Do you remember where you first learned how to ride a bike? For many people, that memory is made at a bustling close-to-home community park. With the help of Trust for Public Land and our partners, kids living in the East Passaic neighborhood in New Jersey can now have that experience at Dundee Island Park. Previously dilapidated, unwelcoming, and unused, the park has been transformed into a local community hub that connects people of all ages to the outdoors. We worked hand-in-hand with local residents to create the park of their dreams—complete with new play equipment, soccer fields, community garden, fitness area, amphitheater, spray area, and walking trails.

Dundee Island Park’s blues and greens mimic the area’s natural beauty and as the city’s only riverfront park, walkways and boat launches allow visitors to experience the Passaic River. But its beauty runs deep: the park has a climate-smart design that mitigates flooding to help keep the whole neighborhood dry even during the worst storms. Phase 2 of the park’s transformation is currently underway, which will connect Dundee Island Park to nearby Pulaski Park and North Pulaski Park. When complete, local residents will have over 25 acres of space to play, recharge, and enjoy.