CAPE MAY – The completion of the fourth phase of the Lafayette Street Park project will be marked by ribbon-cutting ceremonies attended by county and city officials at 1 p.m. Friday, June 13, at 711 Lafayette St.

The Cape May County Open Space Board recommended funding of $1.9 million for the project in 2024. The City of Cape May reached agreement with several organizations to help fund comprehensive improvements to the park, which used to be the location of a coal-fired power plant that served Cape May from the mid-nineteenth century through 1937.

The project faced significant hurdles related to environmental issues on the property.

The initial phases of the park’s redevelopment centered on the property’s Lafayette Street frontage. These amenities include the development of fields, a basketball court, a dog park, playground and various complimentary park facilities.

The scope of the fourth phase included property clearing, a 6-foot-wide, Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant nature trail, an 8-foot-wide, ADA-compliant elevated boardwalk, elevated viewing platforms, shade structures and viewing scopes.

Commissioner Bobby Barr, who oversees the county Open Space Board said, “An important criterion for funding through the Open Space Board is the applicant’s willingness to bring other partners and funding sources to the table and prove broad-based community support for these ambitious projects.

“The City of Cape May has certainly worked hard to accomplish these goals on the Lafayette Street Park project. We have seen their vision become a reality. Their team has converted a former blighted, industrial site into a beautiful, multipurpose facility that offers recreation opportunities and amenities for visitors of all ages.”