After 17 years preparing the land, healing the soil, listening to our neighbors, and designing with world-renowned landscape architects, we’re delighted that the Greenway Phase of Karen Cragnolin Park is officially open to the public! Journey with us through these photos showing 190 Amboy Rd transformed from car-crushing operation to convalescent brownfield to beautiful green space.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this a reality and those who joined us for the greenway dedication on Aug 25th, it has been so heartwarming to see all the love and support for this project.

What it Was

For many years this was the site of a car crushing operation and a place where excess concrete was dumped. As a property right next to the river and sandwiched between two other parks, RiverLink’s founder Karen Cragnolin, saw the opportunity for something greater. Procuring the land in 2006, we began the long process of transforming the property into the public green space that Karen envisioned all those years ago.

Working Toward the Future

Over the years, a lot of hard work had to go into the property to make it what it is today. Concrete had to be removed, the soil and water were tested on a regular basis to monitor the phytoremediation process, invasive plants like kudzu had to constantly be managed, and many dumpsters full of trash had to be cleaned up. It took many people providing their time, effort, and sweat, but in the end it was all worth it. Thank you to everyone who helped out!

Time for Celebration

In early 2023, key stakeholders for the project gathered for the groundbreaking of the greenway. A few months later the space would be transformed to serve as the missing link between Carrier and Amboy parks, connecting the many miles of greenways that now run along the river.

On Aug 25th 2023 the community gathered for the official opening and dedication of the greenway. Family, friends, public officials, community members and more all congregated to celebrate Karen’s vision and the culmination of years of hard work.

You can see even more photos of the event here, courtesy of Paul King.