Jesse Allen Park

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Credit: Erin Maguire

Surf, snow and—concrete? Sunny beaches and fresh powder are often out of reach for many city dwellers, but Newark's new Jesse Allen Park may just turn "bored" athletes into "board" athletes (check out images from New Jersey Star-Ledger photographer, Mitsu Yasukawa, who captured some thrilling skateboard action on the park's opening day.)

In 2009 The Trust for Public Land celebrated the first of three planned renovations of the eight-acre park. In early 2011, we began the second phase of renovations that includes new lawns and landscaping, a playground and water play spray area, basketball courts, sports lighting, and adult fitness equipment. The New York Jets and MetLife are supporting the addition of the fitness equipment through a $40,000 donation.

The phase three of the project - replacing the current field with state-of-the-art synthetic turf - will begin once all funding is in place. The New York Jets, through the NFL Grassroots program at LISC, provided the initial funding for this part of the project, but additional funds are still needed.