Atlantic City Honors Late Lieutenant Governor with New Plaza Outside City Hall
Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver Plaza Opens to the Public with Grand Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City officials, in collaboration with the State of New Jersey, has unveiled the recently completed Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver Plaza in a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony held outside City Hall.
The space honors the legacy of the late Lieutenant Governor, a dedicated public servant and tireless advocate for the city and state.
Mayor Marty Small, Sr. led the ceremony last month alongside New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jaquelyn Suarez, members of Sheila Oliver’s family, and other state, county, and local officials.
“This space embodies the spirit of Sheila Oliver, who laid the foundation for many of the positive things you’re seeing happening in the Great City of Atlantic City,” said Mayor Small. “She was a champion for Atlantic City and deserves to be honored in the greatest way possible. This new Courtyard not only shows we appreciate her efforts, but that the Small administration cares about our employees and residents in a deep way.”
Closed since the spring of 2024 due to construction, the main entrance to City Hall reopened on June 5, 2025, with numerous upgrades. These include a covered walkway, enhanced security gates, and reconfigured entrances for both the public and employees. For additional safety, improved lighting has been installed throughout the area, with lanterns adorning the building’s exterior.
The new plaza features Sheila Oliver’s name etched above the entrance, with images and signs throughout the courtyard celebrating her life and contributions. The project also brings a range of aesthetic and functional upgrades to the area, such as:
- Fixed benches and built-in seating
- A rain garden, marble fountain, and pergola
- New trees, shrubs, and grass plantings
- Expanded walking space for improved pedestrian access
- A repaved and redesigned City Hall parking lot, now including a parking attendant booth
- Six Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, set to be installed later this month
Under the leadership of Director Jacques Howard of the Planning & Development Department and City Engineer Uzo Ahiarakwe, the project reflects Mayor Small’s ongoing vision for a more modern, welcoming, and sustainable Atlantic City.
The design and execution of the plaza were completed by Arthur W. Ponzio & Associates Inc. and SOSH Architects, with Weatherby Construction Corporation serving as the general contractor.
The opening of Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver Plaza marks not only a beautification of a central civic space but a lasting tribute to a leader who championed progress and inclusion for all New Jerseyans.
