The Ivy Hill Park Little League field in Newark has a new name. It will be in honor of Houston Stevens, a champion of youth recreation programs for many years.
News of such designations is often made known throughout the community with poster printing.
The renaming also provided an opportunity for officials from Essex County to present the makeover of the park to families in the West Ward who are active in neighborhood events and recreation and sports programs. The renovations cost $3.6m and included a new soccer/football field, a revamped Little League field, brighter sports lights, two basketball courts that have been resurfaced, and new trees, landscaping, and walkways.
Funding for the renovations came from the open space trust fund of the county and allocations from the federal American Recovery Program.
Stevens is a board member of the United Community Corporation of Newark and former head of the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association. He spent 30 years creating community-building activities and youth recreation programs at the park, and persuaded the county to invest in its revitalization.
Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., county executive, said that the programs Houston organized helped build pride and community spirit. He added that his legacy has been providing for children and strengthening the bonds in the neighborhood so that naming the filed in his honor will remind those to come of his many contributions.
Location
20 Clinton St
Newark, NJ 07102
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Hours
Mon: 8:30 - 5:00
Tue: 8:30 - 5:00
Wed: 8:30 - 5:00
Thu: 8:30 - 5:00
Fri: 8:30 - 5:00
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed