From Overlooked Space to Community Gathering Place
Every neighborhood deserves a place to gather. In Roselle’s 4th Ward, Cristiani Park was ready for a new chapter. The existing tennis courts, basketball court, and playground had served the community for years but were showing their age, and persistent grading issues left the space prone to flooding. The park’s unique location near a railroad meant the site carried ambient noise, which prompted Borough officials to think creatively about its next life. When outreach to residents revealed overwhelming interest in a skatepark, the Borough had just the spot.
Our team designed a 25,000-square-foot reimagined park that goes well beyond the board. The plan incorporates a 4,000-square-foot skatepark, a six-hoop basketball court, checkers and chess tables, solar-powered charge stations, benches, and picnic tables. The entire space was made ADA accessible, including the adjacent streets, ensuring the park truly serves everyone in one of Roselle’s most densely populated areas.
Solving What’s Underground to Build What’s Above
Design flexibility was essential from the start. Our professionals coordinated closely with utility companies to avoid a major water transmission line running through the middle of the site. Below grade, a mixture of clay and subsurface water prevented any structural integrity, requiring ground reinforcement to support the load of the skatepark. These aren’t the challenges that show up in the finished photos, but they’re the ones that determine whether a project like this lasts.
Our team also secured $278,000 in grants from the Union County Open Space program to help fund the improvements. In a neighborhood where few recreation spaces exist, Cristiani Park now invites residents of all ages to come together for something the 4th Ward has needed for a long time: a space that actually works.