Friends of Ely Park – Building a community asset of enduring value.

Creating a community asset of enduring value.

The Friends of Ely Park are revitalizing Ely Memorial Park in Lambertville, New Jersey, as a centerpiece of community life, destination for recreation and enjoyment, and a symbol of the city’s distinctive character and quality of life.

Parke diem… Donate Now!

The Giving Tree Project

The Giving Tree Project is a collaborative effort involving the Friends of Ely Park, Niece Lumber, and Rago Auctions. Thirteen very accomplished area artists and woodworkers have volunteered to make works of art for auction from milled and kiln dried slabs of the London planetree that once stood in Ely Park. David Rago and Suzanne Perrault will include the artists’ work as part of Rago Auctions’ annual May auction (taking no commissions for their efforts). The proceeds will be turned over to The Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce for the exclusive purpose of funding the Jim Hamilton Memorial Shad Fest Scholarship, which as you know assists high school seniors who seek to pursue a career in the arts and now includes the culinary arts. The Friends of Ely Park and The Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce have signed an agreement for this purpose.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to the woodworkers and artists participating in this effort: Mira Nakashima, Carter Sio, Jeffrey Greene, Miriam Carpenter, Ed Murphy, Mark Sfirri, Shaun Smith (Rustic Red Door), Gene Salerno (Funk and Junk), Birdie Miller, David Robinson (Natural Edge), Bret Cavanaugh, John Landis and David Wilson (Antick). And our most sincere thanks go to Niece Lumber and Rago Auctions.

Pizza Palooza! – Fundraiser with Owowcow and Liberty Hall Pizza

Liberty Hall Pizza is teaming up with Owowcow for a night of pizza and ice cream to raise funds for the Friends of Ely Park. The Pizza Palooza will be held at Liberty Hall Pizza on Thursday, July 25 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Three major ongoing efforts

Read more about three major efforts the Friends of Ely Park is working on:

the Snack shack façade
completion of the fence along North Main St.
and the new Jim Hamilton Arts Scholarship.

Please contribute to our final fund drive.

Final fund drive

Read the press coverage:

Construction in Lambertville’s Ely Park to be completed this summer (my central jersey)
Lambertville group outlines revised construction plan for Ely Park (New Hope Free Press)
Ely Park ribbon cutting festivities planned for July 12 in Lambertrville (New Hope Free Press)
Friends of Ely Park reveal revamped mission for Lambertville’s largest public green space (nj.com)
New Features At Lambertville Park To Be Completed In July (patch.com)
Celebration With Inflatables Planned For Ely Park Ribbon Cutting (patch.com)

Thank you, Jim!

Jim Hamilton, award-winning designer, restaurateur, our friend, and beloved member of the Lambertville community, passed away on February 2, 2018, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of achievement, and a dream yet to be fully realized.

The revitalization of Ely Park was Jim’s last civic project. He imagined the park as a beautiful, vibrant green space that would beckon people of all ages to gather, relax, play and connect as a community. More about Jim…

As the ultimate “thank you” to the man who did so much for Lambertville, won’t you please help us make Jim’s vision a reality?

Help thank Jim

Softball Dugouts

The boys have had structural dugouts for years. Now the girls have the snazziest.

More info…

Please Contribute

Help our kids, teens, adults, seniors, and everyone by making a generous contribution.

Please contribute

Picque-Nique” Benefits Friends of Ely Park

“Picque-Nique” Hits Home Run

“Success” and “Sold out” were the words to describe the fabulous fundraising event on May 22, 2017.

Welcome