6th Street Embankment Park - Arts Line

6TH STREET EMBANKMENT PARK JERSEY CITY - NJ

ARTS LINE AN ECO-PARK

In the beginning we would like to clarify that we were not hired by anybody to produce this concept.

During this pandemic that affected the entire world, we were obligated to stay at home and work from home. The world suddenly stopped and we found ourselves with a little more time.

This extra time gave us the opportunity to reflect more, to think more. As architects, urban designers, and urban planners, we have a huge responsibility ahead of us. With the world rapidly changing, we need to think about how we can help in this new environment. How is life going to be from now on? I believe this is going to bring many changes in the future and it’s upon us to stay positive.

I used to live one block away from the embankment. I lived there for 12 years. I was part of the community; fighting against developers who wanted to bring residential buildings on the embankment. I know the fight will continue and, as it continues, we need to collectively brainstorm to come up with options to discuss and debate.

My team and I started having a conversation about it, a dialogue about “How we envision the new urban environment? and “What is our vision for this manmade historic structure?”.

People are walking more, biking more, and using more outdoor spaces. The urban space needs to adapt to these new changes. We believe we need more open spaces, more open public spaces, and more open green public spaces.

We took the embankment as an exercise. There was no doubt that this needed to be an open green public space in the middle of an urban life; but we also felt that we needed to bring some public function. We wanted to transform the “noplace” into a place; where the community can gather and enjoy the relationship between the natural and the manmade.

A place that can become the Agora for Jersey City.

At first we envisioned minimal intervention, an eco-park, with a few trails within existing natural conditions. But during the pandemic, we noticed many people using different forms of art as a way to comfort themselves during this unprecedented time. We saw kids painting street murals with chalks on sidewalks, painting rainbows and writing “everything will be ok”. We saw many others doing more crafts than ever and whole communities singing and dancing from balconies. I even found myself dedicating more time to work on my ceramics and painting. And so, I realized that people were expressing themselves through artistic disciplines.

Based on our observations, we thought this was a unique opportunity for the community to have their own place to express themselves. I imagine kids drawing on some of the walls, young couples writing their names on it, I imagine people coming to use the amphitheater for dancing and movie nights. Many will use the urban farm as a gathering point. Those drawings and names on walls will be there for a long time as a way to create a sense of community and togetherness.

Art is an expression of the soul. Art is what saves many people from losing perspective during this time. The Arts-Line intends to be an expression of the Jersey City community.

I welcome comments and dialogues as we are trying to understand how the world will change after Covid-19 and how we can work with city governments and developers to bring urban open spaces into our new life.

Jorge Mastropietro

The elevated rail line was erected between 1901 and 1905. The stone structure, which spans six blocks between Marin Boulevard and Brunswick Street, once carried seven rail lines on the Harsimus Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, until freight use ended in 1999

9TH ST.

HAMILTON PARK

PAVONIA AVE.

8TH ST.

7TH ST.

MARIN BLDV,

GROVE ST.

ERIE ST.

JERSEY AVE.

4TH ST.

COLES ST.

5TH ST.

MONMOUTH ST.

BRUNSWICK ST.

6TH ST.

The scarcity of green spaces in downtown Jersey City strengthens the idea to preserve the Embankment’s natural green space and open it to Jersey City resident’s for sensitive reuse.

Design Concept A simple touch should inform the design strategy for the Embankment’s new Eco-Park.

Our goals are to Preserve, Activate, and Program, giving the city an exciting, inviting, and much needed, public green space.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Design Concept Arts-Line is an infusion between the natural landscape of the Embankment and relative programmatic spaces creating fun, open spaces, and celebrating the Artistic Community of Jersey City.

9TH ST.

HAMILTON PARK

PAVONIA AVE.

8TH ST.

7TH ST.

MARIN BLDV,

GROVE ST.

ERIE ST.

JERSEY AVE.

4TH ST.

COLES ST.

5TH ST.

MONMOUTH ST.

BRUNSWICK ST.

6TH ST.

Program Concept An Arts-Line allowing for Jersey City residents, adults and kids, to enjoy and participate in fun and diverse artistic and cultural activities.

9TH ST.

HAMILTON PARK

PAVONIA AVE.

8TH ST.

7TH ST. - SCULPTURE GARDEN - EXHIBIT HALL - SCULPTURE MAZE

- FOOD SERVICE & COMMUNITY GARDEN - PAINT IN THE PARK - RAIN GARDEN

- LITTLE LIBRARY - SNACKS & BEVERAGES

- DANCE FLOOR - COMMUNITY PAVILION - SPLASH PAD

- AMPHITHEATRE - SNACKS & BEVERAGES - RAIN GARDEN

- MUSIC EXHIBITIONS - CIVIC PLAZA

MARIN BLDV,

GROVE ST.

ERIE ST.

JERSEY AVE.

4TH ST.

COLES ST.

5TH ST.

MONMOUTH ST.

BRUNSWICK ST.

6TH ST.

9TH ST.

HAMILTON PARK

PAVONIA AVE.

8TH ST.

7TH ST.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

MARIN BLDV,

GROVE ST.

ERIE ST.

JERSEY AVE.

4TH ST.

COLES ST.

5TH ST.

MONMOUTH ST.

BRUNSWICK ST.

6TH ST.

Left: Sculpture maze with natural green plants Right: Sculpture display window to the city.

BLOCK S 6TH STREET

SCULPTURE DISPLAY

SCULPTURE GARDEN PERMANENT & TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

EXHIBIT HALL LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER

Sculpture display park for JC artists to display their art. An exhibit hall envisioned to be used for art and science presentation for the community.

BLOCK FACTS: ● OPEN SPACE AREA: 35,000 SF (91%) ● ENCLOSED SPACE AREA: 3,400 SF (9%)

MONMOUTH ST.

BRUNSWICK ST.

MAZE

Left: Paint platforms floating over mirror of water.

Right: example image of urban garden

BLOCK P 6TH STREET

RAIN GARDEN

Floating platforms over reflective rain garden allowing for JC residents to make their mark in the park. An urban community garden and a restaurant to service the park visitors.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

FOOD SERVICE

BLOCK FACTS: ● OPEN SPACE AREA: 34,000 SF (88.5%) ● ENCLOSED SPACE AREA: 4,400 SF (11.5%)

COLES ST.

MONMOUTH ST.

PAINT IN THE PARK

BLOCK L 6TH STREET

LITTLE LIBRARY & SEATING

COLES ST.

LITTLE LIBRARY & SEATING

SNACKS & BEVERAGES

Reading and contemplation block serviced by seating and shade to allow for JC residents to spend long hours in the park.

BLOCK FACTS: ● OPEN SPACE AREA: 37,000 SF (96%) ● ENCLOSED SPACE AREA: 1,400 SF (4%)

JERSEY AVE.

Left: Typical seating in the park for contemplation and reading.

Right: example of little library ideas as design by JMA.

6TH STREET

DANCING WATERS

DANCE FLOOR

ELEVATOR STAIRS

W.C.

COMMUNITY PAVILION

A splash pads for kids to run through on hot summer days and a dance floor for community gather events. A community pavilions for neighborhood and community meetings to have a meeting space.

SEATING

ERIE ST.

JERSEY AVE.

BLOCK D

Left: example of splash pad park Right: example of dance activities envisioned to take place in the park

BLOCK FACTS: ● OPEN SPACE AREA: 34,700 SF (90%) ● ENCLOSED SPACE AREA: 3,700 SF (10%)

BLOCK T

Left: example of amphitheater Right: example of ambiance created by reflected rain garden

6TH STREET

RAIN GARDEN SNACKS & BEVERAGES

An amphitheater dug down creating a sloping down seating area for “movie night” in the park and other events. A large rain garden for rainwater collection and retention.

BLOCK FACTS: ● OPEN SPACE AREA: 37,550 SF (98%) ● ENCLOSED SPACE AREA: 850 SF (2%)

AMPHITHEATRE

GROVE ST.

ERIE ST.

DN

BLOCK M

MUSIC GAMES/EXHIBITIONS CIVIC PLAZA

Music block: sloping down platforms towards civic plaza for music gatherings and formal JC mayoral and governmental addresses and gatherings.

BLOCK FACTS: ● OPEN SPACE AREA: 43,000 SF (100%) ● ENCLOSED SPACE AREA: 0 SF (0%)

MARIN BLDV,

GROVE ST.

6TH STREET

BLOCK D (6th St & Jersey Ave)

BLOCK S (6th St & Monmouth St)

BLOCK T (6th St & Grove St)

BLOCK P (6th St & Jersey Ave)

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