City of Newark Rolls Out Test Version of New Web Site

The City of Newark is launching the beta-test version of its new municipal website at beta.ci.newark.nj.us. The new website will provide increased access to necessary services for residents, enhance civic engagement, and foster unparalleled interaction between residents, businesses and City Hall.

During the next few months, city officials will analyze traffic and use feedback from residents to strengthen the new site before the official launch. For the duration of the testing period, the existing website, ci.newark.nj.us, will remain active and direct interested residents to the new site through a prominent graphic on the homepage.

“In Newark, we know that democracy is not a spectator sport. This new website enables our residents to engage with city government like never before,” said Mayor Cory Booker. “As we test the beta site and solicit opinions from users, I’m excited to see the additional changes that will make the site even better. I congratulate our team at City Hall and the winner of our hackathon for their hard work and their lasting contribution to Newark’s civic dialogue.”

In an effort to improve dialogue between the city and its residents, the city’s 4311 system has been digitized and is now available as a webform on Newark’s homepage and through an Android app. An iPhone app is currently in development and will be released soon. With these innovations to the 4311 system, Newark residents now have access to multiple direct lines to their city government.

Another feature on the website, the Socrata “Open Newark” portal, provides the city with a venue to post a multitude of diverse datasets for use and manipulation by interested residents at all times. By becoming an open-data city, Newark is taking a leap forward in tech-friendliness. The applications that will be built using these datasets can immensely improve the quality of life for Newark residents and businesses in the coming months and years.

The new website, the product of the #HackNWK competition hosted by Audible.com in June, was designed by Vajaah Parker and Derrick Phillip, the winners of that competition, in concert with the mayor’s office in City Hall.

The city is actively soliciting feedback on the website. To give suggestions and comments, visit the site atbeta.ci.newark.nj.us or tweet using #ConnectNewark.