11 May ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REHABILITATE ESSEX COUNTY PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING Building will Receive Comprehensive Update and have Historic Elements Preserved
Published on May 11, 2023
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans to rehabilitate the Essex County Parks Administration Building in Newark. The project includes preserving the building’s historical features and modernizing office and work areas.
“The building at 115 Clifton Avenue in Newark has been the epicenter of the administration of and planning for our historic Parks System for 107 years. After more than a century of service, the building is showing signs of regular wear and tear and needs to be updated to provide staff with up-to-date working conditions,” DiVincenzo said. “Just as we have continued to modernize our parks and recreation facilities, it is time our Parks Administration Building receives its own facelift,” he added.
“As Essex County Parks Director, I am proud to have had a role in County Executive DiVincenzo’s initiative to revitalize and transform our Parks System. The Parks Administration Building is an iconic structure that has been part of our Parks System for 107 years. I am pleased that we are not continuing Joe’s vision and updating and preserving this building,” Essex County Parks Director Dan Salvante said.
“This is such an important building in our Parks System. I am happy that we are providing the resources to have it restored,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said. “It is great to preserve another piece of our history,” Commissioner Len Luciano said.
“Our officers do a great job patrolling our parks and we will make sure this remains a safe haven,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.
“The Parks Administration Building is an important landmark in our city that is often overlooked. This project will enable it to regain its prominence,” Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos said.
Scheduled to be upgraded are the roof, doors and windows; HVAC system; electrical system; elevators; and phone and information technology systems. The interior of the building will be completely renovated. On the first floor, a more user-friendly office design with a waiting area for the permit division will be created along with museum space. Historical features on the exterior of the building and in the main office will be repaired and preserved. Lighting around the exterior of the building will be enhanced. Renovations also will be made to the garden and parking areas. Signage, wayfinding signs and landscaping will be provided. A study will be performed to determine if the utilities provided at the building are adequate for its use.
Effective, Monday, May 8th, the Essex County Parks Department has relocated to new quarters while the project is conducted. Their new address is 155 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052. All telephone numbers remain the same. The main extension is 973-268-3500.
The Parks Administration Building opened in 1916 and has continuously served as the headquarters of the Essex County Parks Department (previously the Essex County Parks Commission). Because the building is registered as a national historic site, the renovations will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of the NJ State Historic Preservation guidelines.
PS&S from Warren was awarded a professional services contract for $643,000 to design the improvements to the Parks Administration Building. Tekcon Construction Inc. from Franklin was awarded a publicly bid contract for $10,704,695 to perform the construction work. The project is being funded with a $5 million grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs and a $5.8 million grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. ($800,000 of the Trust Fund grant will be provided up front; $5 million of the grant will be provided over three years.) The project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2024.