Harriet Tubman Square (formerly known as Washington Park) is a city square in Downtown Newark, New Jersey.[1]

It is the northernmost of the three colonial era downtown parks in the city, along with Lincoln Park and Military Park.[2] The triangular park is bounded by Broad Street, Washington Street, and Washington Place at the end of Halsey Street. It is home to several public monuments and is surrounded by historic civic and commercial buildings. In a ceremony on Juneteenth 2022, the city re-named the park in honor of Harriet Tubman.[3][4]

Skyline of Washington Park buildings such as IDT, North Reformed Church, 33 Washington St, American Insurance Company Building, Cablevision, 1 Washington Park, and Riverfront Stadium as seen from Passaic River in 2015

District

James Street Commons Historic District
Harriet Tubman Square is located in Essex County, New Jersey
Harriet Tubman Square
Harriet Tubman Square is located in New Jersey
Harriet Tubman Square
Harriet Tubman Square is located in the United States
Harriet Tubman Square
Coordinates40°44′41″N 74°10′14″W / 40.74459°N 74.17067°W / 40.74459; -74.17067
NRHP reference No.78001758[5]
NJRHP No.1275[6]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 9, 1978
Designated NJRHPFebruary 10, 1977

Originally known as the North Common or the Upper Green,[7] the park is a contributing property to the James Street Commons Historic District and is surrounded by notable landmarks. It forms the northern end of the city's central business district.

The North Reformed Church was built in 1857-59 without the use of ore, iron, or steel. The Ballantine House, a National Historic Landmark, was built by the brewer of Ballantine beer, John Ballantine, in 1885. It is part of the Newark Museum. The main Newark Public Library was built in 1903. Residential brownstones are found along James Street.

Among the office buildings located in the district are the American Insurance Company Building, One Washington Park, IDT Corporation, 550 Broad Street, 33 Washington Street, and the Cablevision Call Center. Several facilities of Rutgers-Newark and the headquarters of Audible are on the park.[8]

Statues

George Washington taking leave of troops at Rocky Hill.
Christopher Columbus statue removed in June 2020

Several commemorative statues and tablets are in the park:[2][9]

Wednesdays at Washington Park

Since 2009, a weekly green market and outdoor concert is held at the park from June to October.[19][20][21]

Transportation

The Newark Light Rail Washington Park station lies along the Broad Street side of the park. Riverfront Stadium station is a block away. The Newark Broad Street Station, served by New Jersey Transit (NJT), is two blocks north. Numerous buses serve Newark and environs, including Newark Liberty International Airport.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TAPinto".
  2. 1 2 Jean-Rae Turner; Richard T. Koles; Charles F. Cummings (2003), Newark: The Golden Age, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 9780738512143
  3. ↑ "Newark to rename Washington Park to honor Harriet Tubman, replace Columbus statue with hers". October 8, 2020.
  4. ↑ Strunsky, Steve (June 20, 2022). "On Juneteenth holiday, Newark renames Washington Park as Harriet Tubman Square". NJ.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  5. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  6. ↑ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Essex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. January 10, 2010. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Walking Tour 1: Newark History" (PDF). www.newarktours. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  8. ↑ NJ.com, Dan Ivers | NJ Advance Media for (January 11, 2016). "Audible to expand operation into historic Newark church". nj. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 Federal Writers' Project (2013), The WPA Guide to New Jersey, Trinity University Press, ISBN 9781595342287, retrieved November 3, 2015
  10. ↑ "George Washington, (sculpture)". siris-artinventories.si.edu.
  11. ↑ "Newark - Christopher Columbus Statue in Washington Park". vanderkrogt.net. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Newark's Christopher Columbus". newarkhistory.com. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Newark - Christopher Columbus Statue in Washington Park". statues.vanderkrogt.net. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  14. ↑ NJ.com, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for (June 26, 2020). "Another Christopher Columbus statue removed from N.J. city park". nj. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  15. ↑ NJ.com, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for (June 26, 2020). "Another Christopher Columbus statue removed from N.J. city park". nj. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  16. ↑ Panico, Rebecca (October 9, 2020). "City said Columbus statue it took down was in storage. It's outside, in a vacant lot, on the ground". nj.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Seth Boyden Statue". www.newarkhistory.com. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  18. ↑ https://www.nj.com/news/2023/03/harriet-tubman-monument-unveiled-in-newark-honors-underground-railroad-conductor.html
  19. ↑ "Wednesdays at Washington Park". www.newarkpulse.com. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  20. ↑ ""WEDNESDAYS AT WASHINGTON PARK" - Glocally Newark". glocallynewark.com. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Wednesdays at Washington Park in Newark New Jersey profile at farmers market online". farmersmarketonline.com. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  22. ↑ "New Jersey Transit". njtransit.com. Retrieved November 3, 2015.

40°44′34″N 74°10′18″W / 40.742651°N 74.171779°W / 40.742651; -74.171779

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