12 Jun ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVNCENZO ANNOUNCES PLANS TO MODERNIZE 2.2-MILE RUBBERIZED WALKING TRACK AND FITNESS APPARATUS IN ESSEX COUNTY WEEQUAHIC PARK
Published on June 12, 2024
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans to replace and modernize the 2.2-mile rubberized walking path around Weequahic Lake in Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark on Wednesday, June 12th. The improvements are part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the Essex County Parks System and provide residents with the most up-to-date recreation facilities.
“The walkway around the lake is a beautiful scenic route that is enjoyed by visitors who run or job for exercise as well as those going for a leisurely stroll. The improvements we are making will bring the track up to date and provide challenging exercise stations for those looking to get in shape,” DiVincenzo said. “Projects such as these ensure our open spaces remain attractive and meet the needs of our residents. 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.
“Olmstead had the foresight to understand that our urban core needed open space for recreation and respite. Joe has been able to maintain the historical elements while also modernizing our parks to meet current needs,” Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“When Joe tells us what needs to be repaired or changed, we always look to see how we can help at the State level because he moved projects forward and gets things done,” Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin said.
“I want to thank the County Executive for always being able to find funding so we can do improvements like this. These upgrades will be phenomenal and I can’t wait until everything is done,” Commissioner Wayne Richardson said
“I appreciate that our County Executive is an observer of open space and I thank him for his dedication for maintaining open space that is making a profound impact on our residents. When we grow parks, we grow people and we enhance their wellness,” Newark Councilman Patrick Council said.
The walkway around Weequahic Lake is the longest resilient-surfaced track in the world. The popular attraction was last resurfaced in 2010 and is showing signs of regular wear and tear. This project will improve grading and drainage along the walking path route and replace the entire rubberized surface. In addition, the path of the track will be realigned in the southern section of the park so the walkway is removed from areas that typically flood after rainstorms. Benches and trash receptacles along the track will be installed and new signage regarding waterway rules and mileage markers will be installed.
The 17 fitness stations currently around the track will be replaced with new equipment and rubberized surfaces. In addition, an exercise yard that is about 75 by 75 feet will be created near the baseball fields to provide additional places for people to exercise. The exercised pad also will have benches and a shade structure.
Dead or diseased trees will be removed and branches will be pruned, landscaping will be enhanced and bottle filling water fountains will be included.
French and Parrello from Wall received a $95,000 professional services contract to design the improvements. JA Alexander, Inc. from Bloomfield was awarded a publicly bid contract for $2,493,850 to perform the construction work. The Department of Public Works will monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. The project is being funded with grants from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, the NJ Green Acres Program, NJ Urban Parks Program and the NJ Department of Community Affairs. Work is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2024.
Revitalizing Essex County Weequahic Park
Also being planned is the comprehensive renovation and modernization of Essex County Weequahic Golf course.
In 2022, the Little League Field off of Elizabeth Avenue received a new synthetic grass surface. In 2021, the Feldman “Mootsie” Middleton, Jr. Community Center was replaced with a 15,000-square-foot modern building. In 2018, the Elizabeth Avenue playground was modernized with new apparatus and a rubberized safety surface and the restroom building was renovated. In 2017, The First Tee facilities were upgraded and the entranceway, parking lot and field house were modernized at Weequahic Golf Course as part of a $3.1 million project. In 2016, one of the baseball fields was modernized with a synthetic grass playing surface, new fencing and scoreboard and named in honor of the late Bill Hicks, a long-time little league and high school baseball coach. Also in 2016, the community center was named in honor of Feldman Middleton, Jr., one of the founders of the Weequahic Park Association and the Weequahic Park Sports Authority, and the playground was named in honor of activist Carl Sharif. In 2015, the playground by Building 92 was modernized with new equipment and a rubberized safety surface. In 2012, the four entrances to Weequahic Park received a facelift with traffic islands, lighting, paving and landscaping to beautify the area and enhance pedestrian and traffic safety, and the basketball courts were named in honor of the late Delano Gordon, founder of Above the Rim. Essex County partnered with the National Football League to install a new half-mile fitness course with six exercise stations in 2010. Weequahic Golf Course received a major overhaul in 2009 as part of $7 million modernization project in each of the County’s three public golf courses and the Weequahic Bridge was reconstructed for $3 million. A synthetic grass surface baseball field and four basketball courts were developed as part of a $1.8 million project in 2007. Essex County welcomed The First Tee and its nationally recognized youth leadership training program to Weequahic Golf Course in 2006. The First Tee constructed a state-of-the-art, three-hole youth golf facility for its program adjacent to the golf course. The playground at Building 96 at the Chancellor Avenue entrance to the park was modernized with new equipment and rubberized safety surface in 2006. The Elizabeth Avenue tennis courts were rebuilt in 2004.
DiVincenzo has partnered with the New Jersey Green Acres program, the NJ Department of Transportation, the Essex County Parks Foundation, Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board, Weequahic Park Association and The First Tee to secure grants to fund the improvements in Essex County Weequahic Park.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system in the United States. It has been expanded to include about 6,000 acres of land and includes 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, miniature golf course, five dog parks, a castle, Treetop Adventure Course and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Weequahic Park is 311.33 acres, is one of the original five County parks created in 1895 and is the second largest park in the Essex County System.