Such an incredible playground! We went here twice with our young boys while visiting my in laws,…read morethey had a blast. Love the structures, it's fully fenced in, and there are tons if chairs on the sides for parents to sit. My kids could stay here all day if we let them. Wish there was a little more shade, but you can find some spots.

Located at the South Mountain Waterfront, the Essex County Regatta Playground is a nautical-themed…read moreplay area for kids and little ones. Nearby are the swan paddle boats, which can be rented. Also, the public bathrooms are near the Regatta Playground, as well as a picnic area and wooden lawn chairs. Note: The picnic area is sometimes reserved for private events/groups, but is otherwise available most of the time.

Love this little playground! It's the perfect size playground. It's not too big, like some of the…read morenewer playground I have taken my kids to. It is difficult to keep track of your little ones when the playground is wayyyy too big. Both my 2 and 6 year old boys enjoy their time here.

This is an athletic field in the St. Cloud neighborhood of West Orange. There's a small area with…read moresome parking, but it's more ideal for residents in the area within walking distance. They have tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, and playgrounds for the kiddos. It's down the road from Turtle Back Zoo and the South Mountain Arena, and right by Mama Dag's Seafood & Pasta Bar.

Very nice little park in West Orange. They have baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, and…read moreplaygrounds.

The Waterfront has a nice walking/jogging path around the lake. You can also fish in designated…read moreareas, and rent swan paddle boats here. It's family friendly with a playground for younger kids, and an area with lots of tables under a pavilion for gatherings. The Essex County Park System maintains the Waterfront well. It's a popular destination during the weekends (i.e. can get crowded).

They've really improved the overall area here - the zoo, recreation area, playground, parking,…read morerestaurant and yes the Waterfront. You can easily have a family day in this area and the Waterfront paddle boats is one the nice stops to make while out. The prices are reasonable and the wait was fair, about 15 minutes on a sunny Sunday. You get 30 minutes out on the water which is nice and the staff don't really keep track or hassle you as you try to maneuver your way back. I think our boats rudder was a bit off. Aside from the boats there is a nice loop that goes along the reservation around the reservoir to walk around and there are spots to fish if that's your thing. There are benches to sit on all around, bathrooms and a little community area with chairs to hang out. Again it is much improved and definitely recommend the waterfront as part of a family day out in addition to the other areas of the park.

I recently discovered Orchard Park. It's a small park off of Ridgewood Ave in Maplewood, but you…read moreenter from De Hart Road, so it's kind of hidden. There's a playground for 2-5 year olds - with climbing forts, slides, a see-saw, and swings. There's a covered area in sight line of the playground, and tables and some benches to sit. There are also tennis courts and an open field. Cute park!

Orchard park is the overall best local park I have been to. The playground is completely safe and…read moreamazing for kids of all ages. It is great to bring the whole family, there is great seating like picnic tables and benches and built in bathrooms. We go there all the time and is an amazing experience.

This is a review for Christmas experience at the Zoo…read more Wow... can't believe I didn't know about this despite living in NJ for 8 years! Turtle Back Zoo turns into a complete Christmas paradise after 5 PM, and it's absolutely magical. I recently found out about this and, after seeing the lights and activities, I was genuinely impressed. During the holiday season, entry is free after 5 PM through sponsorship, which is a huge plus. Timings are 5 PM - 9 PM. Parts of the zoo remain open, so you can still see animals and birds like bison, giraffes, toucans, and more, which makes it extra special for kids. The entire park is beautifully lit with festive decorations and multiple Christmas trees. The area near the carousel looks amazing. For Kids' Activities - There's no shortage of fun for children- Face painting, Meet & greet with Santa (on specific days/times), Carousel rides, Pony rides etc... Food and beverages are well taken care of, like Starbucks or Zoo's own food sections spread across the park. Perfect for grabbing a warm drink while walking around. They also have private igloos available: You can rent for 4 hours, which can accommodate up to 10 guests, and includes hot chocolate and snacks It's located in West Orange, Essex County Parking: Two multi-level parking garages--parking is hassle-free and well organized. Overall, it was an amazing 2-3-hour evening spent with friends. Festive, family-friendly, and surprisingly delightful. Highly recommended--especially if you have kids!

This review is strictly for the holiday lights event held at the zoo. The event is totally…read morefree--they simply ask for a donation of non perishables, new or gently used coat and/or an unwrapped toy which we were excited to provide. Parking was even free. They have a small lot out front and two multi level parking garages for the overflow. The light displays were so cute and sparkly, holiday music was playing overhead, and there was a train that took us over a river and through the woods. The line for the train was lengthy, but they had a heater which helped some on the very frigid night. There were plenty of lights to admire while in line. I will say we were a little surprised that the entire train ride was pretty dark. We expected to see light displays and installations along the way, but it was really only at the beginning. Our little one loves trains and so he was content, which is all that matters. There were smores pits, a kettle corn and hot chocolate cart, and a cozy inside cafe which we really needed to warm up. Pricing for these items was a bit of an upcharge, but as everything else was free, we sort of expected it. The animals were not really on display as it was a special event after the zoo was officially closed, but we did get to see and pet the sting rays, 1 baby shark, and a large aquarium with colorful fish (Nemo, Dory & friends). All in all it was a great holiday event and was enjoyed by all.

A nice area for hiking/walking that has some wide paths and not so overgrown. There are plenty of…read moretrails to diverge from. Hemlock Falls seems to be a draw and is very nice to relax around but can get a little crowded. Because there are multiple parking lots with easy accessibility, there's a bit of trash and broken glass here and there which is unfortunate. There were quite a few hikers, trail runners and dogs but it never felt claustrophobic. The hikes aren't that difficult but there are quite a few rocks and protruding tree roots. Montclair is less than 10 minutes if you want a bite to eat afterwards.

Great walk. Nothing like a walk through nature. Taking in the sights and sounds, what a beautiful…read morething!!!

Jenkins Park is a small, local park in the Valley, where you'll find a kiddie playground for 2-5…read moreyear olds and a skatepark for pre-teens and older. I never knew this spot existed in all my years growing up in the area. Jenkins is tucked away behind the West Orange Fire Department HQ. The park entrance is on Rose Terrace off of Valley Road. It's a nice resource if you are in the neighborhood or within walking distance to this part of town. Heads up - parking will be tough, but not it's not impossible to find street parking on another block. The kiddie playground has playsets for children 2-5 year old. There are some benches for parents. Look out for the first responder themed spring riders. I thought these were cute since they are in sightline of real firefighter vehicles and trucks parked behind the WO firehouse headquarters, and little ones may get a kick out of that. The skatepark area was installed in 2017 and is an All Wheel Park concept, a layout for all skaters and BMX riders. There are 4 zones - with a halfpipe, center sets, end ramps, rails, grind boxes, and street features. This part is relatively new, but Jenkins Park is actually much older with a history going back to the early 1900s. Jenkins is the town's first playground and was gifted in 1911 by a resident of Llewellyn Park, which is considered to be the country's first planned residential community. A little bit of history in West Orange. I thought there was an appropriate distance between the skatepark and the kiddie playground, so both can co-exist without sacrificing safety. Also, dogs are not allowed in the park (though I'm not sure how that's enforced) but that ordinance made sense to me for the safety of all - humans and canines (the sound of the ramps and from 280 could spook dogs). In short: Nice local park for young kids and their parents. Small skatepark but with a variety of ramps, rails, and grinds.

Riker Hill is one of my favorite parks in Essex County because of its uniqueness. It's niche…read morebecause it's part artist studios, part Cold War historical site, and part local park for hilly walks/runs. There also is a small community garden, as well as EV charge station at the top of the hill. It's not a destination park - unless you have a specific interest in visiting the studios or in Nike missile sites. However, it's a quaint park if you are local and want a quick fix of nature and views from the highest elevation points in Essex county.

I sign my son up to a Tennis Clinic at West Orange Tennis. They have a beautiful outdoor facility…read moreconsisting of clay courts. The indoor courts are really nice. They have a nice locker room. A really good place to play Tennis. Surface in the indoor courts are fast as hell. The ball skids off the court.

Loved this place. Nice facility, covid friendly, and good courts. They only take cash for court…read moretime, a little sketch.