26 Jul ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO DEDICATES ALL ACCESS PLAYGROUND AND NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN ESSEX COUNTY WATSESSING PARK
Published on July 26, 2019
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO DEDICATES ALL ACCESS PLAYGROUND AND NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN ESSEX COUNTY WATSESSING PARK
Bloomfield/East Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the completion of an all access playground, new community center and on-site parking lot in Essex County Watsessing Park on Friday, July 26th. The new all access playground is the first of its kind in the Essex County Parks System to be designed for children of all physical abilities. The upgrades are part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to provide modern facilities to meet the needs of the community.
“When we modernize our playgrounds, we have always included some elements that can be used by children with limited physical abilities. But all children should have a place to play, and having an all access playground will bridge the gap between mainstream children and those with handicaps, create a better understanding and foster social relationships,” DiVincenzo said. “This is a significant project because it introduces an attractive recreation amenity, modern community center and much needed parking that makes the park more accessible and easier to enjoy,” he added.
“I thank Governor Phil Murphy and NJ Senate President Stephen Sweeney for providing funding for this project. They have been great advocates for the residents of New Jersey and true friends of Essex County,” DiVincenzo said.
“It is incredible to see accessible playgrounds opening in our state,” said NJ Senate President Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “I entered politics because I saw that my daughter did not have the same opportunities to learn, play, work and live as other kids. Spaces like this are crucial to making children with disabilities feel included in their communities, something every parent knows is vital to a happy, healthy child. This playground will provide countless kids the opportunity to learn, play and grow with their peers and I hope we can open parks like this in other areas of the state,” he added.
“Parks build family memories and, with this new playground, children who previously had been shut out because of their physical limitations can now play alongside other children. Our County Executive made a commitment to improve the parks and he has left no community untouched,” Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver said.
Elected officials and community leaders welcomed the upgrades made to Essex County Watsessing Park.
“We have leadership that listens to the community and brings our recreation facilities up to speed with the needs of our residents,” NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“The playground and community center are wonderful additions to Watsessing Park and will go a long way toward bringing people together,” Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. “The park improvements are in the center of Bloomfield’s downtown and will complement the fine projects taking place in the Township,” Freeholder Carlos Pomares said. “I am proud to be part of this team and supporting amazing projects such as this one,” Freeholder Len Luciano said.
“It says a lot when half of the people using the playground are part of your organization. We are happy that the County Executive gave us this magnificent playground that serves everyone in the community,” said Jennifer Preziotti-Gamble, president of the Friends of Watsessing Park Conservancy said. “I encourage everyone to come out and play. This has a lot of new things to play on. I love coming to new parks so I can see which one is my favorite,” said Asher Gamble, son of Bloomfield Councilman Ted Gamble and Ms. Preziotti-Gamble.
“The County Executive builds things and we will make sure they remain as safe and pristine as they are at the dedication today,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. “Playgrounds and nice parks help build community and strengthens our diversity. Today we are witnessing the rebirth of a community,” Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones said. “This is an amazing facility and it’s a model that the County Executive has introduced throughout the County,” Assemblyman Ralph Caputo said.
The all access playground replaced a traditionally designed facility in the park off of Bloomfield Avenue. It features a variety of playing apparatus that children of all physical abilities can enjoy. Handicapped children will be able to enjoy a playground designed with their needs in mind with new swings, bridges and slides. All equipment is in compliance with ADA and current playground codes. An on-site parking lot was created to facilitate transportation and access to the playground.
The old community center was last renovated in 2008 and has been demolished. It has been replaced with an expanded and more modern building. The new structure has an enlarged room for community meetings, gatherings and events, storage rooms and modern restrooms. The restrooms will be handicap accessible and will be larger in size to accommodate playground users and visitors to the community center.
Comito Associates from Newark was awarded a $145,000 contract to design the Watsessing Park community center building. The Shauger Group, Inc. from East Orange was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,982,580 to perform the construction work. Remington & Vernick Engineers from Secaucus was awarded a $65,000 contract to design the all access playground. Picerno Giordano Construction from Kenilworth was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,436,000 to build the playground. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project and answered questions to avoid delays. Funding was provided from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and with a grant from NJ Department of Community Affairs. Work started in January and was completed in seven 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 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, and repaired restroom facilities in an adjacent field house. 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, four 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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