Brookdale Park, New Jersey

Infobox park
park = Brookdale Park


image size =
caption = Brookdale's Meadow
type = Public Park
location = Montclair, New Jersey and Bloomfield, New Jersey
coordinates = coord|40.827853|-74.245289|display=inline,title
size = 121.41, third largest in county system
opened = 1931
operator = Essex County
visitors =
status = Open all year.

Brookdale Park is a county park located in the towns of Montclair and park system. It is partially forested and partially lawns, with paths going through.

Overview

Going through the park is a circular, one way road, with three roads leading out of the park. There are many entrances for pedestrians, and there are two parking lots of approximately forty spots each. The road goes around part of the park which has many athletic fields, park buildings, and other facilities. In the southern end of this area is the great meadow, and on the northern side there are the playgrounds, baseball/softball fields, and the stadium with the grandstand, track, and turf soccer field. [http://www.brookdaleparkconservancy.org/about.htm]

On the outside of the roadway there are many paths through the wood of stately trees that is the western half of the park. This part of the park is mostly in Montclair. Many minor facilities and areas are in the Western half. On this side there is a road entrance, the Rose Garden, the Tennis Courts, and the Dog Park. In the south there is another car entrance. In the northwestern corner there is a smaller field and the Archery range.

History

. The area in which Brookdale is now placed on was then called by the Dutch as Stonehouse Plains.

Land started to be purchased in 1928 and all the land, convert|121.41|acre|km2 in total, were purchased by 1931. Frederick Law Olmsted Firm was chosen as the firm to design the park, and they completed most of the park by 1930 but the Great Depression slowed work down. It was finished in 1937. This firm is well known for designing much of the National Mall in Washington D.C. and Central Park in New York City. [ [http://www.essex-countynj.org/p/index.php?section=parks/sites/br&ImgLoc=images/br] , www.essex-countynj.org, ?, ?. Accessed July 10, 2008.]

Amenities

* 1½ mile fitness course
* softball/baseball fields
* Archery field
* picnic grounds
* Bike and running races
* Grandstand
* Restrooms
* Interpretive Trail
* Playgrounds
* Annual arts and crafts festival
* 11 Tennis Courts
* Formal rose garden with over 100 different species
* Summer concerts and Fourth of July celebrations
* Fireworks displays
* Dog Park
* Soccer Fields
* A block away from Yantacaw Brook Park
* Mountain bike trail

Gallery

Brookdale_Rose_GardenImage:Runp.jpg|_A_path_around_the_perimeter_of_the_parkImage:RTrack.jpg|_The_running_track,_grand_stand,_and_turf_soccer_fieldImage:Bdogp.jpg|_The_entrance/waiting_area_at_the_dog_park_

[ [http://www.essex-countynj.org/p/index.php?section=parks/sites/br&ImgLoc=images/br] , www.essex-countynj.org, ?, ?. Accessed July 10, 2008.]

External links

*http://www.essex-countynj.org/p/index.php?section=parks/sites/br&ImgLoc=images/br

References