20 Aug ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF PROJECT TO MODERNIZE BASEBALL FIELD IN ESSEX COUNTY GROVER CLEVELAND PARK IN CALDWELL/ESSEX FELLS
Published on August 20, 2026
Newark, NJ – On Thursday, August 20th, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that the project to modernize the baseball field in Essex County Grover Cleveland Park in Caldwell/Essex Fells has been completed. The field was upgraded with a synthetic infield playing surface, natural grass outfield and new irrigation and drainage systems, fencing and site amenities. It is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the Essex County Parks System and ensure recreation facilities meet the needs of the community.
“The community relies on our Essex County Parks System for fields and facilities to support recreation and athletic programs. Therefore, it is imperative that we come up with new ways to make it easier to maintain our fields, provide up-to-date playing conditions and maximize use,” DiVincenzo said. “Improving the infield with a synthetic playing surface is a way to address the condition of the field and preserve more natural turfed areas in our parks,” he added.
“I am a historian, so anything with Grover Cleveland’s name perks up my interest. He loved and had a great respect for the outdoors, so to improve this park so more people can enjoy it is, in a way, a tribute to his memory,” Commissioner President Carlos Pomares said. “Our County Executive cares about parks and recreation and quality of life. We are pleased to support him on these projects that make our parks better for residents,” Commissioner Len Luciano said.
“On behalf of the Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy, we want to thank the County Executive for all the work that has been done to make the park such a vibrant place,” Rob Thieman from the Conservancy said.
The baseball field was upgraded with a synthetic infield playing surface and natural grass sod in the outfield. In addition, new fencing, dugouts, walking paths and irrigation and drainage systems were installed at the site.
Similar field improvements where a synthetic infield surface and natural grass sod outfield have been done in Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark, Essex County Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair, Essex County Belleville Park in Belleville and Essex County Yanticaw Park in Nutley. Work to modernize the softball fields in Essex County Irvington Park in Irvington in this manner also is underway.
Zenith Construction from Orange was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,144,125 to perform the construction work. The Department of Public Works designed the improvements in-house and monitored the project to ensure delays were avoided. The project was funded through the County’s Capital Budget. Work began in March and took five months to complete.
Revitalizing Essex County Grover Cleveland Park
In 2023, the tennis courts were updated with new playing surfaces and pickleball courts were introduced. In 2018, the playground and tennis courts were modernized. In 2013, handicap accessibility was improved with the creation of ADA-compliant parking spaces in the Buttonwood Road lot, installation of handicap accessible tables in the picnic area, repairing walking paths to meet ADA guidelines, installation of signage and making various landscaping upgrades. In 2012, the banks, spillway and weirs of Pine Brook, as it passes through Essex County Grover Cleveland Park, were upgraded as part of a $722,653 project. In 2006, an $825,000 facelift included installing an aeration system in the pond and planting landscaping around the pond edge, renovating the skate house and updating the baseball/softball field with new decorative lights, bleachers, benches and fencing. In 2004, $800,000 was invested to make improvements to the Children’s House and renovate the tennis courts. In 2003, an $850,000 project included a makeover for the playground with modern equipment and a rubberized safety surface and the repaving of walking paths and the parking lot. Also in 2003, the Runnymede Road Bridge was reconstructed.
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, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Opened in 1916, Essex County’s Grover Cleveland Park is 41.48 acres, making it the seventh largest in the park system.
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