Improving streetscape infrastructure is crucial for the vibrancy and livability of Downtown Newark. A well-designed streetscape enhances urban mobility, safety, and economic vitality, making the downtown area more attractive for residents, visitors, and businesses. In 2007, the NDD bonded $10 million to enhance the physical appearance of the downtown through the deployment of street elements such as trash receptacles, decorative lights, planters, street trees, and wayfinding signage. This initiative led to the creation of the NDD Festival Lighting project and the redesign of the NDD Pedestrian Wayfinding Signage Project.
The NDD Festival Lighting Project
Festival lighting design plays a crucial role in creating comfort and enhancing urban spaces. These beautification elements reflect a city’s culture and identity when used professionally and correctly. The NDD Festival Lighting project officially began in 2019 as part of the NDD’s Capital Improvement Project, with the first phase implemented on Treat Place, completed in August 2022. This transformative project, fully managed and funded by the NDD, revitalized the area with vibrant lights. Building on the success of Treat Place, Phase 2 extended the lighting to Halsey Street in just eight months, thanks to a remarkable partnership between the NDD and Newark Alliance. This collaboration exemplifies the power of teamwork in enhancing the urban environment.
