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Mayor delivers State of the Borough, highlights downtown reinvestment and safety projects
Summary
Mayor Elsie Foster reviewed 2024 accomplishments in Highland Park and previewed 2025 priorities including downtown redevelopment, Safe Routes to School safety improvements, and new public-space investments.
Mayor Elsie Foster delivered the 2024 State of the Borough address, recapping local business openings, public-space renovations, and community events, and previewing safety and redevelopment projects planned for 2025.
Foster said the borough celebrated several private-sector reopenings and public projects last year, citing the Highland Park Public Library, community center work, and street repairs on Denison, North Second, North Fourth, Harper, Highland Avenue, Grama Street and South Eighth. She listed new or returning businesses and described a busy calendar of community programming that included the farmers market, Porch Fest, Juneteenth and the Highland Park Street Festival.
Looking ahead to 2025, Foster told the council the borough expects safety improvements on Raritan Avenue and intersections tied to the borough's Safe Routes to School program, and noted the borough had secured more than $1 million for related infrastructure work. She also referenced ongoing redevelopment efforts on Raritan Avenue and work by the NPP team to add amenities to Woodbridge Avenue.
Foster thanked council members, boards and commissions and borough staff for their work over the prior year and invited continued community input. The mayor also announced reorganizations of the Human Relations Commission and a Mental Health Commission and encouraged participation in long-running community programs.
The remarks were given during the council's organizational meeting; the address articulated accomplishments and project plans but did not, by itself, create new binding policy or appropriate funds beyond items handled later on the agenda.
