Brookdale Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brookdale Park
Brookdale's Meadow
Type	Public Park
Location	Montclair, New Jersey and Bloomfield, New Jersey
Area	121.41 acres, third largest in county system
Created	1931
Operated by	Essex County
Open	All year
Parking	Two lots, about 40 spaces each

Brookdale Park is a large public park located in Montclair and Bloomfield, New Jersey. It was designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers landscape design firm. About 43 acres (17 hectares) of the park are in Montclair, and 78 acres (32 hectares) are in Bloomfield. Brookdale Park is part of the Essex County park system. It has both wooded areas and open grassy fields, with many paths for walking and exploring.

Discover Brookdale Park

Tennis Courts

Brookdale Park has a circular, one-way road that goes through it. There are three main roads leading out of the park. You can also enter the park from many spots if you are walking. The park has two parking lots, each with space for about 40 cars.

The road circles around areas with many sports fields, park buildings, and other fun places. In the southern part of this area, you'll find a big open space called the Great Meadow. On the northern side, there are playgrounds, baseball and softball fields, and a stadium. This stadium has a grandstand for watching, a running track, and a turf soccer field.

Outside the main roadway, there are many paths that wind through the beautiful woods. This western part of the park is mostly in Montclair. Here, you can find other cool spots like the Rose Garden, the Tennis Courts, and the Dog Park. There's also another car entrance in the south. In the northwest corner, you'll find a smaller field and an Archery range where you can practice shooting arrows.

A Look Back: History of Brookdale Park

Independence Day fireworks from the Rose Garden

Long before Brookdale became a park, this land was used by the Lenape Native Americans. They were also known as the Delaware people. They used the area for planting crops and gathering food.

In the late 1600s, Dutch settlers arrived and started farming rhubarb here. They also built their homes. This area was first called Stonehouse Plains by the Dutch. Later, it grew into a town called Speertown, which eventually joined with Cranetown to form Montclair.

The land for Brookdale Park was bought between 1928 and 1931. In total, 121.41 acres (49.13 hectares) were purchased. The famous Frederick Law Olmsted Firm was chosen to design the park. They are known for designing many famous places, like parts of the National Mall in Washington D.C. and Central Park in New York City. Most of the park was designed by 1930, but the Great Depression slowed down the building work. The park was finally finished in 1937.

Some older residents remember that the park area was once used as a dump for coal and wood ash. Horse-drawn wagons would bring ashes from homes in the surrounding towns. As people started using oil and gas for heating instead of coal, the dump became part of the future park site.

Fun Things to Do at Brookdale Park

Archery Field and storage house

Free Public Concert in Brookdale

Brookdale Park offers many activities for everyone to enjoy:

• Fitness Course: A 1½ mile course for running or walking to stay active.
• Sports Fields: You can play softball, baseball, and soccer on the park's fields.
• Archery Field: A special area for practicing archery.
• Picnic Grounds: Perfect spots for a family picnic.
• Races: The park hosts bike and running races.
• Grandstand: A place to sit and watch sports events.
• Restrooms: Facilities are available for visitors.
• Interpretive Trail: A path where you can learn about nature.
• Playgrounds: Fun areas for kids to play.
• Arts and Crafts Festival: An annual event showcasing local artists.
• Tennis Courts: There are 11 courts for playing tennis.
• Rose Garden: A beautiful garden with over 100 different types of roses.
• Summer Concerts: Enjoy free outdoor concerts during the summer.
• Fourth of July Celebrations: The park is a great place to watch fireworks displays.
• Dog Park: A special fenced area where dogs can run and play safely.
• Mountain Bike Trail: A trail for mountain biking adventures.

Images for kids

• Brookdale Park Gallery
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  Brookdale Rose Garden

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  A path around the perimeter of the park

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  The running track, grand stand, and turf soccer field

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  The entrance/waiting area at the dog park