NJRPA Award-Winning Projects (2023)

2023 NJRPA – Gregory A. Marshall Conservation Award

Category: Multi Use Facility 

Location: Intersection of Cole Place, Clifton Street & Trenton Avenue

Award Description: This award recognizes a park and recreation agency that has made an outstanding effort or innovation during the last 1-3 years to sustain and improve the build or national environment and/or reduce the environmental impact made by the agency in the management of parks, natural resources and historic sites.

Project Overview: SCE provided the City of Elizabeth (City) with landscape architecture, surveying, and site design services for the design, permitting, and construction administration of a trail connection, open space park, and gateway area for the City’s River Trail Project. The new trail connects the existing River Trail that extends from the City’s Downtown Business District through the residential areas and existing parks along the Elizabeth River, to the newly constructed trail and bikeway at the foot of the Goethals Bridge at Cole Place. The improvements consisted of a multi-use path, central plaza, decorative lighting, bio-retention swales and rain gardens for stormwater runoff, site furnishings, water fountains, bicycle service areas, entrance portals, wayfinding and identification signage, landscape areas and street trees. The trail connection and urban open space were designed to continue the River Trail connection throughout the City to create a recreational amenity for the community as well as a transportation link for pedestrians and cyclists entering New Jersey from the Staten Island, New York border. The connection continues the Elizabeth River Trail from the bikeway and pedestrian access over the Goethals Bridge into Staten Island, New York. 

This project is unique in several ways.  A custom entrance portal was designed in collaboration with Icon Structures to create a visually appealing structure which grabs visitors’ attention and welcomes them to the Elizabeth River Trail. The entrance portal was designed to resemble the nearby Goethals Bridge. There is an additional arbor structure which serves as a bicycle shelter with repair stations, wayfinding signage, bike rakes, seating, and drinking fountain. There is a custom circular granite seat wall in the center of the site which encompasses a large seven (7) flag display with flagpole heights ranging from 25-feet to 55-feet in height. Site lighting was custom designed to enhance the visual character of the site and to emphasize the impact of the United States Flag Circle.