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About
Branch Brook Park
 Branch
Brook Park
is distinguished by being the first county park to be opened
for public use in the United States. It has been placed
on both the New Jersey (1980) and National (1981) Registers
of Historic Places.
Located
in the City of Newark and bordered at the southern end by
U.S. Route 280, the park crosses Bloomfield Avenue, Park
Avenue, and Heller Parkway, terminating near the Newark/Belleville
line.
The
park is nearly 4 miles long and averages 1/4 mile in width.
At 359.72 acres, it is the largest developed park in the
County. It features a combination of open meadowland and
small patches of woodland on gently rolling terrain.
Named
for a branch brook that flowed through the valley into the
Passaic River, the park was originally intended to remain
for passive recreation, but today is used largely for athletics
activities as well as strolling, birdwatching and more passive
activities.
More
than 2,000 cherry trees that blossom during April are greater
both in variety and number than the famed Washington, D.C.,
display the result of a 1927 gift from Mrs. Felix Fuld and
the Bamberger family. At its height the Cherry Blossom Festival
attracts over 10,000 people a day.
Distinguishing
Features of the Park:
- A
large lake, meandering streams, and in the north, the
Second River channel.
- Spectacular
view of the Sacred Heart Cathedral across the lake.
- Playgrounds,
ballfields, basketball, tennis, horseshoes.
- The
famed "Cherry Blossomland."
- The
park system maintenance center and garage.
- The
park system administration building, built in 1915 - listed
on both the state and national historic registers.
- The
northern division meadow is one of the largest recreational
open green spaces to be found in Essex.
- Senior
citizen center, originally a boat landing shelter.
- Walled
remains of the old Newark reservoir.
- Roller
rink--completed in 1995, site of the park system's Centennial
Birthday Celebration.
- Four-mile
park drive.
- Pedestrian
bridges, Park & Bloomfield Avenue bridges and the railroad
bridges in northern extension are striking architectural
features.
- Ballantine
Gateway.
- Meeker
Mound Pavilion.
- Sculptured
lions that flank a formal boat landing were originally
stationed in front of the old Newark Prudential building.
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