2. Newark’s History
• Newark’s industrial past made it a
manufacturing powerhouse but left
a legacy of environmental neglect
and abuse
• Negative impacts of industry
continue to affect the City and its
residents
• Health impacts
• Economic impacts
• Land use impacts
• Environmental justice has always
been a concern of local government
and community leaders
3. • Working to overcome this legacy by
promoting the creation of a healthier
City is a priority of the City’s public and
private leaders
• Recently these efforts have included:
• Open space development
• Sustainability initiatives
• Brownfield redevelopment
• Zoning for healthier communities
• Promoting clean industry
Newark Today
4. Open Space
Development
• Newark is “underparked”: As of
2015, Newark had 3.0 park acres
per 1000 residents, compared to 6.3
in Jersey City or 6.9 in Philadelphia
• Commitment to rectifying this
reflected in 2015 Open Space
Referendum
• Recent park improvements include:
• Military Park
• Riverfront Park Phases 1 + 2
• Independence Park
5. Open Space
Development
• Newark continues to introduce
parks throughout the City
• Transformative park projects in
development include:
• Mulberry Commons: 3 acre
downtown park
• Riverfront Park: Future phases
(including those currently under
construction) will expand the
park to 15 total acres stretching
over a mile
• Future park projects will include:
• Washington Park
• Lincoln Park
6. Sustainability
Initiatives
• Chief Sustainability Officer hired
in 2017
• First Sustainability Action Plan
published in 2013 is undergoing a
five year update. Since inception,
partnerships have been developed
to address:
• Energy efficiency
• Recycling
• Planting more trees
• Pollution reduction
• Urban farming
7. Sustainability
Initiatives
• Current sustainability initiatives
include:
• LEED for Cities: City is partnering
with US Green Building Council to
achieve this certification
• Green Infrastructure: City has
helped convene Newark DIG, a
coalition to promote green
infrastructure projects
• Urban Forest Management: City
will complete a street tree inventory
in summer 2018
• Energy Efficiency: City is working
to broaden access for LMI
households to energy efficiency
programs.
8. Brownfield
Redevelopment
• At least 800 known or
contaminated sites in Newark
• City has aggressively pursued
assessment and remediation using
DEP, EPA, and CDBG funds
• Leveraging private funding has
become more feasible as
development interest has increased
• Recent and current reuses include
open space, commercial, and
industrial
9. Zoning for Healthier
Communities
• Newark’s zoning code that was adopted
in 2015 promotes walkability, health,
and safety
• Land use regulations have been
continuously updated through reform of
zoning and new redevelopment plans,
incorporating new elements like:
• Sustainability requirements for
properties seeking increased height
• Crime prevention through
environmental design
• Affordable housing requirements
10. Promoting Clean
Industry
• Business development efforts aim to
capture economic development potential
of industry with less negative
externalities.
• High-tech and clean industry being
attracted by:
• Marketing and branding: Newark is
a forward-thinking City with an
industrial past
• Policy: Tech and renewable energy
based industrial projects are eligible
for a more favorable abatement than
other industrial projects.