Over the years, there have been concepts to make East Cherry Street more of a pedestrian plaza. At least since construction of the parking garage on Lewis Street in the early 2000s, discussions have included creating easier access to East Cherry Street.

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As recently as 2015, a concept plan that never came to fruition proposed a promenade connecting East Cherry Street to Lewis Street. The eastern end of East Cherry from Main to Monroe streets could be turned into pedestrian-only when necessary, with the promenade allowing vehicular access from the deck after special events.

While those plans were connected to a proposed redevelopment that never materialized, the city has taken steps to pursue state grant funding for an East Cherry Street Pocket Park. Redevelopment Director and then-City Administrator Robert Landolfi described the concept as “relatively tentative plans at this point,” during a telephone interview in July.

There are three lots eyed for the pocket park. The city owns the paved lot next to the Cherry Pit building, which the former Parking Authority acquired in 2015, leaving only the vacant lot between Rahway Grill to be acquired. The Cherry Pit building across from the Monroe Street would be demolished. The three lots would be consolidated and paved to create a pocket park with some type of outdoor performance space or stage facility, including electricity and irrigation, along with tables and chairs.

Improvements to East Cherry Street have often included a concept to convert part of it into a pedestrian mall with removable bollards. The question would be whether to do it all at one time, Landolfi said, and whether funding could be secured. “It makes sense to do it all at one time,” he said, stressing a minimum impact on businesses. It probably would be after the height of the 2022 season, with a best case of probably spring 2023.

The concept will depend on funding and the ability to acquire the land for open public space, Public Relations Coordinator Lauren Ferrigno said via email last week.

This past summer, City Council approved two resolutions seeking state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green Acres funding of $763,250, in the form of matching grants and a loan for an East Cherry Street Pocket Park.

At its July meeting, City Council approved a resolution (AR-177-21) applying for a Green Acres matching grant of $471,750 and loan of $157,250, for a total $629,000. The city would have a matching share, if required, for the remainder of the project cost, about $157,250. At its September meeting, City Council adopted another resolution (AR-224-21) seeking a 75% matching  grant of $134,250 from the state  with a matching share of $44,750 by the city to acquisition of the lot.

The resolution included applications to acquire land and create the park but Green Acres can’t combine the two projects, so the city broke up the requests, recently applying to acquire the land, according to Ferrigno.

The city also has sought funding to increase recreation projects near Hamilton Stage but those plans also are in limbo.

A resolution (AR-140-21) in May to apply for $150,000 from the state Green Acres’ Urban Grants initiative was pulled. The application would have sought funding for passive art and recreational programming in the vicinity of Hamilton Stage, renovating a grass lot and the Robinson’s Branch Rahway River Walkway on Hamilton Street.

The city ended up backing off that application, Landolfi said, and will pursue another application after considering some other ideas with Green Acres. There has been discussion about a project adjacent to Hamilton Stage, a Blue Acres acquisition, or a community garden at the former St. Mark’s property, according to Landolfi. “We couldn’t come up with something that was a good fit at this time,” he said in July. “The short answer is, we think it makes sense to increase recreational opportunities there, we’re just not sure what form it’s going to take.”

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