RECREATION • LAND USE
Land and water, put to work for the neighborhood
Urban Seeds Grow's recreation work turns Newark's open land and waterfront into places for learning, movement, and connection. Under our land-use programming, underused spaces become sites for environmental stewardship, outdoor education, and recreation that residents of every age can take part in — and take care of.
Marvin Walker Fishing Academy
The Marvin Walker Fishing Academy is the signature program of our Recreation (Land Use) office. Young people learn to fish while they learn to protect the water it depends on — casting, knot-tying, and river safety alongside lessons on ecology, water quality, and the history of Newark's waterways.
Beyond the catch, the academy builds patience, mentorship, and community: experienced anglers coach first-timers, families spend evenings on the riverbank together, and every outing deepens a relationship between Newark's youth and the natural world woven through the city.