Perth Amboy Gains Pocket Park, Loses Mural

On November 9, 2021, Middlesex County and Perth Amboy officials announced plans to demolish the County Public Works Office Garage on Fayette Street, the location of the Hometown Girl Mural, and convert the site into a pocket park. The pocket park will create more green space in the city which is good for the environment. Residents were shocked and upset that they would lose a popular mural.

Both residents and officials want more murals in Perth Amboy. PARTNER, the nonprofit of the Perth Amboy Housing Authority, recently made a presentation to the city council saying they would work to fulfill their commitment of 10 murals in Perth Amboy. PARTNER has done 2 murals, the Hometown Girl mural and the mural inside Olive St, called Growing Together. Members of the Arts Council have discussed the need for murals to be placed in the downtown to stimulate economic and community development by adding vibrancy and creating an outdoor gallery. PARTNER receives funds from Wells Fargo to revitalize Perth Amboy in the Gateway district which includes downtown. PARTNER has received grants totaling $1 million to revitalize our city. Council members said that they would like to see results from that investment. The City Council suggested collaboration with the Arts Council and local arts organizations to achieve the goals of using arts to help revitalize Perth Amboy. Murals have been used successfully to help revitalize cities throughout NJ, like in Jersey City, Asbury Park and New Brunswick to name a few.

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