NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - In the depths of a cold winter, city officials have revealed plans for renovating two popular parks with a project that includes an amphitheater, multiple gardens, water spray splash pad and a memorial to activist and Rutgers University alumnus Paul Robeson.

Plans for Feaster and Pitman parks call for enhanced traffic controls along a section of Handy Street that runs between the two recreation sites.

Feaster Park, the larger of the two areas and located directly behind the Paul Robeson School, will have basketball courts, a soccer field, volleyball court, fitness stations and a Zumba, yoga, multi-purpose area.

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There will be the amphitheater performance area, an outdoor classroom area behind the school, a community garden, a playground area for children and a quiet area for adults, as well as wi-fi and recharging stations.

At the southeast corner near the intersection of Commercial Avenue and Handy Street will be Robeson Plaza, where there will be a statute of historic performer and writer.

The smaller Pittman Park is designed for passive, tranquil recreation, with walkways, benches, a rain garden and other plantings.

Plans were developed following months of discussion with residents and community groups. Trust for Public Land, a California-base non-profit agency was hired to gather input from city residents for the park, and the agency drew input from Robeson School students and faculty, churches, Rutgers' Paul Robeson Center, the Unity Square community organization and the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick among other groups.

People from Rutgers are also assisting in the design process.





There will be further meetings with focus groups to fine-tune the plans.

City officials hope to begin work on the improvements this summer.