Newark is a crucial transportation hub with highways, the largest container port, EWR airport, and Newark Penn Station, making it a transit point rather than a destination. This project aims to shift this notion by introducing “detour” moments and “pause” spaces, focusing on the polluted Passaic River. The Passaic River is among the nation’s most contaminated waterways with 115 superfund sites and severe industrial pollution, notably from the former Diamond Alkali chemical factory. To intercept trash, the project leverages the river’s tidal patterns, which fluctuate by about 5 feet daily. It features a pier with a pollution collection facility, tidal pools, and a paddle boat tour. The paddle boats, equipped with trash collection mechanisms, lift debris as participants navigate the river, directing it into onboard bins. The boats then pass a pollution collection facility where waste is sorted. The pier’s design harnesses natural river eddies and cascading stairs for efficient trash removal, while tidal pools act as waste collection points. In essence, the project creates opportunities for “pause” and “detour” for urban dwellers while implementing a waste collection system to raise awareness and address the stark reality of river pollution.
