“Mulberry Commons Park is the first phase of one of the most important redevelopment projects ever undertaken in Newark,” Baraka said. “It has provided our children with a safe, innovative place to play, created a new community gathering space for outdoor events, and jumpstarted development in the surrounding neighborhood. With [this] groundbreaking, we enter the second phase, which catapults the metamorphosis of downtown into the full expression of a livable community. After decades of contemplating concepts and possibilities, Newark now cements a public/private collaboration to create a bustling habitat, dovetailing housing, employment, retail, and entertainment. I’m proud and grateful to everyone who made this day possible.”
The bridge will:
- Create a new civic landmark for the city of Newark
- Connect downtown and Mulberry Commons Park to the Ironbound
- Spur economic growth and development
- Attract significant direct investment and job creation for city, county, and state
- Provide direct access from the bridge to Newark Penn Station
- Enhance the pedestrian experience in and out of Newark Penn Station
- Make the city more walkable and green
- Make Newark Penn Station a transit hub
- Activate interest in Newark and enhance the city’s destination status
“It’s rare that a single project can so comprehensively encapsulate all that our state — and the great City of Newark — have worked tirelessly to achieve for our residents," Murphy said. “Indeed, by connecting Newark Penn Station and the city’s downtown, the Mulberry Commons Pedestrian Bridge will not only promote active and public transportation in our state’s most populous city, but simultaneously catalyze economic growth and development for generations to come. Most importantly, this bridge is a project that puts New Jerseyans and their quality of life first, connecting residents with vibrant community assets in one of our state’s most iconic neighborhoods.”
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Gilbane is the construction manager for the Mulberry Commons Pedestrian Bridge, which is a key piece of the city’s development strategy for the central business district. The initiative coordinates with New Jersey’s statewide long-range transportation plan involving Penn Station, which includes smart growth measures for development and redevelopment in the Newark corridor. The bridge will connect Penn Station directly with the Prudential Center, and increase commuter access to the city’s approximately 15 million square feet of office space, four higher education institutions, and approximately 5 million square feet of industrial space. Additionally, the project will significantly benefit multiple neighborhoods of the city that have limited connectivity to transit and to the city center.
