Directly across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, Jersey City is an important growth hub for new housing. As it has grown denser, transportation options have improved in tandem. But one of its most central and densely developed neighborhoods, Journal Square, has lacked a central public space for years.

Located on a 3.4-acre site one block from the Journal Square PATH station, Courthouse Park replaces a decommissioned administrative building and surface parking lot with a high-performance green space positioned to become the civic heart of one of the most park-deficient and rapidly densifying neighborhoods in the Tri-State Area. Adjacent to the historic Brennan Courthouse and the forthcoming Guarini Justice Complex designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the park layers programming and ecology into a vibrant focal point for the diverse Journal Square neighborhood and the city at large.

Capitalizing on the site’s 10-foot grade change, SWA’s design organizes the park into two distinct but connected areas: an active lower park anchored by a sculptural shade pavilion, multi-generational play spaces, interactive water features, terraced seating, and a café housed in the repurposed Brennan Powerhouse; and a verdant upper park featuring an urban forest, picnic lawns, universally accessible pathways, and a dog run. Pollinator gardens and tree groves weave throughout, softening the noise and heat of the city while providing a point of respite in this bustling district. The result is a cultural crossroads where Journal Square’s layered history and dynamic future meet.