November 2025 Great Day Gazette: Revitalizing, Celebrating, and Honoring Atlantic City

The City of Atlantic City continued its revitalization efforts this November, focusing on infrastructure, community connection, and celebration. Major updates, new programs, and heartwarming stories shaped another great month in the city’s journey toward progress and unity.

The city’s infrastructure saw significant improvements as Pacific Avenue joined the paving program, aligning with the ongoing Atlantic Avenue repaving project. The initiative was strengthened by a total of $5.3 million in NJDOT grant funding, supporting road enhancements and synchronized traffic signal upgrades across key corridors. Additionally, $684,708 was allocated for new pedestrian sidewalks along the Black Horse Pike, improving safety for students and families traveling between Atlantic City High School and Chelsea Heights.

Progress was also visible in other neighborhoods. The Baltic Avenue paving project neared completion, while the MLK Boulevard upgrade moved into the milling and paving phase. Meanwhile, construction reviews were underway for the Atlantic Avenue paving from Tennessee to Albany Avenues—marking another milestone in the city’s ongoing development plan.

Community spaces also came back to life with the long-awaited grand opening of Weekes Memorial Park. After years of careful restoration, this park once again became a welcoming gathering space for residents. The redesign featured landscaping, artistic displays, sustainable features, and accessibility upgrades, symbolizing the city’s commitment to safety, inclusion, and green living.

Listening to resident feedback, the Public Works Department installed additional stop signs at Winchester and Dover Avenues to ensure improved pedestrian and traffic safety—another example of how the city acted on community input to enhance neighborhood well-being.

The city celebrated the season with family-friendly festivities. Harvest Town filled Gardner’s Basin with music, games, costumes, and community resource tables, bringing together families for an afternoon of fun and connection. Likewise, Senior Services hosted a pumpkin decorating event, adding creativity and color to the fall spirit.

Fall evenings came alive at Bader Field during the Drive-In Movie & S’mores Night, where families gathered under the crisp night sky to enjoy a family film, fires, and free refreshments. The event also provided free winter hats and gloves, ensuring everyone stayed warm while celebrating together. Meanwhile, Atlantic City Recreation wrapped up another successful T-ball season, helping young athletes learn teamwork and skill in a positive environment.

Acts of heroism and recognition took center stage this month as well. The Atlantic City Police Foundation Hero Luncheon honored Sgt. Jonathan Walsh for saving a swimmer from drowning and Treasurer James Kutch for his years of dedicated service. During the same period, Officer Matt Schmidt received national attention for rescuing an injured canine from the icy October bay waters, showcasing the bravery and compassion of the city’s first responders.

Atlantic City also paid tribute to Rita and Anthony Mack, longtime business owners and community leaders, by dedicating a section of Arctic Avenue in their honor. For nearly four decades, the Macks provided employment, mentorship, and opportunities to countless residents through their McDonald’s franchises, making a lasting impact on the community they loved.

The city’s diversity and unity were celebrated as Mayor Marty Small Sr. and the Office of Multicultural Services received the Diaspora Excellence Award from Rediscover Africa 2025 and the Ghanaian Associations of South Jersey and Atlantic City. The recognition reflected the city’s ongoing commitment to cultural inclusion and the success of historic events like the Ghana Flag Raising Ceremony—the first of its kind in New Jersey.

November also emphasized health and wellness through the Pink Walk for a Purpose, a citywide event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, where employees joined together to walk in support of survivors and ongoing fighters. Meanwhile, the Re-Entry Services Division held a family reunification event at the All Wars Memorial Building, providing food, fun, and creative activities that brought families closer together.

Finally, Atlantic City Youth Services launched an empowering martial arts program, teaching children the 3 S’s—Self-confidence, Self-reliance, and Self-defense—as part of a series of exciting fall programs designed to engage the city’s youth in positive growth and discipline.

From infrastructure renewal and community celebrations to acts of heroism and cultural recognition, November 2025 stood as another milestone month for Atlantic City—reminding everyone that every day truly is a Great Day in Atlantic City.