DIRECTIONS TO THE POETRY CENTER

Paterson lies in the valley under the Passaic Falls
its spent waters forming the outline of his back. He
lies on his right side, head near the thunder
of the waters filling his dreams!
- from Book I, Paterson by William Carlos Williams

The Poetry Center at PCCC is located in Paterson, New Jersey, on the campus of Passaic County Community College. It is 21 miles from New York City and just a half mile from the Great Falls National Historic Park.

Traveling From New York City and East:
via the George Washington Bridge - Take Route 80 West. Get off at 57B, Downtown Paterson Exit. Turn left on Main Street (second intersection). Turn right on Ellison Street (second light). The College is about ¼-mile ahead.

Via Public Transportation:
Bus and train transportation is available from surrounding areas. NJ Transit buses stop in front of the College. For further information on bus service call the NJ Transit Toll Free Number 1-800-772-2222. For train service call NJ Transit at (973) 762-5100 or (215) 569-3752 or online at www.njtransit.com

Download a printable PCCC campus map of buildings & parking lots

Using a GPS or an online mapping program?
Use the address 32 Church Street, Paterson, NJ 07505 for the Poetry Center/Hamilton Club. For the PCCC Parking Lot #3, use 160 College Blvd, Paterson, NJ 07505.

From NJ and points West via Route 80:
Take Route 80 East. Get off at exit 57B, Downtown Paterson. Follow signs for Downtown Paterson. Turn left on Main Street (second intersection). Turn right on Ellison Street (second light). The College is about ¼-mile ahead.

From North via Garden State Parkway:
Take Garden State Parkway to Exit 159, Route 80 West. Take 80 West. Get off at 57B, Downtown Paterson Exit. Turn left on Main Street (second intersection). Turn right on Ellison Street (second light). The College is about ¼-mile ahead.

From South via Garden State Parkway:
Take Garden State Parkway to Exit 155 A for NJ-19 toward I-80/Paterson. Follow Route 19 to the Downtown Paterson Exit. Turn left on Main Street (second intersection). Turn right on Ellison Street (second light). The College is about ¼-mile ahead.

PARKING:
Parking for poetry events will be available in the Passaic County Community College parking lot #3, on College Blvd. between Memorial Drive and Church Street.  If the gate is not open tell the guard that you are attending a program at the Poetry Center. As you exit the lot, turn right, walk to the corner, turn left onto Church Street, and go up one block to the Hamilton Club Building on your right at 32 Church Street.

To drive to parking lot #3 from Ellison Street: Turn onto Church Street (in front of the Hamilton Club Building). Take your first right onto College Blvd. Parking lot is on your left. 
From Broadway: turn onto Church Street. Take the first left onto College Blvd.  Parking lot is on your left. 
From Memorial Drive:  Turn onto College Blvd. (right at the first traffic light if coming from Broadway, OR left at the second traffic light if coming from Market Street).  Parking lot is on your right.

ACCESSIBLE ENTRY
An accessible entrance to the Hamilton Club building is provided via a locked street-level door on Church Street, about 20 feet from the main door, with a sign in the window marked “The Hamilton Club”.  If you need assistance entering the building, please ask the guard or call our office at 973-684-6555. The elevator is directly across from the entrance.  The readings are held on the second floor.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING
Persons with disabilities with the appropriate state parking permit or license plate can park in the restricted spaces in front of the main entrance to the Hamilton Club on Church Street for the duration of the program.  However, they must show their permit or license plate and ask the security guard for a temporary parking permit, which must be displayed on the dashboard.