Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler said the following about Highland Park’s $22,530 grant for installation of parklets in the downtown and how this initiative fulfills an important goal of community life.
“One of the things we learned from the pandemic was the importance of community and the need for more public gathering spaces. These two issues don’t go away when the virus recedes. Public spaces for human contact, sharing ideas, sipping coffee or tea, or just connecting with neighbors outside of our usual contact groups all help to build a better sense of community. This goes beyond supporting our local businesses. This is our way of supporting each other and community life in Highland Park.”
Rebecca Hersh, executive director of Main Street Highland Park, received a very happy email on Thursday, March 30th that is bound to make businesses and residents of Highland Park very happy.
NJ Lieutenant Governor Sheila K. Oliver, who serves as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, wrote the following:
“On behalf of Governor Philip D. Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, I am pleased to inform you that Main Street Highland Park will receive a MSNJ (Main Street New Jersey) District Transformation Grant of $22,530. This award will provide funds for the design, construction, and decoration of a number of parklet structures outside of businesses in downtown Highland Park, in order to provide the public with more much desired and badly needed downtown spaces to sit, eat, and hang out.
I would like to extend my best wishes for this most worthwhile project and its successful completion.”
Details will be forthcoming on the timetable, hometown design, and construction of these parklet structures – a vital initiative for emerging from the pandemic and celebrating community and downtown businesses.