunity to do something positive"

During the cooler seasons, Lora said, much of the park will be usable as a playground for youths. Parking during the summer months will be available at nearby public schools.

The estimate to rebuild the park with new playground equipment, splash pads, bike racks and charging stations may be around $2 million, said city Business Administrator Rick Fernandez.

City officials plan to petition for state Green Acres funding for the project.

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So far the plan is to install a spray pad, bicycle racks, new park benches, rain gardens along low points, trees, and recycling systems to reduce water consumption and waste, along with the revitalization of the park’s cracked surface.

The public hearing is scheduled to be held at the next City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, where residents may comment about the park development grant application to be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Urban Parks and Green Acres Grants Program.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic wants to turn city park into splash park with pirate ships