NEWARK, NJ: Tree trimming fun at Riverbank Park

Ironbound families and children enjoyed SPARK Friends of Riverbank Park’s Holiday Tree Trim on December 6. Participants made a variety of ornaments, some to take home and some to decorate the park tree. Hot cocoa, prepared by SPARK member Luis Filho, was popular on the very rainy day.

Children made ornaments from colored paper, pine cones, decorative ribbon, and other recycled materials. They also made festive picture frames, decorated with snowmen, to take home.

Ironbound Community Corporation staff joined SPARK volunteers to help out, and also brought a large group of children to enjoy the fun. “This is the last event for 2014,” said SPARK member Nancy Zak. “It is the completion of SPARK Friend’s 10th year of Cultural Arts Programming at Riverbank Park. It has been an amazing decade and we want to say a special thank you to all the SPARK Friends volunteers who have made this possible.”

The park’s 2014 Cultural Arts Program was made possible with support from PNC Foundation, and from the NJ State Council on the Arts/ Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, and many individual and small business donations. The 2015 Arts Program will begin in May with the annual Music & Art in the Park. For more information, go to www.riverbankpark.org.