ESSEX COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS YOUR GUIDE TO EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES OF THE ESSEX COUNTY PARKS SYSTEM Spring / Summer 2016 Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders www.EssexCountyNJ.org Essex County Parks, Recreation And Cultural Affairs PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST ESSEX COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM THE Upcoming Events 4 FREEHOLDER PRESIDENT Kip’s Castle Park 7 Greetings, It is with great honor that I, Britnee South Mountain N. Timberlake, President, bring you Recreation Complex 8 greetings on behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders: Vice President, Golf 13 Brendan W. Gill, Rolando Bobadilla, Rufus I. Johnson, Leonard M. Luciano, Environmental Center 16 Wayne L. Richardson, Patricia Sebold, Lebby C. Jones, and Cynthia D. Toro. We are working hard performing our legislative and budgetary duties putting the matters of the Essex County Gardens 18 people before our own. Cultural Affairs 18 This is the time of year to bask in the beauty of Essex County by attending the Cherry Blossom Festival, through playing, Directory of learning, dining or relaxing at the Turtle Back Zoo Complex, by watching movies under the stars, and/or jamming to the Park Conservancies 19 melodically diverse concert series in the parks. Whatever your choice, there is truly something to do for all families as Parks Map 20 admission is free for many activities. We are glad to partner with the County Executive, Joseph The activities included in this catalog take place DiVincenzo, Jr. and all departments to celebrate this 2016 at facilities of the Essex County Parks System. spring and summer season with the citizens of this great County. We look forward to seeing you out and about enjoying the greatness of Essex. BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS Britnee N. Timberlake Rolando Bobadilla Britnee N. Timberlake Freeholder President Rufus I. Johnson Freeholder President Lebby C. Jones Brendan W. Gill Leonard M. Luciano Freeholder Vice President Wayne L. Richardson Patricia Sebold PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST Cynthia D. Toro Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 115 Clifton Avenue • Newark, NJ 07104 • 973-268-3500 ESSEX COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS MEMORIES GROW HERE! A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE After experiencing the cold, cruel clutches of winter, the arrival of warmer spring temperatures makes it more alluring to experiencing the outdoors. You don’t have to look any farther than the Essex County Parks System as the place to reconnect with the great outdoors. The flowering cherry trees in Branch Brook Park, the blooming flowers in the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens and the budding roses in Brookdale Park offer colorful nature displays. The Treetop Adventure at the South Mountain Recreation Complex is a challenging obstacle course that will appeal to your adventurous spirit. Miles of hiking trails in throughout our 6,000-plus acres of parkland will take you on a journey past waterfalls, through forests and along riverbanks. Get closer to nature at the Environmental Center, where the natural outdoors are the real classroom. Spend a day – or more – at Turtle Back Zoo, where you can have a wild adventure seeing exotic animals from five continents, including giraffes and sea lions! Take the first steps toward a healthier you by taking a stroll on our walking paths, exercising on our parcourse stations or by getting your game on at our many athletic facilities. Our 22 county parks and five reservations are valuable community resources that are available for anyone to use. This spring – and throughout the year – we encourage you to come out again and again, and see what Essex County has to offer. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive 3 ESSEX COUNTY UPCOMING EVENTS ESSEX COUNTY SENIOR CITIZEN ART SHOW Essex County Hospital Center 204 Grove Avenue, Cedar Grove 973.433.7469 EXHIBIT DATES TO BE DETERMINED Professional and non-professional artists display artwork in all genres during this annual exhibit of Essex residents over the age of 60. Creativity abounds! All are invited to visit the exhibit. How to Participate Registration is required and due to the Division of Cultural Affairs by Thursday, June 2. Any visual artist, age 60 or over, currently residing in Essex County may submit two entries completed within the past 3 years to the Essex County show. The show is open to amateur and professional artists. Professional classification requires you to meet two of the following criteria: 1. Sold artwork through commercial channels 2. Exhibited in a professional gallery 3. Hold professional membership in guild or association Artwork may be submitted in any of the following categories. • Oil • Acrylic • Pastel (pastel, chalk, charcoal and oil pastel) • Craft (No craft kits or molds will be accepted.) • Photography (any image created using a light-capturing device • Computer imagery (Artwork created using a pixel-based painting during any part of the process) or graphics program.) • Print • Drawing • Sculpture • Mixed Media/Collage/Assemblage • Watercolor/Gouache ESSEX COUNTY FISHING DERBIES Saturday, April 16* Branch Brook Park, Newark Saturday, May 7** Grover Cleveland Park, Caldwell/Essex Fells Saturday, May 14** Irvington Park, Irvington Thursday, May 19*** Verona Park, Verona Saturday, May 21** Weequahic Park, Newark Saturday, June 11** Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange Saturday, June 18** Orange Reservoir South Mountain Recreation Complex, West Orange * Branch Brook Park Derby, registration begins at 11am, Derby begins at 12pm, Awards given at 2:30pm * * Saturday Registration begins at 8am, Derby begins at 9am, Awards given at 11:15am Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles. *** Thursday Registration begins at 5pm, Derby begins at 6pm, Fishing Derbies will not be made up due to inclement weather. Awards given at 7:45pm Check www.essexcountynj.org for cancellations. 4 THE CELEBRATION STARTS HERE! 40TH ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Essex County Branch Brook Park 973.735.6228 www.essexcountynj.org/festival 40th Anniversary Saturday, April 9 to Sunday, April 24 The County of Essex holds a historic collection of Japanese cherry trees within Essex County Branch Brook Park, Newark. More than 5,000 trees will bloom from mid to late April, creating a pink and white setting Cherry that is perfect for picnics and photos. Celebrate the arrival of spring by joining in our festival of events or just take a stroll through the groves on a sunny day. The Park is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Festival details are as follows: Blossom Guided Historic Tours Sunday, April 17 through Saturday, April 23 11am, 12noon, and 1pm Festival Have our knowledgeable guides take you on a 45-minute journey pointing out 121 years of history hidden within Branch Brook Park’s Essex County Branch Brook Park structure and design, under a canopy of cherry blossoms. Tours leave from the Essex County Cherry Blossom Welcome Center on APRIL 9-24, 2016 the hour. Transportation around the park is provided. Tickets are $5 per person and are available for purchase at the Center on the tour date. Space is limited and available on a first come first serve basis. For group or private tour bookings, please call 973.433.7469. 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk & Family Day Saturday, April 16 Cherry Blossom Challenge Bike Race 10am 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk Saturday, April 9; 7am – 1pm 11am-3pm Family Day Race through the Park in the Cherry Blossom Challenge, a The celebration continues at the Prudential Concert Grove with live competitive New Jersey tradition, or cheer on the cyclists while performances, children’s activities, and more! The 1-Mile Fun Run/ enjoying a day in the fresh spring air. Registration fees apply. Various Walk is free in which to participate and precedes the Family Day races occur throughout the morning. activities. Schools and groups must register for the Fun Run/Walk in Cherry Blossom 10K Run advance at 973.239.2495. Sunday, April 10; 10am start Bloomfest! Run through the cherry tree groves in this USATF-sanctioned race Sunday, April 24; 11am–5pm that benefits Special Olympics of NJ and is a Women’s Master’s Enjoy a family day in the pink park! A packed schedule of events Championship race. Prizes awarded by age category. Same day reg- includes cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, istration begins at 8am. Online registration at www.compuscore.com. food, and more! Free admission. 7th Annual Participants must pay a $10 registration fee and sign a waiver, and Hilltop Grasshopper Bicycle Race for Kids the participant’s bicylce must pass a technical inspection. A parent Saturday, August 13 or guardian must be present to sign the waiver and must be present Essex County Hilltop Reservation, North Caldwell during the race. www.hilltopgrasshopper.com Register early online with BikeReg.com: Come out for a local fun race https://www.bikereg.com/hilltop-grasshopper-kids-race-7th-annual with awards for top finishers. Start Times and Categories / Classes and Distance This is a specially prepared K-1st grade: boys-9:00am, girls-9:05am 0.6 miles 0.6-mile course for both new and experienced riders. Any 2nd-3rd grade: boys-9:20am, girls-9:25am 1.2 miles bike with fatter tires is ideal 4th-5th grade: boys-10:00am, girls-10:05am 1.8 miles and mechanics will inspect 6th-8th grade: boys-10:45am, girls-10:50am 2.4 miles all bikes for safety and last Boys and girls may be combined if there are a low number of minute race tuning. registrants for a class. Registration and inspection Awards ceremonies will commence shortly after each class is finished, opens at 7:30 am, and closes with medals for top three finishers in each class.