22 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE PLAYGROUND, SPRAY PARK AND SOCCER/LACROSSE FIELD IN ESSEX COUNTY WATSESSING PARK
Published on October 22, 2025
Bloomfield/East Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Monday, October 20th the groundbreaking for improvements to the playground and spray park near Dodd Street and the replacement of the synthetic grass surface at the soccer/lacrosse field on Bloomfield Avenue in Essex County Watsessing Park. The projects are part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to update recreation facilities to ensure they meet the needs of the community.
“The improvements to the conventional playground, repairs to the spray park, and replacement of the synthetic grass surface at Watsessing Park exemplify our ongoing commitment to provide the most modern recreation facilities that meet the needs of our residents,” DiVincenzo said. “In 2019, we opened this playground, which was the county’s first all-access playground, and it feels good to revisit this incredible addition to our parks system to ensure that open spaces like our parks are well-maintained for all of our residents,” he added.
“This park is a great asset to the area, which is a testament to the work we have done,” Commissioner President Carlos Pomares said. “This is a government project that will improve our residents’ quality of life and, in today’s climate, we can’t take that for granted,” Commissioner Brendan Gill said.
“This is another example of the great work being done by the county. Open space is so important to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods, and we appreciate it,” East Orange Mayor Ted Green said.
“We are grateful to County Executive DiVincenzo for the resources he invests into the park. Parks and open spaces are where communities come together and grow strong,” Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said.
“This park means a lot to me because it is where I grew up, rode my bike. To see how it’s been transformed and the attention continually given to it is special,” Sheriff Amir Jones said.
“These improvements to the playground and field are great for the community and will continue to make Watsessing Park a gem,” Assemblyman Mike Venezia said.
The existing playground will be replaced with new apparatus and a rubberized safety surface that are designed with an aquatic theme to match the theme of the adjacent spray park. New additions to the playground are shade structures over the playground equipment and seating areas for parents/guardians. The installation of park benches, trash receptacles and landscaping, improvements to the walking paths and tree pruning are included in the project. In addition, repairs will be made to spray park equipment.
A professional services contract for $147,000 was awarded to Remington and Vernick Engineers from Secaucus to design the improvements. A publicly bid contract for $1,589,900 was awarded to Picerno-Giordano Construction from Kenilworth to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works will monitor the project to ensure delays were avoided. The improvements were funded with a grant from the NJ Green Acres Program. The project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2026.
The existing synthetic grass surface will be replaced due to regular wear and tear. The improvements to the soccer and lacrosse fields were designed in-house by the Essex County Department of Public Works, which will also monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. A publicly bid contract for $1,125,000 was awarded to Zenith Construction Services from Orange to perform the construction work. The field improvements are with a grant from the NJ Green Acres program. The project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2026.
Revitalizing Essex County Watsessing Park
These upgrades are the latest improvements made in Watsessing Park since DiVincenzo took office in 2003. A majority of the projects were funded with grants received by Essex County and the Watsessing Park Conservancy from the New Jersey Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board, and in-kind services from other governmental agencies.
In 2019, the county’s first all access playground, along with a new community center building and on-site parking lot were opened off of Bloomfield Avenue and Conger Street. It was expanded with additional equipment in 2021. The soccer/lacrosse field and the Lawn Bowling Green were modernized with new surfaces in 2020.
In 2017, a 3,000-square-foot water spray park was developed near Dodd Street and the additional climbing apparatus was added to the playground on Glenwood Avenue. In 2016, the sidewalks along Glenfield Avenue, Dodd Street and Cleveland Terrace were modernized, the basketball court and walking track near Dodd Street were resurfaced, and the pedestrian bridge over the Second River, damaged during a spring storm, was repaired. Also, in 2016 the walking track was named in honor of Glen Ridge resident Horace Ashenfelter, the 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winner in the steeplechase who trained in the park. In 2014, ornamental historic lighting was installed along the walking paths throughout the park. In 2010, a synthetic grass surface soccer/lacrosse field in Essex County Watsessing Park off of Bloomfield Avenue was developed, new wrought iron fencing was installed along the perimeter of the park along Bloomfield Avenue and a synthetic grass surface inside the walking track was installed.
The walking track, basketball court and lawn bowling building were upgraded, park entranceways were enhanced, and landscaping was improved in the southern section of the park in 2006. In 2005, Essex County opened a 19,500-square-foot Off-Leash Dog Facility, the first of its kind in the Essex County Park System. The same year, the pedestrian bridge in the eastern section of the park was upgraded.
In 2004, Essex County rehabilitated the historic bandstand and the Lawn Bowling with a new synthetic grass surface and fencing. Basketball courts located off of Glenwood Avenue in East Orange were renovated and the Essex County seal was painted at the center of each court. Water fountains were repaired, and additional trash receptacles and decorative benches were placed throughout the park.
In 2003, Essex County completed a beautification project at the Bloomfield Avenue entrance to Watsessing Park. New sidewalks, decorative park pathways and landscaping improved the entrance, making it more inviting. In addition, upgrades were made to the drainage system, park trees were trimmed, and the restrooms and senior room were painted. Essex County also installed rubberized safety surfaces in the three playgrounds in the park.
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, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. At 69.67 acres, Watsessing Park is the fourth largest park in the Essex System. It was designed in 1899 by the Olmstead Brothers firm and land acquisition was started in 1901.