Peter Francisco Park

Peter Francisco Park is a small urban park located in Newark, New Jersey, adjacent to Newark Penn Station in the city's Ironbound neighborhood. The park was established in 1966 by the Municipal Council of Newark, serving as a green space and gateway to the Ironbound district for commuters and visitors arriving at the train station.

The park is named after Peter Francisco, a Portuguese-born American patriot and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. On June 27, 1976, coinciding with the United States Bicentennial, a 12-foot obelisk was erected in the park to honor Peter Francisco. This monument was funded by the Portuguese American community over a ten-year period.

Peter Francisco Park primarily functions as a sitting area and open space, providing a small respite of greenery in the bustling urban environment near the train station. It features statues and serves as a visual threshold between Penn Station and the Ironbound neighborhood, welcoming visitors to the area.

In recent years, there have been discussions about incorporating Peter Francisco Park into larger urban development plans, potentially linking it with other green spaces in Newark as part of ongoing efforts to improve public spaces in the city.