Project by M. Raffy Prawira Putra, Elsa Paas, Ambika Kannusami, Ziheng Zhao (Henry)
Water is central to everyday life for local residents, yet it is also deeply feared. Although the peninsula is surrounded by water on three sides, meaningful public access has largely disappeared. In Rumson, extensive privatization has enclosed nearly all waterfront areas, while in Sea Bright a continuous seawall blocks both physical and visual access to the ocean despite kilometers of shoreline. This prolonged disconnection has weakened public care for water systems, contributing to persistent pollution and chronic flooding.
Our regional strategy addresses these conditions through coordinated renovation and retreat in Sea Bright, the transformation of existing parks and parking lots into resilient landscapes across Rumson, Fair Haven, and Red Bank, and the introduction of new housing along the Red Bank waterfront and upper Swimming River to support rainwater collection and algae-bloom remediation. By linking these interventions, a continuous Green Trail is formed, restoring public access, strengthening ecological performance, and redefining the relationship between people and water.
