The Pedestrian Mall on Newark Avenue is about to get a redesign, reports Jersey Digs. The new landscape redesign will include five bioswales, which are essentially sidewalk gardens built to absorb storm water. They do this by conveying water to plants or storm drains, while allowing water to infiltrate into the soil and be soaked up by the vegetation, therefore reducing flooding. (GrowNYC has a more in-depth definition and video of how they are built and function). The bioswales will also give the pedestrian plaza a much-needed touch of green.
In addition to the bioswales, new hinged gates will be added at the start and end of the plaza. The gates will replace the makeshift police barricades and will be able to swing wide open to allow emergency vehicles in should they be needed.
Although the redesign is still in its early stages — there’s no official completion date — Brian Platt, from the Office of Innovation, is soliciting feedback from residents at neighborhood association meetings. There’s even a Pedestrian Mall website where we’ll be able to (hopefully) track coming changes. —Jersey Digs
(Image: City of Jersey City)
