Paterson seeks UEZ funds: nearly $1M for two pocket parks and a $6.7M marketing program

Paterson officials described two separate Urban Enterprise Zone funding requests at the May 14 workshop: $971,931.84 to transform two underused pocket parks in the Sixth Ward and a larger marketing and business-development program budgeted in the packet at approximately $6,694,764.

Councilman Colleague and the Director for UEZ told the workshop that item 44 would fund hardscape and landscaping upgrades, benches, picnic tables, new lighting and a gazebo at each site; one site was costed in the packet at $452,965.92. The director said the intent is to redesign underused green spaces to better serve UEZ corridors and encourage outdoor community recreation.

Item 45, presented as a UEZ marketing and business-development program, would support restaurant week, community events, digital advertising, and promotional materials for UEZ businesses. Council members noted the resolution packet included vendor quotes and asked for transparency about how funds would be split across the city's multiple UEZ zones (10th Avenue, Market Street, Park Avenue and Main Street were all raised in discussion). The director said quotes were collected to justify the funding request to the state and that purchasing/procurement would follow city policies if the grant is awarded.

Council moved item 44 to consent (it will be submitted as an application to the UEZ authority) and kept item 45 for regular consideration, asking the administration to provide a clear breakdown showing how the UEZ allocation would be split among zones and projects. The items reflect an aggressive outreach strategy the administration described as producing a 10% increase in new applicants for UEZ benefits in recent months.