(Camden) Camden County Freeholder Jeff Nash, Camden Mayor Frank Moran, along with officials from the William Penn Foundation, Liberty Property Trust, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Cooper’s Ferry Partnership hosted an event for the beautiful new RCA Pier.
The 98-year-old pier, located on Camden’s Central Waterfront, has been transformed into a dynamic, vibrant, and unique two-acre public park accessible to all Camden residents and visitors. Throughout the summer, the new park will serve as a venue for Third Thursday concerts and fitness classes through the Connect the Lots initiative, a collaboration between Cooper’s Ferry Partnership and the City of Camden.
“The transformation of RCA pier, made possible thanks to a first-of-its-kind private investment from several philanthropic parties, is indicative of how much progress has been made in Camden, and the phenomenal benefit it has brought to City residents,” Nash said. “Our focus continues to be on ensuring that the City of Camden sees a continual expansion of its public parks and open spaces. We have seen firsthand the positive effect that these additions have on public wellbeing.”
Envisioned to follow in the footsteps of Cooper’s Poynt Waterfront Park in North Camden as another opportunity to unlock the beauty and recreational potential of the Camden Waterfront, the $3.5 million RCA Pier was by funded by Liberty Property Trust, the NJDEP Green Acres Program, and the NJEDA’s Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund. Funding for additional future enhancements as well as programming, maintenance, and watershed education was generously provided by the William Penn Foundation.
The park includes several unique lawn spaces and a central hill with incredible views of the Delaware River, Ben Franklin Bridge, and Philadelphia skyline. An ongoing community engagement process has informed the direction of additional enhancements planned for later this year, including public art, engaging signage, additional plantings, free wireless internet, and more.
The park will serve as a unique new destination along the Circuit, Greater Philadelphia’s multi–use trail network, and will provide Camden residents and visitors alike with a new opportunity to enjoy the Camden Waterfront.