Children play on the playground area as officials cut the ribbon to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

They said it was never going to happen.

Bogged down by elaborate land deals and trapped in a battle of wills and endless bureaucracy, dreams of a lush park in Newark's downtown languished for more than a decade.

But on Thursday, a parade of city officials and a who's who of Newark business leaders and developers convened to announce the dream was finally reality: Mulberry Commons Park, a 3-acre space across from the Prudential Center, is now open.

It only took 15 years to get here.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, I can tell you, it took an army to do a park,” said Hugh Weber, president of the New Jersey Devils. “It was an army of passionate, opinionated, singularly-focused sometimes, but always committed group of people.”

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Children on the playground area as officials cut the ribbon to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

The park extends along Lafayette Street and Edison Place, between Mulberry Street and McCarter Highway. A bright orange playground beckons children to climb across its twisted rope ladder monkey bars. There’s a floor chess board, a wide slide and a large water fountain.

“I don’t just see grass and trees, I see Newark beginning to see itself as what it can become,” Mayor Ras Baraka said. “This park is going to prove to everybody that Newark is one community. This park is for all of us.”

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Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka speaks at ribbon cutting to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

The city bonded $10 million to construct the park, which is owned by Newark. Businesses and developers surrounding the park will pay $250,000 annually to maintain and operate the park, according to Natasha Rogers, Newark’s Chief Operating Officer and Interim Deputy Mayor.

Rogers said part of the delay was finalizing deals with private developers who own much of the property in downtown Newark. They needed to be convinced to exchange or sell certain parcels to the city and clear land for the park. (That included Boraie Development, J&L Companies and Edison Properties.)

“There had to be a lot of different land swaps, that was the major issue -- people having to believe that I’m going to give up my property right to build luxury housing and all this for a park. There had to be some will, influence and trust,” Rogers said.

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The Weequanic High School marching band perform in front of the dancing water fountain at the ribbon cutting to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

But before there was a park, there was a parking lot. And before that, there was Newark's Chinatown and a market for various local vendors.

Rogers remembers when she was growing up she'd come to Mulberry Arcade.

Mulberry Commons won't forget all this history. A plaque remembering the old Chinatown is on the site and the Chinese community is working on a monument to commemorate Chinatown as well, officials said.

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Attendees at the ribbon cutting to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

There are still additional plans for the Mulberry Commons property, which stretches for 22 acres.

The next phase includes a pedestrian bridge connecting the Ironbound, Penn Station and Prudential arena that will cross over McCarter Highway.

City officials are still working on financing for the project, which is expected to cost $75-$80 million.

The bridge will resemble New York City’s High Line, an elevated linear park.

"What you don't see is the development that will take place because of this park," Baraka said.

Edison Properties will soon open Ironside Newark, 450,000 square feet of office space with a food court planned for the first floor that will open up into the park. The space was previously a long vacant warehouse.

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Children play on the playground area as officials cut the ribbon to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

For now, city employees, passers-by and students enjoyed the park's amenities as food vendors and musicians lined up to entertain.

“Around where I live, there’s not that many parks,” said Brandon Passmore, 12, as he played with his friends.

He said the new park was “cool." He’d definitely come back.

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Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and other officials cut the ribbon to open Mulberry Commons Park, a $10 million private/public development project in Newark's downtown. 5/30/19 George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

[Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the size of the park.]

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.

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