11 Jul ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR FIRST-EVER COMMUNITY CENTER AND BALLFIELDS UPDATES IN ESSEX COUNTY MONTE IRVIN ORANGE PARK
Published on July 11, 2024
Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that two projects are being undertaken simultaneously to enhance recreation facilities in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park in Orange on Wednesday, July 10th. The two projects underway are the construction of the park’s first-ever community center and the modernization of two baseball/softball fields in the park’s northern section. The upgrades will provide up-to-date recreation facilities that meet residents’ changing needs and make the park more inviting to the public.
“When we started our initiative to re-imagine the community centers in our parks, it always was our intention to build a facility in Monte Irvin Orange Park which never offered its visitors with a place to hold indoor programs. In the parks where we have built modern community centers, participation from the community has been overwhelming and we anticipate the same level of interest here,” DiVincenzo said. “Working with Mayor Warren and the Council, we have designed a building that will be an attractive space and meet the needs of the residents for generations to come. I thank our Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the State of New Jersey under Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership for supporting this initiative,” he added.
“I want to thank the County Executive for the improvements being made in this park and for the attention that he gives to the City of Orange on a daily basis. This is an appropriate place for this building because of its proximity to our three largest senior buildings. We appreciate all you do and will use this facility to its fullest,” Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren said.
The County Executive also noted that the two fields being redone are part of another initiative to continue the revitalization of the historic Parks System. “The community relies on us for fields and facilities to support recreation programs. Therefore, it is imperative that we come up with new ways to make it easier to maintain our fields, provide up-to-date playing conditions and maximize use,” DiVincenzo said. “Improving the infields with synthetic surfaces is a way to address the condition of the field and preserve more natural turfed areas in our parks,” he added.
“You are going to see how wonderful this building will be. It will change the trajectory of the park and what it looks like,” Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin said. “I thank Joe D for coming up with these ideas to make our communities better,” State Senator Renee Burgess said. “This is another great day for Essex County and Orange. Joe D has done phenomenal work to enhance Essex County and this project is another testament to that legacy,” Assemblyman Mike Venezia said.
“Under the leadership of our County Executive, we have found a way to preserve our history while adapting our parks to improve facilities and meet the changing needs of our residents,” Commissioner President Carlos Pomares said. “This beautiful building will serve our community for a lifetime. I am so excited to be here and kick this project off,” Commissioner Vice President Tyshammie Cooper said.
“I am pleased to partner with Essex County on this project and other projects as well. Our church is right next to the park and we are excited to have another building that the community can take advantage of,” St. Matthew AME Church Pastor Melvin Wilson said.
The community center will be located near the intersection of Central Avenue and Oakwood Avenue with the entrance being on Oakwood Avenue about 100 feet from the intersection. The building will be partially located on the footprint of the existing parking lot, which will be closed. The building will be 8,580 square feet and have a multi-purpose room that is about 5,000 square feet. There also will be a warming kitchen, space for a police substation, an office and storage space. The restrooms will be accessible from inside the building and from outdoors. If the building is not in use, access to the restrooms can be limited to just the outside.
A driveway will enable visitors to be dropped off right in front of the building and a covered entranceway will protect those entering the building from the elements. There will be a parking lot to accommodate about 50 vehicles. In back of the building will be a covered patio for outdoor seating and events. The existing parking lot entrance at the corner of Central Avenue Oakwood Avenue will be closed and replaced with enhanced landscaping.
The new community center is designed similarly to recent community center projects completed in Essex County Cedar Grove Park, Essex County Watsessing Park in Bloomfield, Essex County Weequahic Park, Essex County West Side Park, the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center in Essex County Branch Brook Park and the Sheriff Armando and Mary Fontoura Community Center in Essex County Independence Park in Newark, the Wally Choice Community Center in Essex County Glenfield Park in Montclair and the D. Bilal Beasley Community Center in Irvington Park in Irvington.
DiCara Rubino architects from Wayne was awarded a professional services contract for $522,900 to design the building and park entrance improvements. A publicly bid contract for $9,797,723 to perform the construction work is on the Board of Commissioners’ agenda for July 17. The project is being funded with grants from the State of New Jersey and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.
The two ballfields are in the northern area of the park and are just beyond the location of the community center. The alignment of the fields would be changed so that one field was moved closer to Oakwood Avenue and the outfields of the two fields would overlap. The infields would be redone with a synthetic playing surface and the outfields would remain as natural grass. New fencing, benches, covered dugouts and drainage and irrigation systems would be installed.
The concept of updating the infields with synthetic playing surfaces and leaving the outfields with natural grass was first introduced in the Essex County Parks System in Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair. Because of the success of the project, it was replicated in Yanticaw Park in Nutley and Branch Brook Park in Newark.
French and Parrello from Wall received a professional services contract for $99,000 to design the field improvements. The LandTek Group from Bay Shore, N.Y., was awarded a publicly bid contract for $2,398,360 to perform the construction work.
Revitalizing Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park
DiVincenzo’s administration has completed several improvement projects in Monte Irvin Orange Park as part of a comprehensive initiative to revitalize the Essex County Park System.
Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park was renamed in honor of baseball legend Monte Irvin in May 2006. Irvin was raised in Orange, was one of the first African Americans to play in the Major Leagues and was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. In addition, a memorial recognizing the valor of Orange Police Detective Kieran T. Shields was dedicated in April 2007. Shields lost his life on August 7, 2006, while attempting to apprehend a shooting suspect.
The formal gardens located near the Monte Irvin Statue were redone in 2021. The playground was modernized and expanded in 2016. Public accessibility into the park was enhanced in 2014 when new crosswalks, sidewalk ramps, pathways and roadway striping were installed on Oakwood Avenue. In 2009, a soccer field with a synthetic grass surface was installed as part of a $1.1 million upgrade. A $1.2 million facelift to upgrade the park entrances, gardens, baseball fields and pond area was completed in April 2007. The basketball court and restroom building were rebuilt in May 2006 for $527,968. Modern equipment and a rubberized safety surface were installed in the playground in March 2004. The improvements were funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.
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, a miniature golf course, golf driving range, six off-leash dog facilities, paddle boating, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. At 47.63 acres, Orange Park is the sixth largest county park in Essex and is considered to be part of the original County Park System designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architectural firm. Property for Orange Park was purchased in 1897, making it one of the oldest county parks in the country.