A once-overlooked corner of Atlantic City has been transformed into a colorful new public gathering space, thanks to a community effort that brought together businesses, artists, students, city officials and nonprofit organizations.
The Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association officially opened the new MBCA Park Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the corner of North Carolina and Pacific avenues, near Resorts Casino Hotel. The ribbon-cutting celebration included refreshments and live music from The Eddie Morgan Duo.
For MBCA Co-Executive Director Scott Cronick, the park represents both the culmination of roughly a year of planning and a blueprint for what the organization hopes to accomplish throughout Atlantic City in the years ahead.
The MBCA has been around for more than three decades, but Cronick said the park is the organization’s first project of its kind.
“Our mission statement is to beautify Atlantic City to make it a better place to live, work and visit,” Cronick told Shore Local. “And I think that parks do just that.”
The highly visible property along Pacific Avenue presented an opportunity, he said, to turn an unattractive space into something residents, workers and visitors could actually enjoy.
Cronick envisions people stopping by for a picnic, working outside for an afternoon or simply relaxing in one of the park’s artist-painted chairs. He said the space could eventually host festivals and other community events.
“It’s just a little bit of an oasis in the middle of the city,” he said.
The project’s unlikely origins can be traced back to Cronick’s radio show.
Cronick said the idea began after businessman George Norcross issued a $25,000 challenge and state Sen. Vince Polistina responded with an additional $5,000. AtlantiCare later contributed another $5,000, giving the organization $35,000 in seed money.
The initial funding became the catalyst for additional contributions of labor, materials, artwork and money from throughout the community.
The completed park was made possible through a lengthy roster of partners, including Polistina, Norcross, AtlantiCare, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority’s Special Improvement Division, the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority, MudGirls Studios, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Arthur R. Henry Inc., Ocean Casino Resort, Midtown Community Development Corporation, the City of Atlantic City, Cafe 2825, CODI, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and Asbury United Methodist Church.
“It takes a village, and it was certainly the case,” Cronick said.
Among the project’s most significant partners was the Atlantic County Institute of Technology, whose students helped envision and design the park.
Cronick said ACIT created architectural designs, models and 3D renderings while giving students an opportunity to see a real-world project move from concept to completion.
Architecture instructor Drew Holmes became one of Cronick’s closest collaborators, assisting with everything from planning and design to selecting and planting trees and flowers.
“Without Drew and ACIT, this project never would have happened,” Cronick said.
Art also plays a central role in the new space.
The Atlantic City Arts Foundation curated seven local artists — Kiyanna Lawrence, Christina Trice, Dara Heston, John Vaughn, Patty O’Keefe, Yelixza Figueroa and Lyntaga Smith — to transform Adirondack chairs into pieces of functional public art.
MudGirls Studios created a music-themed mosaic centerpiece, with Midtown Community Development Corporation funding the work, Cronick said.
Music-themed murals along the park walls were also designed and installed by the Ocean Casino Resort team, which funded that portion of the project.
Other contributions were just as practical.
The Atlantic City MUA helped bring water to the property. Cafe 2825 owners Joe and Ginny Lautato contributed money toward the sprinkler system, while Arthur R. Henry Inc. provided dirt, cleared the property and leveled the land. CRDA’s Special Improvement Division has assisted with watering, mowing and maintenance.
Cronick said those contributions are what ultimately made the park possible.
“It’s everybody,” he said. “It’s a real community effort.”
Building the space was only the first challenge. Now comes maintaining it.
Cronick said CODI, an organization that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities, will be part of the park’s future upkeep. MBCA contributed $2,500 to help support workers who will periodically assist with cleaning and tending to flowers.
Cronick said the larger goal will be ensuring visitors respect the park, keep it clean and avoid vandalism.
“The bigger challenge is now, which is keeping it clean, maintaining it, making sure that people respect it and use it properly,” he said.
The City of Atlantic City is also supporting the project. The park sits on city-owned property, and Cronick said the city helped facilitate access to water through the municipal utilities authority.
During Tuesday’s celebration, City Council members Kaleem Shabazz, Aaron “Sporty” Randolph and Maria Lacca also personally contributed money toward flowers and other park improvements, according to Cronick.
The MBCA’s roots stretch back more than three decades. Originally founded as the Midtown Business and Citizens Association, the organization later became the Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association and expanded its membership beyond Atlantic City to businesses throughout Atlantic County and the South Jersey region.
Cronick hopes MBCA Park proves that making a noticeable improvement doesn’t necessarily require a multimillion-dollar development.
“I think it was proof that you don’t need a million dollars to make a difference,” he said. “It’s just, you know, $35,000, $40,000 — that’s enough to kind of get the ball started.”
The organization is already hoping to raise money for another park, though no location or timeline has been announced.
For now, Cronick has one request for Atlantic City: use the park.
Whether visitors stop for lunch, gather with friends or simply take a seat in one of the painted Adirondack chairs, Cronick hopes the new park becomes part of everyday life in the city — and the first of many small oases still to come.
Sarah Fertsch of Egg Harbor Township holds a Bachelors of Arts in Public Relations. She is a locally renowned poet, storyteller, and dog lover.
