CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — The Camden waterfront is changing for the better.
Officials are putting the finishing touches on Kramer Hill, a new multi-million dollar park they hope will help in the city's revitalization efforts.
Camden County Commissioner Al Dyer grew up across the street from a 62 acre dump site, formerly known as the Harrison Avenue landfill.
"We used to always see fire trucks and the cops towing cars out of there, and the fire trucks going in there to put out fires. So it's always been an eyesore," said Dyer.
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"It was a dump site for many years where you would find burning tires or abandoned cars," added fellow Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash.
Dyer described how in a community starved for resources, that landfill was all many of the neighborhood children had for a recreational site.
"It was an unsafe environment for kids, but they still used to ride their bikes through there," Dyer said.
"So to see it now, it is an unbelievable transformation."
That $40 million transformation, funded by the City of Camden, Camden County and the State of New Jersey, is part of a project that helped turn that landfill into the new Kramer Hill Waterfront Park.
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The park has a playground, trails, fishing areas and boat launches. Dyer said that many people would leave the city to enjoy such amenities, until now.
"Educators in this city can walk through that park with their kids and do book reports and essays, because it's that great of a place to learn from and teach kids from," said Dyer.
"Revitalization of the community comes in many forms. Obviously jobs and education are two important components, but you also need quality of life for the community," said Nash.
"This park, in addition to the seven others being built in Camden City, add to the quality of life to the community. That is an important part of the city's revitalization."
The park is scheduled to open this summer.