ATLANTIC CITY — What began, improbably enough, with a political debate on local radio culminated Tuesday with the cutting of a ribbon on a new community park in the heart of Atlantic City.
MBCA Park officially opened at North Carolina and Pacific avenues, transforming a previously underused property into a landscaped public space with grass, trees, seating and artwork.
For Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association co-executive director Scott Cronick, Tuesday's ceremony represented the culmination of an effort that brought together dozens of people and organizations that contributed money, ideas, labor and expertise.
The story of how the park came together includes Atlantic City business and civic leaders, local artists, students and some unexpected moments of generosity.
And its financial beginnings can be traced to an unlikely place — Cronick's radio show on WOND.
It Started With a Debate on WOND
Cronick said the seed money for MBCA Park grew out of a political debate on his Off The Press radio show.
State Sen. Vince Polistina challenged Democratic power broker George Norcross to a debate on the program.
Norcross agreed — but added a challenge of his own.
“Vince Polistina challenged George Norcross to a debate on my show and Norcross accepted and challenged Polistina to put up $5,000 to his $25,000 and Polistina accepted,” Cronick told South Jersey NewsBeat.
Then came another surprise.
“On the day of the debate, AtlantiCare also showed up with $5,000,” Cronick said. “And that was the seed.”
Just like that, the debate had generated $35,000 in seed money that would help make the future park possible.
From there, the project grew into a collaboration among Atlantic City's business, educational, artistic and civic communities.
Students Helped Design the Park
Among those involved were students and faculty from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology.
ACIT students worked on the design of the park, an involvement Cronick has publicly credited as an important part of bringing the project to fruition.
Cronick discussed their contribution during a June edition of Off The Press, where students from Drew Holmes' class talked about their involvement in designing the space. Cronick also credited ACIT Superintendent Dr. Philip Guenther for supporting the partnership.
The Atlantic City Arts Foundation became another partner, helping incorporate public art into the park.
The foundation described MBCA Park as a collaborative placemaking project bringing businesses and community organizations together to create a new public space in Midtown Atlantic City.
Local artists were brought in to transform Adirondack chairs into functional works of art, while MudGirls Studios contributed a centerpiece artwork.
The goal was to create more than a landscaped parcel. Organizers wanted a place people would actually use.
Then the Money Started Running Out
Like many community projects, MBCA Park encountered obstacles between the original idea and Tuesday's ribbon cutting.
At one point, Cronick said, money was running low and the project still needed a sprinkler system.
He couldn't find anyone willing to cover the expense.
Then he happened to tell Joe Lautato of Cafe 2825 about the problem.
Lautato's response was immediate.
“I was telling a story to Joe Lautato of Cafe 2825 and he said, ‘I got it. I'll give you the $7,500,’” Cronick recalled.
The contribution solved one of the practical problems necessary to turn the property into a functioning landscaped park — and became another example of people stepping forward when the project needed help.
A New Use for an Atlantic City Property
The completed park provides a new outdoor gathering space near Atlantic City's tourism district.
Tuesday's ribbon cutting brought together community and business leaders involved in the project, with music from the Eddie Morgan Duo.
The park also represents a potential answer to a larger question Atlantic City has faced for years: What should the city do with vacant or underused properties while they await permanent development?
Sixth Ward Councilman Jesse Kurtz discussed that issue Tuesday during an appearance on The AC Mike Lopez Show on WOND, pointing to the MBCA project while arguing that Atlantic City should find productive temporary uses for vacant properties.
“Don't leave a lot as a trash magnet, as a crime magnet, as a problem magnet,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz said unused properties could instead temporarily become green spaces, recreational areas or other community amenities.
And he suggested MBCA Park could be the beginning rather than an isolated project.
“Hopefully this is the start of those,” Kurtz said.
‘It’s There for the City to Use and Live In’
For Cronick, Tuesday provided an opportunity to look beyond the finished park at the people responsible for making it happen.
And that's when the emotion of the moment caught up with him.
“I choked up at one point because I looked out and saw all of the people who made this thing happen because it really took dozens and dozens of people to make this happen,” Cronick told South Jersey NewsBeat.
“It's a true community effort and a park that I hope people use for events or some quiet time,” he said. “It's there for the city to use and live in.”
After an effort that began with an unexpected $35,000 generated by a radio debate and continued through contributions from students, artists, businesses and community leaders, the park now belongs to the people it was created for.
And for Cronick, that was ultimately the point.
