Hope Blooms In Greenville's Updated Ferris Triangle Park

JERSEY CITY, NJ — After just six months under construction, Greenville's Ferris Triangle Park was unveiled on Wednesday. The $500,000 renovation was completely funded by the Jersey City Open Space Trust Fund.

What was once described as a desolate slab of concrete was transformed into a park with new seating and tables to encourage community interactions, a playground and splash pad, a new flag pole, new signage, and new lighting fixtures. The park is located along Old Bergen Road and sits right across the street from the Triangle Park Community Center, which had a large hand in pushing the process forward.

“The Triangle Park renovation is a great example of collaboration between residents and their local government. Members of the Triangle Park community worked to have this park restored, and we will continue to work together to keep the park activated and in good condition,” said Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley.

The area around Triangle Park has been the scene of several violent crimes, and residents have been looking to the city and community for help.

Sharon Dixon lives across the street from the park with her two young granddaughters — she said her home has been shot four times. While her girls ran through the splash pad in the new park, she explained she can only hope that the mayor and councilors' promises of change in the neighborhood will come true. Having a safe park where her grandkids can play is an important first step.

Dixon's neighbor, Genessey Flores, brought her girls to play at the splash pad during the ceremony so that she could try to seize an opportunity to chat with the mayor.

"Our concerns are mainly the children — we have our kids playing in the front yard, and it's like we have to keep our head on a swivel because we don't know what's going to happen," Flores told Patch.

She explained that her home has also been shot and that there have been times when she's had to rush inside with her kids due to the gunfire. "I have to grab my children and react like a mother," Flores said.

The community has taken the initiative to create and push for safe spaces like the new park. Triangle Park Community Center Director Monica Shaw has been working to advocate for the neighborhood and promote safe and fun events for families.

"I feel hope, I feel progress in eradicating that stigma that the park has," Shaw said, "We are not going to allow negative traffic to take over our park — not on my watch!"

Shaw explained that she has several events planned for the center to use in the park, from barbecues to kid playtime — the park will be a space for the community to take ownership over and thrive in.

“Triangle Park has been a priority under our Open Space Trust Act with a goal of reclaiming the public park space to bring out its fullest potential for the benefit of neighborhood residents, and so we worked directly with the community to understand their needs and bring them to fruition,” said Mayor Fulop. “This is a great way to kick off summer, especially for many of the local children and families as these park improvements provide an easily accessible outdoor recreational space where they can cool off and have fun under the sun.”

Through the first allocation of Jersey City’s Open Space Trust Fund, enacted under Mayor Fulop in 2016, over 20 additional park improvement projects spanning the City are underway or already completed.