Did you know, Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey, has the largest single collection in the…read moreUnited States, with about 5,300 trees in 18 varieties. April is the time to go as they are in their peak bloom season. You will be rewarded with beautiful and scenic walking trails and picnic lunches under cherry blossoms. The park runs its annual Cherry Blossom Festival as well as multiple events such as the Cherry Blossom Bike Race Challenge, and the Cherry Blossom 10K run that happened last Sunday, April 12th. The weather was excellent, and there was plenty of community pride as everyone showed up. You can also be a spectator, should you choose to, if you don't want to partake in the run. Family Day will be taking place on April 18th. For those who wish to take in the scenery only, the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center renovation has been completed since last Fall of 2023. Inside, there are comfortable bathrooms, an artificial but exceptional-looking year-round cherry blossom tree in full bloom, and a souvenir center where you can purchase sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. Proceeds benefit Branch Brook Park Alliance in care of the park, according to the Branch Brook Park's website. The entire Welcome Center has a modern and open feel throughout the building as it has plenty of natural lighting and high vaulted ceilings. As you enter, to your immediate right, you will find the gallery space with historical displays and a mural depicting the vast collection of cherry blossoms and their history. If you are ever in the area, this is absolutely worth a visit and yes, it is completely free.

THE GOOD -----------------…read more+ Large, scenic park with LOTS and lots and lots of cherry blossoms (more than in Washington D.C.!) for viewing during Cherry Blossom season. + On specific days, during the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, there are special events - such as Family Day, Bloomfest - which include the presence of food trucks and activities (bounce castles, music) for kids. + Trails are easily walkable by people of all ages. + There is a clean, large playground, basketball courts towards the southeast end of the park. + A majority of the park encompasses a lake and a pond, which makes the walking very serene. + Parking is allowed inside of the park along the roads, so feel free to drive into it instead of parking outside of the park. THE NOT SO GOOD ----------------------------- - On those verrrrry popular days to visit (e.g., weekends during the Cherry Blossom Festival), parking can be chaotic inside of the park, so come early in the morning and bring your patience. MIXED THOUGHTS ---------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Nada.

There's something for everyone in this little park. If you want to stroll around and see the…read morePassaic River at it's best, or worst (depending on how you want to look at things).The Red Bull soccer Stadium is also right across the river here and all the brand new apartments in Harrison the town accross. The park has tennis courts, baseball stadium, basketball court, soccer field, runners track and a little kids playground as well. The park is fairly clean and you can even watch the teachers take the pre-schoolers on a little walk as well weekly. In my opinion this is a great example that with little changes and everyone taking pride in their community the city of Newark can be restored to the great city it was back in the time of the great Industrial Boom.

Riverbank Park in the Ironbound has a number of sports-designated areas. There are a basketball…read morecourt, a soccer field with AstroTurf, a baseball field, lighted tennis courts, and a small track. A playground and fieldhouse are also in this park by the Passaic River. If you are not into sports, it's worth visiting at least once if you are into history. It's on the National Register of Historic Places because Riverbank Park was designed by the Olmsted brothers. It's a nice park for sports-aficionados and history buffs.

Amazing play space. It is surrounded by urban and suburban neighborhoods but astonishingly feels…read morelike it is inside a forest, a beautiful treehouse. It does have climbing platform, soccer field, treehouse, smaller playground for toddlers, musical playground, swings and walking trails. It was built thoughtfully.

Quiet neighborhood park; people play basketball here; do loops while talking on the phone..read more

I grew up going here. It was very fun for me, my favorite part other than the park were the…read moreturtles. I would like to ask WHERE ARE THE TURTLES? I haven't seen them in so long. (Nvm the turtles are back I think)

Eh, I believe this park has potential if only the county and East Orange municipalities take more…read morepride and effort in the area they service. The maintenance on this park is subpar and there's always a build up on water in certain places and the garbage overflows at times. My dog doesn't even like coming here. She prefers to walk around it.

Oh, boy. I can't tell you how many times I'd been to 'the Oval' having grown up in Kearny (and if…read moreyou were a fellow delinquent - you know all about "Fudd" not too far away, either). Mostly playing (and watching) soccer. Sometimes trying to fall into a routine of jogging the perimeter of the place to get in shape (but immediately hitting the Arlington Diner after our workout which negated all that hard work). The town put all sorts of money to rebuild, revamp, revitalize Gunnel Oval and it's amazing the transformation that's taken place. (To say it's night and day wouldn't really convey how different today's Oval is from what I remember.) Maybe six baseball fields. Three soccer fields (and it looks like some of the baseball fields can be 'retrofitted' to a soccer match). An impressive skate-park (skateboarding used to be illegal and the police were not cool when they caught you on the street with your board, let me tell ya). Two "American Ninja" kinda-sorta gym/workout parts. Basketball courts. A few tennis courts. Seriously cool jungle gym playground for the tots. A quality interconnected sidewalk/walkway (for getting to/from the various spots inside of the complex). The fields are pristine (growing up you just had to deal with patches of grass and a lot of dirt/mud and all sorts of loose rocks and uneven terrain that would totally mess with your game). There isn't enough parking when all the fields are being used and of course the entitled parents do not care to park illegally and mess with the cars that are in actual/legit spots. (Not sure if the bathrooms were still open/available - they seemed fenced off on my most recent visit.)

So much potential but closed! The rest of the park was beautiful. A great track for walking and…read moremany fields. A police officer sat in the parking lot.

Excellent park. 1)…read moreThe park is located next to the Little Brazil area of Newark, NJ. Great place to Brazilian food and come here to walk it off. 2) The park has great riverside views. If you are around the area, it is a must visit park. 3) The only downside is, some of the people who come to the lack civic sense, and throw trash everywhere.

River view close to home. Chairs to lounge, grass to lay out when it's warm. Simple yet very…read morenecessary. Run, bike ride, stroll, roller blade or just sit- all the above, there's space for us all. Looks like the further extreme ends are still under construction. We plan to take advantage of this great stretch of space.

There's really been a resurgence of this area by the Passaic River in recent years. Riverfront Park…read morewent through a facelift and a lot of effort has been exerted to revive/reinvigorate the area. The City of Newark has supported many activities at this park, such as the boat tours and diverse musical events. This park has a sports-designated areas (baseball field, tennis courts, baseball courts, and this behemoth soccer field) and two playgrounds. I'm not a sports person, so the thing I like about Riverfront Park are the walking paths and the views of the river.

Essex County Riverfront Park stretches from Oxford Street East along Raymond Blvd. It it is an…read moreactive park with a great soccer field, baseball diamond, 3 tennis courts, a basketball court, and 2 children's play area, one equipped with a nice sprinkler system for the summer heat. If sports are your fun, this is a place to get it on. Not to be confused with it's passive sister park areas to the West along the Passaic River.

Nice park! 1) I…read moreactually enjoy the view of the skyscrapers and skyline you can see from this park. 2) It has nice statues and seating. 3) Small and cozy park.

Nice urban park in Newark. Near downtown and PAC center. Good for walking and relaxing .read more

LOCKDOWN REVIEW: Independence Park has continued to serve as a community park for residents in the…read moreneighborhood all during throughout the executive order.  People still walk, jog, and run around the perimeter of the park. Like all other parks, the sections where social distancing cannot be practiced are closed (there's signage throughout the park) - like the playground and various sports courts/fields.  It's one of the more beautiful parks in Newark. In fact, it was designed by the Olmsted brothers, the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted who designed Central Park.

Independence park is a nice park that looks like it has it's fair share of use as it is in the…read morecenter of a neighborhood and thus makes the area look nice. It's stated to be 12.6 acres and features all you want in a decent park - athletic fields, basketball courts, a playground and walking paths. The park is in the Ironbound/Down Neck part of Newark but is said to be the smallest, only beaten by Riverside park. It's also said that this park was to be called East side park, but Independence park is more fitting. Each part of Newark seems to have their own park and this one fits the area nicely. With the many schools nearby it's likely favored by the kids after school lets out. The park looks well kept and that is fitting as the area surrounding it is nice as well.