What a beautiful park I went today not knowing there was a 5k so I'm parking was hard It's very well maintained and wonderful scenery If looking for a good place to walk or just sit I highly recommend read more

Verona Park - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

See all

Great park for walking, fishing, running, and walking your dog. They have a pond in the middle for paddle boating in the summer. A playground for kids to enjoy and bathrooms. I walk and or run here frequently and feel safe being here. Lots of geese and squirrels but still a great place to be read more

Verona Park - Pond - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

This is a beautiful park. When you look at it on Google Earth it's huge, but it's quite small. There are many picturesque locations here. I'm sure many know about this park, but it's a hidden gem to me. It's perfect for a short romantic walk. Will be back. read more

See all

Verona park is one of my favorites in essex county! There is plenty of parking available. It's a cool place to go just to relax and people-watch, if that's your thing. I like the open space and tall trees; it feels inviting and comforting. This park is beautiful in all seasons! Also, it is a good place to walk for exercise. read more

See all

Super peaceful park. I checked it out as I was waiting for my friends to grab some food. It's very scenic. It's also dog friendly, and parking was very easy to locate. read more

See all

Enjoyable morning walking the trail! Exercise stations along the way! Gorgeous bridges! You can fish trout with a license! Huge play ground and courts! On the weekend you can paddle boat! Beautiful blooms! Parking lots along the park. Restroom available. read more

See all

A beautiful park containing walk paths, bridges, has a playground , and a lake where you can rent paddle boats. It is large and very scenic has geese and cormorants and cherry blossom trees. It is perfect to go for a long stroll , do a workout , have a picnic with friends . It's also very family friendly ! read more

See all

Nice place for a hike in good weather...came here over the summer and walked the trail around and around four times...good way to get some steps in. Wasn't crowded at all so it was nice to have social distancing while getting some fresh air. Street parking close by the park. Wasn't prepared for the hot weather but it was nice to walk around. OMG, there is a cute swan paddle or row boat. $15 for 30 minutes or $20 for 60 minutes.. Had we been dressed more for the activity, would have done it. Will definitely come back in the spring/summer weather to do that and leave bags in the car. Of course, don't forget life jacket. Not a very big park but good enough to enjoy some fresh air and exercise. read more

See all

Essex County Park Commission Verona Park or just Verona Park is one of my favorite parks in Essex county. It is a large park with lots going on in it. Lots of room to park which still fills up especially on nice days. There is something for everyone here in a large play area for children, long paths and areas with exercise equipment. A large pond, not quite lake size but large with spots for fishing and pedal boats when warm out. Lots places for photo ops including the ever popular bridge where it seems each time I visit the park people are using the bridge as their back drop - be it newlyweds or amateur models. The park has a small bocce area and tennis courts as well. There are a fair amount of benches to sit down and has a great wrap around for walking with some split paths that meet again. Sometimes there are events that take place here making the park even more popular. Along with Brookdale park, this park is great and offers up a lot. read more

See all

Beautiful park. Paved walking trails all around, very flat and is handicap accessible. The paths are wide enough where you don't feel like you're walking around or stuck behind people constantly. It's also a great place for a picnic, there's grassy areas where you can easily lay out a blanket and relax. No doubt, if you come on a nice day it will be packed. There is usually plenty of parking on the side streets near the park. In the park, the parking can be tight. As a dog owner, I do have one complaint - there are no stations with bags for picking up after your dog. That being said, if you bring your dog, just note to bring extra bags to pick up after your dog if need be. read more

Although Verona Park is generally a lovely place, there are a couple of things that need improvement. Recently, when parks were reopened conditionally during the Covid 19 crisis, there were large electronic signs saying 'masks required in park,' similar to visiting supermarkets and pharmacies. Yet once in the park, I'd estimate nearly half the patrons were without face coverings. In addition, there is a sign clearly stating no bikes allowed in the park, yet there are people riding bikes with no concern. I have nothing against bikes, but Verona Park's walking path is not wide, and winds closely around the lake. Simply put, there's not a safe enough amount of space at this park for both pedestrians and bicycles. My feeling is safety first, and I believe this park at least needs some mild enforcement of wellness and safety requirements for me to visit on a regular basis again. read more

Verona Park - Sign that posted park ordinances is gone. - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

Beautiful day at the park! It was a little crowded but manageable. I was shocked about the amount of trash overflowing Not much to write, not my fave park but not the worst. I just like visiting other parks and being outside in good weather read more

See all

Pretty cool park with a few activities for the kids. We visited during the COVID social distancing period, so masks were required. This didn't seem to be enforced... but I think that most people were wearing them. The boys liked the playground area because it is fairly big. We also managed to go fishing... there were actually much more fish than most other spots that we have been, so that was fun. There was also ample shady areas. The only downside is that the fishing areas are on a 2 mile path, which is currently one way (covid), so we had to do that walk... my younger son wasn't that thrilled about that. They also have swan boat rides, as well as a train for the little ones. read more

Lots to do here!!! I took off one star for parking. A couple weeks back my mother and I did the paddle boats around the lake. We did this on a weekday afternoon and it was great! I can't remember the price though. I believe it was $15 it rent the boat for a half hour. As there wasn't a line or wait, they weren't really timing us on our boat usage. The newly renovated kids park is AWESOME as well. There is a bunch of diverse and dynamic equipment for kids to use. It's not uncommon to see toddlers to upper elementary age kids enjoying the playground. I HIGHLY recommend checking out this kids park if you have the chance. Well worth it. (Most equipment is appropriate for adults to join in with their kids as well!!) read more

Verona Park - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

Such a great park! I've heard about what a great place this is over the years, but didn't experience it for myself til summer 2020 (believe it or not). While we are still in Covid times everyone is masked and/or staying socially distant from one another too. I love the waterfall close to Bloomfield Ave as well! A good way to walk for an hour on a nice day! read more

Great park! I came here to kill some time, and it's big enough to spend some time walking around and enjoying nature without hearing too much of the Bloomfield Ave traffic. I didn't try out the boats, but it's cool they are there and there's a place to get some snacks to. It's got some really beautiful scenery, a garden, and a playground for kids. If you're looking for a place for some quiet solitude or a place to spend the afternoon with the fam, this is a solid option. read more

See all

I spent months cursing the fact that I was moving to New Jersey. I knew that I was going to live within walking distance of Verona Park, but I didn't have time to give it a real check-out before moving so I was still internally sour about this whole proposition. One month later and I was basking in the lush foliage of Verona Park while circumnavigating the pond and walking trail with a keen eye on the playground suitability for my kids. All things are nice at Verona Park and it wouldn't surprise me if Disney characters sprinted out of the woods every couple hours and did a routine. While I haven't seen that yet, I have been able to enjoy the vastness of the park and look into the future to see picnics, sports, paddle boating, etc. If you live in or near Verona and don't appreciate this park, you are really missing out. To have such a green resource this close by is making me appreciate New Jersey more and more each day. read more

I love this park. It's nicely kept, not overly crowded if you know when to go, and it's big enough so you can choose to hang out in all different parts of it. There's also pretty good parking if you don't mind walking just a little bit. Verona Park is owned by the County of Essex. In 2010, the county cut down a 300 year old Beech Tree, which many called "The Name Tree" because so many people had carved their names into. Photo is attached. read more

Verona Park - Photo by Peter Wolf. - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

Verona Park is a lovely little park in Verona, NJ about 5-10 minutes away from Montclair. It's very peaceful and there's a lake in the middle of it with paths circling it. From what I undertand, you can go fishing in the lake and take boats out during certain times of the year. In the autumn the foliage is beautiful and it's a great place to come out to relax and kick around a ball. Lots of people bring their families here to picnic as well. There are also lots of people with their dogs as the park is an ideal place to walk them. It's also a great place to ride your bike, jog, walk, make-out, read, sleep... a perfect perfect park. read more

See all

I heard great things about this park and decided to go visit on a Saturday afternoon. Park is great and is next to a Golf Course. There is minimal parking in the park itself, but lots of parking along the Lakeside Avenue. There are a few entrances along Lakeside Avenue, so feel free to park there and enter that way. The park is lovely and very relaxing. There is a boathouse there which rents Swan peddle boats. At the time, there was an event going on. I'm not sure of the details but it seemed like a small wedding, with photographers taking photos of the couple on the bridge. Also, on the larger lawn area, they were setting up chairs, maybe 100ish or so, for the event. I think there is also an interior dining house which may also be available for events as well. One thing that made the entire experience for us was the modern and seemingly newly renovated play area. It was large with lots to do for every age group. There were activities for the younger tots as well as others for older kids up to 9-10ish. I was really impressed that a free park would have such great facilities. We were also able to play some tnnis as they had 3 courts available for play. (Bring your own raquets/balls of course) Overall we had a great time. I would highly recommend this place to any and everyone, especially those with kids. read more

See all

Gorgeous OLD park right off of Bloomfield Ave. Beautiful boat house where you can rent paddle boats or get a waterfront meal. They also have very well kept tennis courts. The grounds are spectacular and in pristine condition ( for its age) Go go go!! read more

Verona Park has become one of my favorite parks in town and a great way to spend the day outdoors. The grounds are beautiful and there's so much to see and do! There's tons of walking and running space - it seems to go on for miles. And the view while you walk or run is so pretty, especially in the fall as the leaves change or when everything starts turning green again in the spring. There's a large park with swings, slides and other gym equipment for the younger kids as well as older ones. Paddle boat rides, feeding the ducks, a flower garden, tennis courts and bocce ball are all other activities to take part in right at the park. There's also a snack bar featuring burgers and shakes, among other treats, situated right on the water and a beautiful fountain lines the pond right in the middle of the park. In addition to all the great amenities and beauty the park provides, it's also very well kept. It's always clean and there are a handful of well maintained bathrooms on site. The parking is a little limited but there's street parking toward the back of the park. read more

What a lovely little park! My fiancé and I visited Verona Park and enjoyed a 30 minute paddle boat ride for $15 (you pay per boat, not per person). It is so worth it to just rent the boat for an hour already ($20 for an hour) but we were short on time (but we will definitely be back!). There is a large pond with ducks and a small bridge running across the pond. We saw a couple picnicking nearby, so I assume you can also picnic here as well. We went on a weekday and there weren't many people out, making it super relaxing to be there. read more

See all

Great park for all! You see families, couples, people with their pets, and so much more. It's so beautiful here that people come to take wedding or prom pictures. There is plenty of parking, but if that fills up, the street parking is extensive. Paddle boats are awesome and pretty inexpensive. I enjoy casual walks around the lake. There are playgrounds for children which are safe and fenced in so they do not run off into the street. Great place if you want to be outdoors, but don't necessarily know what to do. Best to come in the spring when all the flowers are blossoming. So beautiful! read more

This park has recently been renovated and it is clean , safe and engaging . There is lake that has paddle boats for you and your family . The slides are covered and uncovered . The seesaw is state of the art. My boys have a great time every time we visit the park in Verona , nj. read more

See all

The mystique of a superhero is shrouded not only in their special abilities but also in the secrets they carry - a secret identity, a hidden weakness, or a veiled origins story. Stripped of all that, a superhero is a regular joe like you and me, vulnerable to tragedy and susceptible to anguish. Whether it's in a dark, brooding cave or a remote icy fortress, a common human refrain is to seek out and create a hidden bastion impervious to trouble and defiant against time itself. Often, I am asked, why don't you move closer to NYC? A reason. Though infrequently visited, Verona Park is my fortress, my bastion that I would lose by moving away. Here I can reminisce and ponder about life as Thoreau once did at Walden. Against a beautiful backdrop that could leave Bryant at a loss for words, I can find solace in the natural world around me. In Autumn, the leaves turn casting brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow, mimicked only by the mirror-like reflection in the pond. Romp through the open meadow throwing up piles of leaves left and right. Bundle up in a nice scarf and peacoat and take a lovely walk around the pond. In Winter, the trees stand in frozen vigil draped in their snowy finery. The park is silent, hibernating. Here, you'll find the end of Frost's path least traveled. In Spring, the green shoots pierce the once frozen ground. The buds begin forming on the circling trees to once again hide the park from intruding eyes. The sleeping waterfall awakens and begins to stretch and yawn. The nesting birds return and the rabbits and squirrels emerge from their hidden homes blinking at the sun's unfamiliar brilliance. In Summer, Verona Park plumed in green is in all her glory. The pond teems with trout and birds sit lazily by. Couples on paddle boats slowly make their way from one end to the other. Elderly couples in the twilight of their years watch from the stone bridge, feeling a cool breeze racing across the surface of the pond. I can sit in my own comfort. No matter the time, the park is never crowded. "Happiness is an empty park bench" review 7/7/2008 I.M.Y. read more

This park is one of the most racist places I've ever been in my life. The boat service workers are young and disrespectful, the boats themselves are nasty and not clean. I came with a few friends to enjoy the weather and to row on the water. I was greeted with disrespect by the workers Justin and Harley. First of all we asked how much the rental would be and was dismissed and avoided. After this the employee continued to discuss his rudeness to other customers and employees openly. Very unprofessional As we walked around many of the mother visitors openly made remarks about our skin color, how we did not belong and wish we would leave. As a black male I felt like I was back in the 1930s and was walking through an All White park and was being shunned for visiting. The environment is beautiful but not worth the time or energy for this type of treatment read more

Beautiful park with walking paths, paddle boats in season and playgrounds and tennis courts for kids. Plenty of nature opportunities for photographers, birdwatchers or those who like to fish. Beautiful historic design by Frederic Olmstead of Central Park fame. Plenty of parking alongside Pleasant Valley Way and some limited parking inside park near playground and tennis courts. Pretty gardens near boathouse/bathroom area and very clean grounds for a big park where lots of people walk their dogs. read more

Verona Park - Peaceful day. - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

Whether you're looking to picnic, walk, run or show off your sick rollerblading moves, Verona Park can accomodate you! It's a beautiful, large park with a walking path around the lake. There are exercise stations for those of you with enough upper body strength to pull yourself up onto things, and a playground for the kids. Unfortunately, the park tends to attract gangs...of geese, but as long as you don't make eye contact, you should be fine! read more

Verona Park - Summer sunset at Verona Park - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

I love this park, it is absoutely beautiful with a lake nearby, place to run (I used to go here a while back but pre-kids so never noticed the playground) and a beautiful flower garden. A very popular playground, so parking is scarce. Also there is a place to get food by the lake, and I believe restrooms are there as well, but didn't venture to check it out 2 separate playgrounds next to each other, the one closest to the flower garden is the pre-school one. If you want to find out more of what we thought, find out more on nj playgrounds site listed on my profile (had to remove link because of Yelp Terms of Service) read more

Verona Park - Verona Park from www.njplaygrounds.com - Parks Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

See all

I've just discovered Verona Park and I love it. Verona Park is great for kids, dogs and anyone who wants to get away from the computer screens and smartphones to enjoy some nature in the ever-so-dense Essex County. I was so pumped to discover that you can rent a paddle boat (for two or four people) or a row boat to tour the park's lake. It's $15 for 30 minutes or $20 for an hour...You rent it for an hour. There is such a diverse group of people here--from people fishing, the young and the old, walkers (not zombies--people actually walking) , joggers in their obscenely short shorts, roller bladers (yes, roller bladers), to groups of people working out, commandeering the monkey bars to do pull ups. (If you haven't tried monkey bars recently they are hard!) A great place for one and all. Oh, and there's a little restaurant there to grab a burger and shake, but I haven't tried it, yet... read more

I thought this was a nice family park, but I would never take my niece and nephew to a park where the employees are inexplicably rude and call customers "f****n b***h." I went to this park on Labor Day. It was a little busy, but not as busy as one would expect. The park is lovely and we wanted to go around the lake in a paddle boat. When my friend asked how to get a boat and said "thanks" to the employee for informing her, the employee (Harley) said something along the lines of "who do you think you are speaking to me in that tone." We were all mortified. She had only said thanks and he got an attitude with her for no reason. We didn't want Harley's unprofessional attitude ruining our day, so we went on the boats. Harley called my friend a ""f****n b***h" near the register area, where there were small children and families! This is a family park. That language should not be tolerated. After we notified the manager (I believe his name was Dennis) about what happened, he refunded us for 1 out of our 2 boats. Although this was a nice gesture, I'm concerned that Harley will continue to treat customers poorly, especially because he never watched his language afterwards. He also seemed very unhappy to be working at the boat house. Maybe that wasn't the job for him, but someone needs to teach this young man that profanity and rudeness are not acceptable, especially at the workplace. Despite the beauty of the park, I cannot give more than 1 star to this park. It's one thing to be rude and misinterpret something, even after the person tried to clarify the situation. It's another for the park to allow employees to exhibit misogynistic behavior and use profanity when we're all here to enjoy the park with our friends and families. I will not be having my next event here for sure! read more

Such a great park with some trails, playgrounds and a fantastic lake in which you could rent paddle boats for a very reasonable price. The trees are beautiful.. its very peaceful here... lots of people come here for their wedding photo shoots.. i like to do my holiday photos here. read more

This was my favorite park growing up. I grew up going here and still love going back here. The boat rides are a must if you're okay with water. If not definently do not use a row boat, because it's harder than the paddle boat. Lots of playground areas for kids of all sizes! read more

Amazing paved walking trail around a large lake - it's mostly flat and very stroller friendly! Really nice playground, children's garden, and tennis courts. Parking is limited, but there is also street parking and lots of little shops and restaurants within walking distance. read more

Beautiful, well manicured park with really nice walking paths. The playground is brand spanking new and filled with tons of good stuff for the kids to play on. Really, really well done and well kept park. read more

Beautiful park in the middle of chaos. Hard to get into, hard to get out of, but worth the effort! Paddle boats are fun and my son enjoyed the swan boat. Be warned that several of the boats are continuously out of service. Boat house is nice to spend an afternoon enjoying snacks and the view. After paddle boat ice cream has become a family tradition. Really nice any time of year. read more

This park played second fiddle to Brookdale for me growing up. We pretty much only came here for the boats. I came today, just two weeks after Labor Day, and the pond was full of rich, green algae. There's no way it grew in two weeks, so I have to assume this was a lost season for the pedalboats. (The pavilion was locked, and the website doesn't list hours, so I just assume it's been closed the whole time.) The rest of the park is very nice, with some looping trails and the opportunity to fish in the lake. You can squeeze into the random octagonal cellar and feel like a gangster for a minute. But without the lake, there's no reason to come here. I no longer pay my tax dollars to Essex, but those who do should be outraged at the lack of maintenance. Just dredge the lake! If you can afford to mow the lawn, you can afford to keep some algae out so we can boat! Until then, 3 stars is it. read more

Great park with awesome walking, fishing, biking or roller blading opportunities. Nice lake clubhouse which is available for rent for private parties. Lots of waterfowl and birding opportunities. Great place for a long stroll around the lake. Well maintained park, nice playground areas for the little ones. read more

This is a beautiful and well maintained park. We visited mid-afternoon and found the walking/running trail very well clean, even, and the surrounding areas well maintained. This could be a fun place for a regular run. We didn't try the paddle boats; there was a line that seemed reasonable but didn't feel like waiting. There is also a stand and vendor selling light food and snacks. There's a big, covered section that seemed to protect about 15-20 picnic tables. The day we were there it was reserved for a private party. There's also a huge pirate ship themed playground that was buzzing with kids having fun. Overall, this is a great park and I'll gladly bring my family back. read more