William E. Cleary Sr. | Clearys News Journal
Slam Dunk Upgrades at Burlington & Middlesex Streets
The basketball court at Burlington and Middlesex just got another round of improvements! The blacktop has been resurfaced and painted, and new netting has been added above the fencing to keep the game going strong. The whole 3 Corner Park area is really coming together—it’s looking better than ever and adds a nice boost to the neighborhood. As activity continues to grow west of Broadway, these upgrades help set the stage for even more good things to come.
ANGELS PLAYGROUND–In January 2007, the playground located at Three Corner Park in Gloucester City was refurbished and renamed Angels Playground in honor of the three Slack children who tragically perished in a fire on July 4, 2002, at the intersection of Broadway and Mercer Street. Regrettably, the area has experienced acts of vandalism, including the destruction of the Angels’ Welcome sign and the defacement of playground equipment with graffiti. The reasons for the failure to replace the sign remain unclear.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (July 28, 2025)–The Gloucester City Mayor and Council have recently announced the revitalization of Three Corners Park, also known as ANGELS PLAYGROUND, where a new basketball court has replaced a once-neglected facility, situated at the intersection of Burlington and Middlesex streets.
The initiative to breathe new life into the park has been embraced by residents, who have long yearned for improvements in their neighborhood. Originally built in the 1980s with a $100,000 Green Acres grant, Three Corners Park served as a joyful gathering place for families, showcasing a playground in one corner, a basketball court with four hoops in another, and inviting benches for weary parents to rest on the third corner. Sadly, as the years went by, the park fell victim to neglect. It became a painful reminder of what was lost, as broken swings hung motionless, graffiti marred the once cheerful equipment, and overgrown weeds choked the grassy areas. The park, which had once been a safe haven for children, had become a shadow of its former self.
In 2006, as the community grappled with the state of the park, the disheartening situation caught the attention of Cleary’s News Journal just before the November election, which highlighted the problem in an editorial.
In 2007, the newly elected James administration recognized the urgent need for change and made it a priority to rejuvenate the area. A touching $10,000 gift from Katia Williamson and her boyfriend, Frank Slack, the grieving parents of the three girls, who died in the horrific July 4, 2002, fire at Broadway and Mercer Street, allowed for the playground’s restoration. Three firemen also died in that blaze, Gloucester City fireman Tom Stewart III., and Mt. Ephraim firemen Chief James Sylvester and Deputy Chief John West. People sent over $75,000 to the children’s parents. They gave an additional $14,000 to the Fallen Firemen’s Monument on North King Street, providing a meaningful tribute to those who had sacrificed so much.
The commitment in 2007 to rebuilding the park was a powerful step forward, as three old basketball hoops and worn-out benches that had stood as reminders of the park’s decline were removed.
Shortly after the opening of Angels Playground, resident Brad Jefferies shared his concerns in a Letter to the Editor dated July 31, 2007, reflecting the pain of seeing the park become a gathering place for rowdy teenagers.
An excerpt of Jeffries letter,
“The problem with the new playground is the other kids who use it. I am talking about the teenagers that come after the sun goes down and are there until all hours of the night.I could live with the noise, but the language used and the mess they leave behind are a disgrace.”
He expressed a sentiment that resonated with many who cherished the park’s potential as a safe refuge for families.
To read the letter, click the link Letter to the Editor
Angels Playground was dedicated to the memory of the three children—a gesture reflecting the community’s love and remembrance. However, as time went on, around 2011, the sign marking this special place was removed due to graffiti, leaving many in the community unsettled and wondering why this symbol of hope was never replaced.
Four years later, in May 2011, a shooting occurred just steps from the park in the 300 block of Middlesex Street.
Andrew Stosny, age 19, a resident of Glendora, was shot in the upper chest. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and released. The shooting suspect Robert G. Figueroa, age 19, of Camden was arrested in that City.
Because of the shooting incident and complaints about ongoing fights in this area, Reverend Kathryn Morgan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and Girl Scout Leader Helen John came up with the idea of holding the Candle Light and Prayer Virgil.
Following the shooting, neighbors said the park is a gathering place for unruly teens. One neighbor said there are 10 to 15 fights in that location each week.
The house where the shooting took place, located just steps away in the 300 block of Middlesex Street, was labeled a nuisance by the police. Both the landlord and tenants were required to appear in municipal court.
In a heartfelt message, Troop Leader Helen John stated, “Everyone in town is invited to join us. We hope this is a first step toward healing and reclaiming our city. Gloucester City has so much to offer; we just need to focus on the positive and less on the negative. Remember, when you point a finger of blame, you have three fingers pointing back at you. Let’s stand together as part of the solution, nurturing the community we all hold dear.”
Oct. 25, 2024
Michael Daley spoke to one of the members who was rescued during the July 4, 2002, structure fire to hear how that member’s department continues to change based on the takeaways from the tragedy that claimed three firefighters.
