Mayor Reed Gusciora, along with Councilman Santiago Rodriguez, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson, Green Acres Program Director Martha Sapp, and other officials, commemorated the start of additional construction at Hetzel Pool that will widely improve accessibility by demolishing and rebuilding the parking lot located at 190 North Olden Avenue.

Prior to its closing in 2014, the Hetzel Field Park was unable to be used during the hot summer seasons as a place to cool off due to deterioration and low-maintenance. The facility reopened in summer of 2019 after major renovations.

The multi-million dollar Hetzel Pool restoration project began in September 2018. The parking lot initiative makes up approximately $1 million of the project and will take place over the next 90 days.

“Trenton residents deserve fun and safe recreation spots like Hetzel Pool that they can be proud of,” said Mayor Reed Gusciora. “That’s why the city and its partners worked so hard to restore this gem for the community, which will be even easier to access and enjoy thanks to the parking project that’s starting today.”

The City of Trenton aims to begin the next phase in continuation of previous efforts to restore the pool and nearby facilities, furthermore, making the pool easier to access and enjoy. The parking lot will include a new entrance with decorative fencing and brick piers, enhanced pool house lighting, a landscaped plaza entryway into the pool house with benches and decorative trees, and a rain garden and shade trees to switch out the present invasive vegetation on both sides of the lot.

Partial funding for the project came from N.J. Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Green Acres Program and a Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund grant, which is jointly administered by NJDEP and N.J. Economic Development Authority.

The Hetzel Pool and related projects are being managed by BRS Inc., which is also handling repairs and improvements for Mayor Gusciora’s plan to refurbish dozens of parks across all four Trenton wards.

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