Projects: Parks & Open Spaces
9/11 Memorial Park
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Built by Let It Grow, Inc. between July and September of 2007, 9/11 Memorial Park in East Rutherford, New Jersey is a tribute to those who perished on September 11, 2001.
Although relatively small in size, the 9/11 memorial park features an array of beautifully constructed features and incorporates a number of systems. The ground plane is comprised of red clay pavers arranged in a herring bone pattern and defined by a soldier course border around the perimeter. The pavers are interrupted by a centrally located sod lawn area containing an existing tree that was preserved and incorporated into the park.
Further interest is added at ground level by a number of beautifully laid out planting beds located throughout the site. A new irrigation system wass installed to ensure that the lawn and plantings remain in pristine condition. Brick seat walls with recessed lighting grace the perimeter and further help define the space. At various locations along the wall, cedar planks set on sleepers were constructed to provide visual interest and define the seating areas. To provide shade and provide vertical interest, a gazebo was constructed near the parks western extent. The gazebo features steel columns with a wood frame roof and standing seam metal roof panels. A circular fountain clad with hand laid river stone and encircled by a brick seat wall sits at the sites north east corner. Below grade, a 2500 gallon basin and 120 GPM grinder pump bring the fountain to life. Finally, a memorial area was constructed at the site’s south east corner. At this location, the seat walls ascend in height and open up to create two voids aligned in the direction of ground zero. A steel silhouette of the New York City skyline puts it all in perspective. At night the voids where the towers once stood are filled with two beams of light projected by 175 watt in-ground uprights. A memorial plaque located at the base of the wall pays tribute to four of East Rutherford’s own who lost their lives on that day.
Once the pride of the city, Dahnert’s Lake County Park in Garfield, NJ had fallen into disrepair during the past decade. The lake was unusable for years because of contamination and the park finally closed due to neglect.
