Haulsley, Kuwana. “Architecture Work Lets Students Build Ironbound Dreams.” The Star Ledger, April 23, 1998. Newark Parks- Essex Co. Parks. Newark Public Library. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=architecture%20work%20lets%20students%20build%20ironbound%20dreams&fld-nav-0=YMD_date&val-nav-0=1998&docref=image/v2%3A14245EE216D1AED8%40EANX-NB-1710ECBBE474B1B7%402450927-1710E6901BA7B36E%40114-1710E6901BA7B36E%40

 

In 1998, there was a study done by Architecture students from NJIT to propose new designs for recreational spaces. Those designs were submitted to a committee made up of members from the ICC, the Portuguese American Congress, and residents. Students did research on spaces that needed recreation or improvement in it and then presented their projects to the ICC. The fact that the Portuguese Congress was one of the recipients of these projects highlights that they were very much involved in community decision making in the Ironbound, especially when it came to recreation.

Ironbound Voices. “A Foul or Homer: A Baseball Stadium in Ironbound.” 1995. Newark Public Library. https://archive.org/details/IronboundVoices1995Falla/page/4/mode/2up

This news article by the Ironbound Voices catalogue discusses the construction of a new baseball stadium in Riverbank Park. Between the 1980s-1990s, the Newark city government oversaw projects in the Passaic River area to attract revitalize the city’s economy and bring consumers back. Most Ironbound residents opposed this new project, due to concerns about parking, traffic, and reduction in recreational space. Meetings to discuss the construction of the new ballpark were held in Club Azores and the Iberia restaurant, which were Portuguese-owned businesses. These two institutions were popular venues, but in this case they also served as meeting grounds for the Ironbound community. I argue that since meetings were held in these spaces, Portuguese Americans in the Ironbound were active in the issues that affected their neighborhood.

Ironbound Voices. “People Making History: Our Neighborhood and Our Tax Money- A Chance to Vote March 11 about the Future of Riverbank Park.” 1997. Newark Public Libary. https://archive.org/details/IronboundVoices1997Wintera/page/2/mode/2up.

Portuguese Club holds meeting by Essex County Freeholders on December 10 as well as the referendum on the construction that would take place in March the following year. The fact that the Portuguese Sports Club was a venue for the community to discuss the issue of Riverbank Park proves that the Portuguese were actively involved.

Ironbound Voices. “Riverbank Park Fight Gains Steam.” 1996. Newark Public Library. https://archive.org/details/IronboundVoices1996Summera/page/6/mode/2up

The summer newsletter of 1996 discusses the intensity of the Ironbound’s opposition to stadium development in Riverbank Park. Members of various community organizations, including the ICC, Ironbound Boys and Girl Clubs, and Portuguese Clubs and Organizations form the Save Riverbank Park Coalition (SPARK). Meetings were then held in the Wolff Memorial Church. Actions SPARK takes to fight the construction included rallies by English, Spanish, and Portuguese-speaking residents of the Ironbound. Portuguese-speaking residents were actively involved in the fight to save Riverbank. The newsletter also includes commentary by various residents and activists of what they think of the issues. These include ICC leader Nancy Zak and East Ward Councilman and Portuguese American Augusto Amador, the latter of whom stated that “some people are taking advantage of the community. This league is in formation. What happens when the team folds, and we are left with 2 stadiums, but no park?”. This quote demonstrates that Lusophone residents like Amador were outspoken about the issue of stadium construction.

 

Ironbound Voices. “Riverbank Park: A New Beginning.” 1998. Newark Public Library. https://archive.org/details/IronboundVoices1998Wintera/page/8/mode/2up?view=theater

 

After the demolition of Riverbank Park was stopped, SPARK became focused on reopening park after it was closed due to soil contamination from nearby pollutants. SPARK and the ICC held several meetings for a proposal that was first made in the previous year 1997 called the Special Improvement District(SID). This was first held in a community meeting in Wolff Memorial Church, and was sponsored by Portuguese individuals and organizations, including the Portuguese American Congress, and the Portuguese American Political Party. The newsletter includes commentary by PAC and PAPP members Art Rosa and Dina Matos, the wife of future NJ governor Jim McGreevey, basically stating that the community of the Ironbound must and should have more decision-making in their own neighborhood rather than outsiders. By highlighting the involvement and perspectives of notable Luso Americans, this article demonstrates that Luso Americans were concerned and proactive with issues that affected the Ironbound, and that they as members of the neighborhood contributed to the fight against outsider-led redevelopment.

“Melhor, e Neo Destruir o Nosso Parque,” n.d.Newark Public Library https://archive.org/details/Ironbound0224.

This sign, translated to “Fix, don’t destroy our park”, was most likely made to address Portuguese or Brazilian residents when the plans for construction in Riverbank Park began in 1996. It may have also been written by a Portuguese-speaking resident as a call to action to other members of the community.

“Riverbank Park Protests,” Newark Public Library, https://archive.org/details/Ironbound0220.

This photo was taken during the annual Portugal Day parade in Newark in 1998. Here SPARK organized a protest during the parade in reaction to the closing of Riverbank Park due to contamination. Portugal Day is a popular festival in Newark that honors Portuguese heritage and culture. It has also been a space for community organizing against environmental issues, including the fight against the garbage incinerator in the 1980s. Because the parade is organized by Portuguese figures and institutions, having protests during this time demonstrates that Portuguese Americans were supported activism in the Ironbound.

Stewart, Nikita. “Reopening of Newark Park Ends Long Fight.” The Star Ledger, November 6, 2003. Newark Parks- Essex Co. Parks. Newark Public Library. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&val-base-0=riverbank%20park&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=2003&fld-base-1=YMD_date&docref=image%2Fv2%3A14245EE216D1AED8%40EANX-NB-1720C37FB80D18A2%402452950-171E5C86623008D4%4031&origin=image%2Fv2%3A14245EE216D1AED8%40EANX-NB-1720C37FB80D18A2%402452950-1720B51307A53FF5%4030-1720B51307A53FF5%40.

This Star Ledger discusses the reopening of Riverbank Park after soil contamination. Most of the focus was on SPARK leader Nancy Zak, who after the reopening continued to champion for more recreational space in the Ironbound’s parks. When reflecting on the fight to save Riverbank Park, East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said the event was an “exercise in democracy”. This shows highlights the role that while not always the leading figures in Riverbank Park’s preservation, Portuguese Americans were still actively involved in it.

Walsh, Diane C. “Riverfront Plan Unveiled.” The Star Ledger, April 16, 1998. Newark Parks- Essex Co. Parks. Newark Public Library. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=riverfront%20plan%20unveiled&fld-nav-0=YMD_date&val-nav-0=1998&docref=image/v2%3A14245EE216D1AED8%40EANX-NB-1710E9ECE68D2727%402450920-1710E62651C3FB09%4050-1710E62651C3FB09%40

This article discusses the construction of a new park near Riverbank Park called Riverfront Park, which was designed to expand recreational space in the neighborhood. While initially meant as the replacement park for Riverbank, the plans for Riverfront Park were repurposed as an additional recreation space for the Ironbound neighborhood. Unlike the earlier development of Riverbank Park, residents including the Ironbound Strikers Soccer Club President Albert Countinho were excited by the prospects of Riverfront Park. The new park was expected to have a new soccer field, which pleased many Portuguese immigrants, as well as Coutinho, who needed more space for the youth teams he coached. Councilman Amador previously chaired meetings to discuss the new recreation site, saying “There is a tremendous appetite for soccer, baseball, and football in the Ironbound. But unfortunately, recreation sites have been basically nonexistent”. This demonstrates how the Portuguese community had a strong impact on recreation in their own neighborhood.

Walsh C. Diane “Ironbound Gets a Place to Play Ball.” Star Ledger, 1998. Newark Parks- Essex Co. Parks. Newark Public Library.

This article announces plans to build Riverfront Park, to increase recreational space for the Ironbound. This was during the same time the NJPAC was established. Article has positive  commentary from a resident named Albert Coutinho an assemblyman from the Ironbound who also the coached youth soccer club called Ironbound Strikers. The article mentions that because this is an expansion for a soccer stadium, Portuguese American residents would excited by the prospect. Coutinho, who is Portuguese American, demonstrates how the project unlike the demolition of Riverbank Park received support from the Luso community