Remaking Tradition with Style
Remaking Tradition with Style
Mbacke Faye
Senior Urban Planner, NDD
Back in 2020, restaurants were desperately trying to survive the effects of the pandemic lockdown. NDD received a record number of applications for their parklets, but at the time, the program was young, and there were only four parklets in all.
Mbacke, who leads the parklet program, was energized by the challenge. She and her team resorted to tactical urbanism, the idea of using short-term, low-cost solutions to begin and affect lasting change. They procured some inexpensive fence lumber and branded banners and quickly constructed several new parklets. They obtained more parking spaces, bolted the new parklets to the ground for safety, and adorned them with planters and plenty of hand sanitizers. With this innovation, they were able to go from four parklets to 10 in just one season, which had a huge impact on the restaurant owners and the community.
Mbacke is spurred on by seeing the projects fulfilled and the positive reactions of Newark residents and visitors. As an urban planner, she works to make the downtown area pedestrian-friendly, and creates spaces for people to socialize safely while participating in fun activities.
“You can really express yourself at NDD because we have great leadership that allows us to implement our ideas.”
As part of the streetscape improvement projects like the Festival Lighting Project, she gets to see streets become more attractive and alive with activity. “It makes me smile,” she enthuses. “I love to see kids running left and right in places where a few years ago nobody would walk because the space was nearly abandoned.”
Originally from Senegal, Mbacke feels that Newark welcomes immigrants. She loves the way people here care so much about their community, and how they will not hesitate to voice their happiness or frustration about new projects.
She unwinds by cooking food from her native Senegal, and she loves exploring museums, describing it as a way to travel without leaving the country.
Newark Downtown District has recently expanded its boundaries by 45%, and Mbacke attributes that growth to its spirit of creativity and innovation. She notes that NDD is always evolving, bringing new programs, and new ideas, to the downtown. Residents of Newark can see and enjoy the results of Mbacke’s creativity everywhere they look and everywhere they walk.
Favorite Restaurant:
Swahili Village. “I love the food and the ambiance and seeing all the young professionals who go there.”