Edgemont Memorial Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edgemont Park
The Memorial Obelisk seen from across the pond
Type	Public Park
Location	Montclair, New Jersey
Area	15.52 acres (62,800 m2)
Operated by	Montclair Department of Parks and Recreation
Open	All year.

Edgemont Park is a cool public park located in Montclair, New Jersey, in the United States. It's right next to the Edgemont Elementary School. This park is a great place for families and friends to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.

The Park's History

Edgemont Park has a neat history! Back in 1906, people in Montclair decided they wanted a new park. They voted to buy the land using a special fund of $100,000. A person named William B. Dickson helped a lot with this plan.

Before it was a park, this land was actually a golf course! It was built about 10 years before the park was created. When it first opened, the park was called the Harrison Tract Park. The famous memorial in the park was added later, in 1925.

What You'll Find at Edgemont Park

Toney's Brook with the pond and memorial in the background

Edgemont Park is surrounded by roads on three sides. Parkway is to the north, and Edgemont Road is to the west. Across Edgemont Road, you'll find the Edgemont Elementary School. Valley Road borders the park on the east side.

In the eastern part of the park, there's a pretty pond with fountains. This pond is fed by and flows into Toney's Brook. The pond was actually made by people using a dam. Sometimes, you might see a lot of algae in the pond. There's also a fun, accessible playground for kids to enjoy!

The Park's Memorial

The most important part of Edgemont Park is the pond and the small island in the middle. On this island, you'll find a special memorial dedicated to soldiers. Edgemont Park is famous for its World War I memorial, which is one of Montclair's well-known landmarks.

The main memorial was created in 1924 by an artist named Charles Keck. It's a tall, pointed stone pillar called an obelisk. On top of the obelisk, there are bronze sculptures of Winged Victory, which looks like an angel. At the bottom, there are sculptures of soldiers, sometimes called the "Billy Boys." The sides of the obelisk have the names of people who died in World War I.

In front of this big memorial, there are smaller plaques. These plaques list the names of those who died in the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II. It's a place to remember and honor brave soldiers.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Edgemont Park offers many activities for everyone!

• Baseball and softball fields
• A beautiful pond
• A shelter house with restrooms and a kitchen
• A children's playground
• Paths for biking and walking
• Ice skating in the winter (when it's cold enough!)
• Outdoor band concerts
• A special picnic on Fourth of July
• Holiday memorial services
• The Memorial Obelisk
• The Cherepovets Garden

Gallery

• Edgemont Memorial Park Gallery
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  A landmark in Montclair, World War I Memorial in Edgemont Park

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  World War I Memorial with the sculptures of Winged Victory and the Billy Boys

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  Close-up of the algaeic scum that covers half of the pond

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  Portion of the memorial obelisk

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  The dam

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  Geese excrete solid waste and sit on the side of the pond