Neighborhoods

NEW SOUTH WARD STREET ENHANCEMENTS CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

Published July 19, 2017 | Vince Baglivo

Bold new banners welcome people to Newark’s South Ward Special Improvement District (SID), and highlight the neighborhood’s attraction as a great place to “live, work, shop, worship, play” and “access healthcare.”

New light poles, part of phase one of the SID’s beautification program, and garbage cans reinforce the efforts of the district’s Clean Team Ambassadors, who set out daily to a clean, safe and welcoming community by providing supplemental streetscape services. Self-watering planters make maintenance easy and cost effective and add a touch of color with seasonal flowers and greenery.

The Bergen-Lyons-Clinton Partnership, the management corporation behind the South Ward SID, a public/private partnership between the City of Newark and local stakeholders including residents, business and property owners, is focused on initiatives to create jobs and stimulate business development and investment. Yet the SID considers the community’s quality of life as equally important to transforming the district into one of Newark’s most dynamic neighborhoods.

Phillip Gilmore, Pastor of St John’s Community Baptist Church on Bergen Street and President of the Partnership’s Board of Directors, said ultimately the SID, including its volunteer members and professional staff, are dedicated to the mission of enhancing and sustaining the South Ward as a destination of choice in Newark and the region for people who want to buy a home, start a business or invest in commercial property.

In recent months, 25 new garbage cans, 40 new planters, 30 light poles and banners to cover the district, which includes Bergen Street between Lyons and Clinton Avenues and both of those streets to the Irvington border, have been purchased and installed. Ronice Bruce, the BLCSID’s Executive Director, said people have noticed the improvements and have given their endorsement to the SID’s proactive and ongoing mission.

“From residents who have lived in the South Ward for more than 40 years, to new and prospective business owners and investors, our efforts have helped change perceptions about this community,” Bruce added. “With the groundbreaking taking place this month to kick off the Bergen Street Redevelopment program to the recent Juneteenth celebration and upcoming community movie nights under the stars, there’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm.”

For more information about programs, services and opportunities to support and contribute to the initiatives of the South Ward SID, email southwardsid@gmail.com. You can also follow news from the district at www.southwardsid.com and through social media at Facebook.com/SouthWardSID.

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