19 Dec ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND RENOVATED GYMNASIUM IN ESSEX COUNTY WEST SIDE PARK
Published on December 19, 2022
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. officially opened the new community center and renovated gymnasium in Essex County West Side Park on Monday, December 19th. The project is part of the County Executive’s initiative to modernize infrastructure throughout the historic Essex County Parks System and provide residents with facilities that meet the needs of the community. The West Side Park Community Center is the fourth parks building to receive a total makeover.
“Our County parks have become destinations for our residents and it has become evident that our community buildings can no longer accommodate the level of activities taking place. The new community center building is significantly larger and provides more suitable space for gatherings, enrichment programs and other community meetings and events,” DiVincenzo said. “This project would not be possible without the support of Governor Phil Murphy, who provided a State grant for the project. Governor Murphy understands the needs of Essex County and recognizes the benefits developing a new building will bring to West Side Park,” he added.
“Because I have two children, my family is always in the parks, regardless of how cold it is. What the County Executive has done to improve our open spaces is recognized throughout the state and today is just another example of that,” Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin said.
“Recreation and parks have always been important to Joe. This building is just another example of what he has done throughout our Essex County Parks System,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said.
“This is head and shoulders over the old facility and demonstrates Joe’s commitment to communities throughout the County,” Prosecutor Ted Stephens said. “This is a magnificent place and our office will work with all of our partner agencies and the residents of the neighborhood to keep it as safe and pristine as possible,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.
“When you look throughout the County, you will see all the things that Joe DiVincenzo has done for residents of Essex County and Newark,” Newark Councilman At-Large Luis Quintana said. “I am thankful for the vision that our County Executive and his understanding of the needs of our residents. He has made West Side Park into a destination,” Newark South Ward Councilman Patrick Council said.
“Thank you to the County Executive. It’s great to see this kind of investment in our community. This is something our residents will greatly appreciate,” United Community Corporation Executive Director Craig Maynor said.
“All young people need to be exposed to positive programming so they can make good decisions. That’s what today is all about. We are building for the future and I am so proud that Joe has kept that commitment,” said Carolyn Wallace, who with her late husband James founded the International Youth Organization.
“We are saving young people and helping prepare them for the future with buildings like this an the programs that will be held here,” Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said.
The former brick building adjacent to the gymnasium was demolished to make way for a new 7,500-square-foot community center. There is a large community room for events, two classrooms for smaller programs and computer classes, a professionally equipped kitchen, restroom facilities and space for offices and storage. The existing gymnasium was given a comprehensive facelift along with new HVAC and lighting systems.
The parking lot in front of the building was reconfigured and a circular driveway under a covered drop off area by the front door was created. The basketball courts were rebuilt alongside the new building on South 17th Street and the tennis courts were relocated near the football field complex on South 13th Street.
The new West Side Park Community Center was designed similarly to recent community center projects completed in Essex County Cedar Grove Park, Essex County Watsessing Park in Bloomfield and Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark. Other projects in which community centers are being constructed are the Wally Choice Community Center in Essex County Glenfield Park in Montclair and the D. Bilal Beasley Community Center in Essex County Irvington Park.
The original West Side facility was constructed in 1987. It received various renovations during DiVincenzo’s administration, with the last improvements being made in 2015. The center is heavily used by people of all ages and the building could no longer fulfill the needs of the community.
Comito Associates from Newark was awarded a $528,000 professional services contract to design the new building. Tsivicos Enterprises from Neptune was awarded a publicly bid contract for $7,400,000 to construct the building. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to ensure delays were avoided. Essex County received a grant from the State of New Jersey to fund the project.
Revitalizing Essex County West Side Park
In 2004, the main park entrance was revamped for better access, restroom facilities near the tennis courts were renovated, and the park entrances along 17th Street were enhanced. In 2006, a major aesthetic renovation of the lower section of the park was undertaken. In the spring of 2007, the New Jersey Tree Foundation beautified the park by planting 40 new trees inside the park and along the park’s perimeter. A synthetic grass baseball field was installed and the locker room and rest room facilities were renovated in November 2007. In 2009, a new spray park with climbing apparatus and a synthetic safety surface was developed. In 2016, the playground was modernized with new equipment and a rubberized safety surface and the parking lot was expanded. In 2017, the football field and rubberized running track were updated with new surfaces. In 2019, the synthetic grass playing surface on the baseball field was replaced.
Essex County Executive DiVincenzo has partnered with the New Jersey Green Acres program, the Amelior Foundation, MCJ Foundation, the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board, West Side Park Conservancy, Tri-Cities Peoples Organization, United Community Corporation, the Boys and Girls Club of Newark and the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development to secure grants to fund the improvements made to Essex County West Side Park.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. West Side Park is located on 31.36 acres of land in Newark’s Central Ward and is the ninth-largest park in the County’s system. Land for the park was acquired in 1895 and West Side Park was one of the original five parks in the Essex system.