Building Community
Creating Places
Using Commmon Sense
Project Areas
Major Initiatives
Special Features
PPS Favorites
- What If We Built Our Cities Around Places?
- Great Waterfronts of the World
- Pride of Place
Governing Magazine - Placemaker Profile: Allan Jacobs
Weequahic Park
Meeker Avenue & Elizabeth Avenue
Newark, NJ
Submitted by: Wilbur McNeil
Weequahic park is the second largest developed park in Essex County with 311.33 acres & an 80-acre lake.
Click on any image for slide show
For more images of Weequahic Park or other places, try searching our Image Collection
Why It Works
Weequahic Park is located in the eastern section of Essex County in the city of Newark, NJ. It is the second largest developed park in the county system. The name Weequahic stems from the language of the Lenni-Lenape Indians. It is said to mean "The head of the cove." It has an 18-hole golf course. The Weequahic Park Association Inc. has revitalized this historic park with the addition of a unique rubberized track for walkers and runners from the community and beyond. The track encircles the park's magnificent lake, providing a magnificent view for its users. It is constructed of state of the art materials, compatible with existing terrain features and a rubberized overlay that provides a cushion effect, absorbing the impact of pounding feet. The track is 2.2 miles long and is set apart from all others in that it is the longest resilient surfaced track in the world.
What Makes Weequahic Park a Great Place?
Weequahic Park has a long legacy as a place where people gathered and still gather. Early settlers met here to exchange farm products. It was called the Waverly Fair Grounds when the state agricultural fair was held from 1867 to the 1890's. There was a racetrack for trotters. President Ulysses Grant rode here.
Students have worked with the Weequahic Park Association placing $100,000 worth of ornamental and shade trees and other materials.
It is becoming an Urban Paradise. WPA has celebrated Founders' Day. The event recalls the history of the nine historic figures who established the dividing line between Newark and Elizabeth, NJ. This year's celebration, WPA's fourth, began with an Olmsted Walk/Race, bringing to an end the week long National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP) Spring Conference held in Newark, hosted by the WPA. After the race a brunch honoring Bill Payne was held in the Fieldhouse.
It has a magnificent landscape with rolling hills and attractive monuments, ballfields, basketball, two playgrounds, and tennis and paddleball courts.
History & Background
A bit of history about the man whose company in Boston designed the acreage that surrounds us as well as the grounds of parks and reservations in Essex County: Frederick Law Olmsted was one of America's greatest landscape architects. His input on landscape planning was sought throughout the world. Olmsted lived from 1822-1903.
In addition to the architectural excellence of Mr. Olmsted, the Weequahic Park Association honors him for his outspoken opposition to the evil of slavery. He wrote about the inhumanity of bondage when others were silent. Weequahic Park Association acknowledges him because his spirit is the essence of Weequahic Park and he would surely be supportive of what the WPA has tried to do at Weequahic Park. The Franklin Murphy Monument erected by the Essex County Park Commission in honor of Franklin Murphy, a park commissioner who became the Commission's first president and went on to become governor of New Jersey. His foresight helped preserve sites like Weequahic Park for future generations.
Contact Info:
Wilbur J. McNeil, President of Weequahic Park Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 2248, Newark, NJ; 973-643-7850
or Kevin Moore, Project Director for Weequahic Park
Related Links:
- National Association for Olmsted Parks - The web site of the National Association for Olmstead Parks
User Comments:
> Add your own comment about Weequahic Park
> Add your own commentabout Weequahic Park
The organization's membership and board of trustees includes a wide range of community people with varying political beliefs and experiences. We view the diversity of thought and the expression of ideas as healthy elements in our growth as an organization as well as being a driving force in the accomplishments derived from both. Our meetings are held every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome.
Youths see the forest, and the trees
Weequahic Park is ecological lab and open-air classroom
Thursday, September 30, 2004
BY STANLEY E. TERRELL, Star-Ledger Staff
There are probably more than a few people who had ideas of spending this summer in the park, although for most of them, working was not what they expected to be doing there.
But for two Newark brothers, traipsing around Weequahic Park was all about work, as they learned about the trees there and did research that will help keep the environment wholesome and accessible.
To read this article in its entirety, please see Youths see the forest, and the trees
It's where families go for play time and athletic teams once experienced serious sport and where one did embrace the solace of a natural santuary via boat upon it's 80 acre lake.
In times past boating, canoeing, ice skating and fishing were permitted on the lake and recreational sport which included horse racing, bicycling, baseball, football, playgrounds and tennis courts were apart of the natural fabric and resource for the surrounding residential community which in part grew in response to Weequahic Park's growth.
Today Weequahic Park is an invaluable resource and its professional restoration and maintainence is secured by the Weequahic Park Association (WPA). In my opinion as a community stakeholder and resident county, city, state and federal funds as well as private donations should be made available for the complete restoration and preservation of the Weequahic Lake and Park. This natural beauty provides environmental resources for life and can be used as an engine that drives economic development in the Weequahic Park Super Neighborhood that is positioned for growth.
The Regional Plan Association (RPA) commissioned by Mayor Cory A. Booker in June 2006 to create a Master Plan for Newark has devised the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) for the purpose of connecting the larger Newark (outer wards) to downtown. And although the RPA boasts of GREENING Newark they have failed to connect this historic landmark via the proposed BRT whereby positioning Weequahic Park as a tourist destination with live concerts, theatre, a renewed boathouse, concession stands, upgraded football and baseball fields, etc. could without question stabilize the park thus making it self sufficient and a great resource for the current residents as well as the additional 50K people migrating to Newark over the next 20 years.