Building Together, Playing Together: How NJCDC’s Parks, Playgrounds, and Gardens Are Helping Paterson Flourish

In July, we honor Parks and Recreation Month by recognizing the vital role parks and recreation play in building healthy, connected communities — and the partners and community members who help bring these spaces to life. This year’s theme of Build Together, Play Together perfectly captures the spirit of NJCDC’s work to create beautiful, inclusive spaces that bring Paterson residents together to learn, grow, and thrive.

From neighborhood playgrounds and community gardens to revitalized parks and plazas, NJCDC has spent years investing in the health and happiness of our community through parks and recreation. Our efforts are rooted in a simple truth: when residents have access to safe, vibrant public spaces, communities flourish.

Creating Spaces to Grow and Play

In a city as densely populated as Paterson, green space is precious. That’s why NJCDC has prioritized the development of safe and accessible public spaces where children can play, families can gather, and neighbors can connect.

With the help of partners like KaBOOM!, Alexandra’s Playground, and the City of Paterson, NJCDC has built seven school playgrounds at schools including our Paterson Family Center, our Community Charter School of Paterson, and numerous local public schools. These outdoor spaces have become lively gathering places beyond school hours, giving young people a place to be active, social, and safe.

We’ve also created green pockets of calm and community through spaces like the Rosario Coscia Children’s Garden, an outdoor classroom where our Paterson Family Center preschoolers learn to plant vegetables, explore healthy eating, and develop a deeper appreciation for nature. The garden was created in memory of Rosario Coscia, a beloved Paterson resident and avid gardener, and continues his legacy of cultivating beauty, wellness, and joy.

Another reclaimed gem is the William Carlos Williams Community Plaza, a formerly overlooked lot now transformed into a welcoming gathering space named after the iconic poet and local physician. Once an eyesore, the plaza now serves as a place to relax and an outdoor classroom where local students engage in learning experiences inspired by Williams’ legacy of service to Paterson.

And at the heart of our efforts to promote inclusive play is Lou Costello Memorial Park, now home to Paterson’s first accessible playground for autistic children. Once neglected and unsafe, the park was completely revitalized through community partnership and generous support from numerous sources. The redesigned playground features vibrant, sensory-friendly equipment and an environment where all children, regardless of ability, can explore and belong. It stands as a shining example of what’s possible when we not only build together but also build with everyone in mind.

A Historic Park Reimagined

One of the most transformative projects with which we are involved is the $13 million revitalization of Westside Park, a long-awaited restoration of one of Paterson’s largest and most historic green spaces. Led by the City of Paterson, New City Parks, and other dedicated partners, NJCDC is helping by bringing together the resources and community input needed to bring this long-held vision to life.

Originally built in the 1890s, Westside Park was once described as “a thing of joy and beauty forever.” But over time, the park fell into disrepair, damaged by storms, underinvestment, and the passing of time. Now, a new chapter is being written. The revitalized Westside Park will feature upgraded sports fields and courts, a modernized playground, a new riverwalk and boat launch, and hundreds of newly planted trees.

As part of the park’s transformation, we also worked closely with members of Paterson’s Bengali community and we built the Shohid Minar Monument, a moving tribute to those who lost their lives advocating for the recognition of the Bengali language during the Language Movement of 1952. Funded in part through the Passaic County Open Space Fund, the monument stands as both a cultural landmark and a symbol of our commitment to honoring Paterson’s rich diversity.

A Vision Shaped by the People of Paterson

All of NJCDC’s parks and recreation work is guided by a bigger picture: our 10-Year Great Falls Neighborhood Plan, a resident-driven roadmap for the future of our neighborhood. Developed through extensive community engagement, the plan reflects what Patersonians want most: vibrant public spaces, improved health outcomes, and a neighborhood they can take pride in.

Residents called for a total transformation of Westside Park, recognizing it not just as a green space but as a powerful tool for promoting public health. With higher-than-average rates of chronic illnesses such as obesity and diabetes in our neighborhood, residents identified parks as a way to create more opportunities for physical activity, mental wellness, and safe community gathering spaces.

The plan also recognizes the opportunity presented by the Great Falls National Historical Park, which draws an estimated 300,000+ visitors each year. Community members envisioned ways to connect these visitors to the rest of the neighborhood, through better signage, pedestrian-friendly improvements, and increased access to food vendors and local businesses.

Equally important are the ways these spaces are activated. The plan calls for frequent programming — from sports leagues and fitness classes to outdoor performances and festivals — that bring people together and strengthen community ties. It also recommends making it easier for residents to organize their own events in public parks, like a family picnic or community gathering.

These ideas weren’t imposed from outside; they came directly from the people who live here. As NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci put it, “Paterson’s future is being built by the people who live here. Our parks and public spaces are more than just green patches; they’re places where neighbors meet, kids grow, and memories are made. We’re proud to work alongside residents to create a healthier, more connected, and more vibrant Paterson.”

Together, We Play

As we celebrate Parks and Recreation Month, we also celebrate our community — those who’ve helped us build these spaces, those who use them with joy, and those who dream of what’s still possible. Whether it’s kids laughing on a new jungle gym, families growing vegetables in a garden, or neighbors gathering for a concert in the park, NJCDC is proud to help create the spaces where Paterson plays and thrives.

This July, and every day, let’s continue to build together, play together, and grow together.