News that Cadwalader Park is getting $2 million in state funds, and was recently cleaned up by a group of volunteers, was welcomed in Trenton.
Newly cleaned of litter and trash by an army of volunteers, and happily anticipating a $2 million infusion of state funds, Trenton's most historic park is looking at a bright future.
Cadwalader Park, the 100-acre expanse of green in the state's capital city, had come in for some harsh reviews of late, with visitors posting criticism about swings not working, weeds clogging the old deer pen, and tennis and basketball courts suffering from benign neglect.
"What was once a grand park has seen better days," one commenter lamented on the site TripAdvisor.
All of which would have greatly saddened Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape artist who chose Trenton as the site of one of his few forays into New Jersey.
You might remember Olmsted as the designer of little piece of real estate across the Hudson River called Central Park.
Cadwalader Park getting needed funds from N.J.
With its wide paths, acres of shade trees and stunning Italianate Ellarslie Mansion - now serving as the Trenton City Museum - Cadwalader Park has held a special place in the hearts of area residents since its creation in 1891.
But clearly it was getting a little ... well, tired. Funding cutbacks take their toll.
On Saturday, the Cadwalader Park Alliance spearheaded a clean-up drive in conjunction with the Cadwalader Heights Civic Association and the city.
Civic-minded enthusiasts and budding environmentalists spent three hours on a sunny pre-summer day hauling away the waste that had accumulated over the months - their contribution to focusing attention on the jewel embedded in the urban landscape.
The welcome initiative coincided with news that the city has received money from the state's Green Acres program. Mayor Eric Jackson says the dollars will go toward purchasing new playground equipment and renovating the picnic grove.
Cities, especially large cities, need parks. Not only do they help keep property values stable, but they also help clean the air and absorb storm water to prevent local flooding.
Parks provide an oasis of tranquility amidst the bustle of commerce, traffic and industry. They encourage visitors to interact with nature up-close and personal, rather than through the prism of a computer or television screen.
We're grateful to the volunteers who turned out en mass last weekend to help revitalize one of Trenton's most vital assets. And we look forward to watching as plans for the long-awaited repairs come to fruition.