Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Acceptance of Funding Contribution
Purpose: To accept funding provided by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and held in escrow for Phase D public access improvements at Newark Riverfront Park, and authorize the City to access and administer the funding.
Entity Name: New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Entity Address: 1 Turnpike Plaza, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-5042
Grant Amount: $3,000,000.00
Total Project Cost: Approximately $6,000,000.00, as estimated in the Escrow Agreement
City Contribution: Not specified in the Escrow Agreement.
Other Funding Source/Amount: Not specified in the Escrow Agreement.
Funding Period: Subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement and any written extension or approval issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale () Grant ( ) Sub-recipient (X) n/a
Additional Information:
NJTA Agreement No. 231-25. Funds are held by the escrow agent and disbursed subject to NJDEP approval.
body
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-29, the City of Newark ("City") is authorized, subject to applicable law, to undertake public improvements, enter into contracts, and appropriate and expend funds for public purposes; and
WHEREAS, on April 3, 2024, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") issued a Waterfront Development Permit to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority ("NJTA") authorizing reconstruction of the Newark Bay Bridge as part of the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension Improvements Program; and
WHEREAS, to satisfy the public access requirements associated with the permit, NJTA agreed to contribute Three Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($3,000,000.00) toward public access improvements at Newark Riverfront Park; and
WHEREAS, NJTA, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC, as escrow agent ("Escrow Agent"), and NJDEP entered into an Escrow Agreement dated September 16, 2025, identified as NJTA Agreement No. 231-25 ("Escrow Agreement"), establishing the terms for holding and disbursing the contribution; and
WHEREAS, Section 2 of the Escrow Agreement identifies the funded project as Phase D of Newark Riverfront Park, consisting of approximately 1,200 linear feet of park space between Bridge Street and Centre Street along McCarter Highway, including recreational amenities, landscaping, utilities, and related public access improvements ("Project"); and
WHEREAS, the Escrow Agreement provides that the municipality where the improvements are installed and its contractor or contractors are responsible for implementation and construction of the improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Escrow Agreement further provides that disbursement of the funds requires prior written approval from NJDEP following its review, inspection, and approval of the municipality's payment request, and that approved payments shall be issued by the Escrow Agent through checks payable jointly to the municipality and its contractor or contractors; and
WHEREAS, by email dated October 2, 2025, NJTA notified the City's Business Administrator that funding for waterfront public access improvements at Newark Riverfront Park was available to the City in an escrow account; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to accept the Three Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($3,000,000.00) contribution for the Project, subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement and applicable NJDEP approvals; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development desire authorization to take the actions necessary for the City to access and administer the funding for the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The City hereby accepts the funding contribution of Three Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($3,000,000.00) provided by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and held in escrow for Phase D public access improvements at Newark Riverfront Park, subject to the terms of NJTA Agreement No. 231-25 and applicable approvals of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
2. The Escrow Agreement and the email notifying the City of the availability of the funding are attached hereto and made a part hereof. The City's acceptance of the funding does not make the City a signatory to the existing Escrow Agreement.
3. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development, are hereby authorized to submit requests for disbursement, provide supporting documentation and certifications, and coordinate with NJDEP, NJTA, and the Escrow Agent to access and administer the funding for the Project in accordance with the Escrow Agreement.
4. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development, are hereby authorized to request and obtain written confirmation from NJDEP of any extension or continued availability of the funding necessary to implement the Project.
5. The funds accepted by this Resolution shall be used solely for eligible Phase D public access improvements described in Section 2 of the Escrow Agreement. Disbursement shall remain subject to the written approval and payment procedures established in the Escrow Agreement.
6. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development shall file copies of the funding availability notification, written confirmation of any extension or continued funding availability, and NJDEP disbursement approvals in the Office of the City Clerk.
7. The City Clerk shall furnish a certified copy of this Resolution to NJTA, NJDEP, and the Escrow Agent.
8. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the City of Newark to accept a $3,000,000.00 funding contribution provided by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and held in escrow for Phase D public access improvements at Newark Riverfront Park. It further authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of Economic and Housing Development, to access and administer the funding, submit payment requests, and obtain any necessary written confirmation of continued funding availability, subject to the Escrow Agreement and NJDEP approval requirements.