Peter Francisco Park Explained

Peter Francisco Park
Map:	USA New Jersey Essex County
Location:	Newark, New Jersey
Coordinates:	40.7331°N -74.1642°W
Area:	1 acres
Open:	1966

Peter Francisco Park is a city square in Newark, New Jersey located adjacent to Newark Penn Station at the Five Corners in the city's Ironbound neighborhood. The park was established in 1966 by the Municipal Council of Newark.^[1]

The park is named for Peter Francisco (July 7, 1760 – January 16, 1831), a Portuguese-born American patriot and soldier in the American Revolutionary War. It is home to several monuments, including one to the park's namesake, which was placed in 1976 during the United States Bicentennial.^{[2] [3]}

Its proximity to Penn Station has occasionally led to use of the park to provide assistance the homeless population in the area.^{[4] [5] [6]}

The park is planned to be part of a connection between Mulberry Commons and Newark Riverfront Park.^{[7] [8]}

Memorials

• Peter Francisco Monument (1976) is a granite obelisk set on a shorter square granite base with two inscriptions: "In honor of Peter Francisco The Hercules of American Independence" and "Erected by the Portugues Community June 27, 1976".
• Ironbound Immigrants Memorial Monument (2018) is a granite sculpture dedicated to the immigrant populations who have lived in the Ironbound.
• War Memorial (1974) is granite stele "dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives".

See also

• List of public art in Newark, New Jersey
• History of Lusophone Americans in Newark, New Jersey

Notes and References

1. Web site: Peter Francisco Park | Newark, NJ 07105. www.newarkhappening.com.
2. Web site: Monuments. peterfrancisco.org.
3. Web site: Peter Francisco Historical Marker. www.hmdb.org.
4. Web site: City redirects people feeding homeless in park, sends them inside instead. Barry Carter | NJ Advance Media for. NJ.com. November 21, 2019. nj.
5. Web site: Newark moves to restrict feeding unhoused people in public spaces. December 16, 2021. The Counter.
6. Web site: Mobile shower trailer rolls into Newark, a ‘spa-like’ experience for homeless individuals. September 5, 2022. Gothamist.
7. Web site: New $10M Park in Newark Could Soon Connect Ironbound to Prudential Center. TAPinto.
8. Web site: Redevelopment Plans to Create Newark’s Triangle Park. New Jersey Business Magazine.