PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) - Victoria Oquendo has lived half a century in Paterson, New Jersey, the last 20 years in the fourth ward. In the fourth ward was a park built as a safe space for children, but it took a dark turn.
"A beautiful park was being used for ugly," said Oquendo. "This flower bed was full of hypodermic needles ... They had a couch in here, they were sleeping in here, they were practically living in this park," said Oquendo. "I put them out. Came back the next day, put them out again."
That was in 2017, the start of a new dawn for Barbour Park, where community members like Oquendo and nonprofit Paterson Cares took over.
"One of their signature achievements is the fact that they were able to reclaim Barbour Park from the drug dealers," said Mayor Andre Sayegh.
The $1.2 million project will bring a new playground, splash pad, benches and much more.
"This is the first park that's in the fourth ward that's receiving this type of money," said Roger Grier, president of Paterson Cares. "Right across the street as you see, we have school No. 6, and this - this is for them. For the children."
"We did it together," said Oquendo. "It was a joint effort between a group of people and we got it done."
The city hopes the park will reopen in time for National Night Out in August.
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