THE 11TH ANNUAL LINCOLN PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKS OFF A NEW DECADE WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE LANDMARK LINCOLN PARK CHURCH FAÇADE (OLD SOUTH PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH)

South Park Presbyterian Church Facade Restoration Lighting

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Billingsley

The 11th Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival (LPMF) kicks off on Saturday, July 23rd with the lighting of the landmark Lincoln Park Church Façade in honor of the City of Newark’s 350th Anniversary Celebration. Following the lighting of the Façade after dusk is the official after party featuring a live performance by Zuri Marley for the first time ever at Lincoln Park. "I applaud the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District on celebrating this 11th year milestone of providing great music and fun for families and visitors alike," said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. "This musical experience is near and dear to me as my father, Amiri Baraka, participated in past festivals and treasured this event. The Lincoln Park Music Festival has become an important part of our city’s history and is a highlight of Newark’s 350th Anniversary celebration. Folks who visit Newark during the weekend of the festival, look forward to great food, non-stop fun for the whole family, and continuous music that makes you sing, shout, and dance all weekend long. I'm looking forward to celebrating the music festival's 11th year.” 

 

The latest project from Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), is the South Park Calvary Presbyterian Church (SPCPC) façade located at 1033 Broad Street, Newark, NJ. Built in 1855, Abraham Lincoln spoke on the steps of SPCPC in 1861 on his way to his first inauguration. Once the center of the abolitionist movement and racial integration in Newark, SPCPC became a “soup kitchen” before burning down in 1992—leaving only a striking eight-story high blue sandstone Greek Revival façade on a half acre site.

“Time was right to start this project”, said Anthony Smith, Executive Director of LPCCD. “With all eyes on Newark during the high profile, citywide 350th anniversary celebration, it made sense to shine a light on this historic building and the Lincoln Park neighborhood that we serve. The lighting of The Façade, our 2nd annual Jazzy Soul Series at Hotel Indigo Newark (featuring performances by singers RES, Hendii and Lamone), in addition to the re-launch of our traveling arts and cultural program Music Speaks, and the recently completed, cutting edge, Lincoln Park Washington Street Mural, all serve as LPCCD’s continued leadership in development of the Southern corridor of Broad Street, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Honoring our heritage in the arts, Lincoln Park continues to be a major player in the curation of nightlife and entertainment in downtown Newark.”

Church Facade Rendering

LPCCD is converting The Façade into a 600+ person outdoor performance venue, which will include a stage for musical performances and an urban farm with a greenhouse, hydroponics and to source the concession-stand during performances and provide vegetables for locals. The Façade is poised to become the center of the emerging artist movement in Newark and the cultural revitalization efforts in the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District. The lighting of the Façade was made possible with the support of the City of Newark, PSEG, Turner Construction, Big Color Printing, NAB Lighting, The American Society of Interior Designers New Jersey Chapter (ASIDNJ), the leading organization for interior design professionals; D. C. Electrical Contractors and United Airlines.