Branch Brook Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Branch Brook Park
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Branch Brook Park and its cherry blossoms
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 Location in Essex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Belleville Park, Washington and Clifton Avenues, 6th and Orange Streets, Newark and Belleville, New Jersey |
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| Area | 359.7 acres (145.6 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Bogart & Barrett Olmsted Brothers Carrère and Hastings |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, French Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000392 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1981 |
Branch Brook Park is a large park in Essex County, New Jersey. It's mostly in Newark, but a small part is in Belleville. This park is about 360 acres, making it the biggest public park in Newark.
The park is famous for having the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States. There are over 5,000 cherry trees here, with more than eighteen different types! This area is sometimes called Cherryblossomland. Every April, the park hosts a spectacular Cherry Blossom Festival.
Contents
History of the Park
Branch Brook Park was officially created in 1895. This made it the very first county park in the United States. Before it became a park, the area was used as a training ground for the Union Army during the American Civil War.
From Swamp to Park
In 1898, a marshy area in the northern part of the park, known as Old Blue Jay Swamp, was turned into a beautiful landscaped lake. The park started out small, only about 60 acres. But in the 1920s, it grew much larger thanks to gifts from important families in Newark. It eventually reached the city limit with Belleville.
The Morris Canal used to run along the park's west side. Later, this old canal bed was turned into the Newark Light Rail, which helps people get to the park easily from Downtown Newark.
Designing the Park
The first ideas for the park's design came in 1895 and 1898. In 1900, the park commission hired a famous firm called Olmsted Brothers. They redesigned the park to give it a natural look. This means it has many acres of open meadows and forests. Their father, Frederick Law Olmsted, designed other famous parks like Central Park in New York City.
Special Buildings and Bridges
Branch Brook Park has many interesting buildings, bridges, gates, and sculptures. Many of these were designed by a well-known architectural firm called Carrère and Hastings. They designed two bridges for the subway that are still used today.
Cherry Blossoms and More
The park's famous cherry trees were a gift in 1927. They were given by Caroline Bamberger Fuld, whose brother, Louis Bamberger, owned a big department store. The Cherry Blossom Festival is very popular, attracting about 10,000 visitors every April. Besides the cherry trees, the park also has a lovely lake and a pond.
Park's Role in History
During World War II, Branch Brook Park was used for important purposes. It served as a tent city for new army recruits. It was also used as a landing strip for airplanes that delivered mail for the United States Postal Service.
Nearby Attractions
On the east side of the park is the Forest Hill neighborhood, which is one of Newark's fanciest areas. Also on the east side is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Basilica. This is one of the largest cathedrals in the United States.
Protecting the Park
Branch Brook Park is recognized as an important historical place. It was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1980 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. This helps protect its history and beauty.
The park is currently undergoing a big restoration project. This project costs $25 million and will last ten years. In 2004, the Park Avenue bridge was fixed, and the baseball fields were repaired. In 2007, a plan was made to plant even more cherry trees, bringing the total to over 5,000. The Welcome Center is also being renovated.
In 2012, statues honoring famous sports figures were placed in the park. These statues celebrate Althea Gibson and Roberto Clemente.
Gallery
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Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey during the Cherry Blossom Festival
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The Ballantine gates, on the east side of the park by Forest Hill, were given to Branch Brook Park by Peter Ballantine in 1899. They are modeled on gates in Scotland
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Cherry Blossom Center
See also
In Spanish: Parque Branch Brook para niños
