21 Jul ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES WATSESSING PARK SOCCER AND LACROSSE FIELD AND LAWN BOWLING GREEN GET NEW SYNTHETIC GRASS SURFACES
Published on July 21, 2020
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES WATSESSING PARK SOCCER AND LACROSSE FIELD AND LAWN BOWLING GREEN GET NEW SYNTHETIC GRASS SURFACES
Bloomfield/East Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Tuesday, July 21st that the lacrosse and soccer field and lawn bowling green in Essex County Watsessing Park were resurfaced with a new synthetic grass surface. The project is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to update recreation facilities to ensure they meet the needs of the community.
“The improvements to the soccer and lacrosse field and the lawn bowling green exemplify our ongoing commitment to provide the most modern recreation facilities that meet the needs of our residents,” DiVincenzo said. “Ten years ago, we created the soccer and lacrosse field to meet the growing popularity of those sports. And back in 2004, we brought lawn bowling back to Essex County by creating one of the first artificial surface greens in the region. It feels good that we are able to continue to maintain and improve upon our facilities so the public can continue to enjoy the outdoors,” he added.
“These are both tremendous projects that will greatly benefit the community. On behalf of the Freeholder Board, we are proud to have partnered with the County Executive on these continued enhancements,” Freeholder President Brendan Gill said.
“I want to thank the County Executive for the attention he gives to the County parks that are in Bloomfield. These are both wonderful additions to Watsessing Park,” Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia said.
“The soccer and lacrosse field is so important to what we do in Glen Ridge because we have so few fields. I want to thank the County Executive for making these improvements,” Glen Ridge Councilman Rich Law said.
“Like they say in the movies, ‘if you build it they will come.’ Thank you to the County Executive and his staff for being so helpful and improving our facility,” said Skip Arculli, a resident of Nutley and member of the Essex County Lawn Bowling Association.
The synthetic grass playing surfaces at both the lacrosse and soccer field and lawn bowling green needed to be replaced because of regular wear and tear. The soccer and lacrosse field is located off of Bloomfield Avenue and was first opened in 2010. Located off of Glenwood Avenue, the lawn bowling green had its synthetic grass surface installed in 2004.
The improvements to the soccer and lacrosse field and lawn bowling green were designed in house by the Essex County Department of Public Works, which also monitored the project to ensure delays were avoided. A publicly bid contract for $808,550 was awarded to Applied Landscape Technologies from Montville to perform the construction work. The improvements were funded through the Department of Parks Budget and a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. The project started in March and was completed in three months.
Revitalizing Essex County Watsessing Park
These upgrades are the latest improvements made in Watsessing Park since DiVincenzo took office in 2003. A majority of the projects were funded with grants received by Essex County and the Watsessing Park Conservancy from the New Jersey Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board, and in-kind services from other governmental agencies.
In 2019, the county’s first all access playground, along with a new community center building and on-site parking lot were opened off of Bloomfield Avenue and Conger Street.
In 2017, a 3,000-square-foot water spray park was developed near Dodd Street and the additional climbing apparatus was added to the playground on Glenwood Avenue. In 2016, the sidewalks along Glenfield Avenue, Dodd Street and Cleveland Terrace were modernized, the basketball court and walking track near Dodd Street were resurfaced, and the pedestrian bridge over the Second River, damaged during a spring storm, was repaired. Also, in 2016 the walking track was named in honor of Glen Ridge resident Horace Ashenfelter, the 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winner in the steeplechase who trained in the park. In 2014, ornamental historic lighting was installed along the walking paths throughout the park. In 2010, a synthetic grass surface soccer/lacrosse field in Essex County Watsessing Park off of Bloomfield Avenue was developed, new wrought iron fencing was installed along the perimeter of the park along Bloomfield Avenue and a synthetic grass surface inside the walking track was installed.
The walking track, basketball court and lawn bowling building were upgraded, park entranceways were enhanced, and landscaping was improved in the southern section of the park in 2006. In 2005, Essex County opened a 19,500-square-foot Off-Leash Dog Facility, the first of its kind in the Essex County Park System. The same year, the pedestrian bridge in the eastern section of the park was upgraded.
In 2004, Essex County rehabilitated the historic bandstand and the Lawn Bowling with a new synthetic grass surface and fencing. Basketball courts located off of Glenwood Avenue in East Orange were renovated and the Essex County seal was painted at the center of each court. Water fountains were repaired, and additional trash receptacles and decorative benches were placed throughout the park.
In 2003, Essex County completed a beautification project at the Bloomfield Avenue entrance to Watsessing Park. New sidewalks, decorative park pathways and landscaping improved the entrance, making it more inviting. In addition, upgrades were made to the drainage system, park trees were trimmed, and the restrooms and senior room were painted. Essex County also installed rubberized safety surfaces in the three playgrounds in the 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, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. At 69.67 acres, Watsessing Park is the fourth largest park in the Essex System. It was designed in 1899 by the Olmstead Brothers firm and land acquisition was started in 1901.
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