McDonalds Brook facts for kids

McDonald's Brook is a small stream that flows into the Passaic River. It starts in Clifton, New Jersey, and then goes through Passaic, New Jersey. For most of its journey, the brook flows underground inside a large pipe called a culvert. This culvert was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which is a group that helps with engineering projects for the country. Before this pipe was built, more of the brook flowed above ground.

What is McDonald's Brook Used For?

The cities of Clifton and Passaic use McDonald's Brook to collect stormwater. This is rainwater that runs off streets and other surfaces. Sometimes, pipes that carry both stormwater and sewage (wastewater from homes) can overflow or break. When this happens, extra stormwater or even raw sewage can unfortunately flow into the brook.

In the past, factories in Clifton used to dump their dirty water into the brook. This was against the rules and caused pollution.

The Brook in the Park

McDonald's Brook flows through Passaic's Third Ward Veterans Memorial Park. This park was built in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a program during the Great Depression that created jobs by building public projects.

When the park was built, the brook's path was changed a little. A small lake was dug in the middle of the park, and the brook helped fill it. This lake is officially called Hughes Lake. People used to fish and boat in the lake. However, they stopped because pollution from factories was found in the water.

Where You Can See the Brook Today

Today, the park is the only place where you can see McDonald's Brook above ground. The underground culvert ends at the western side of the park, near the Broadway entrance. From there, the brook flows next to the playground. It then runs alongside The Circle, which is a road around the park, until it reaches Hughes Lake.

At the other end of Hughes Lake, there is a man-made dam and a small waterfall. The brook then goes underground again briefly to cross Passaic Avenue. On the other side, it flows next to a ballfield and tennis court. After that, it goes underground again to cross several streets and a railroad bridge.

The brook appears above ground again in an undeveloped part of the park between Pennington and High Street. It then goes under High Street and flows along the edge of a playground at the eastern end of the park. Finally, it enters another culvert and stays underground until it reaches the Passaic River near Brook Avenue.

How McDonald's Brook Got Its Name

The brook was originally called Mineral Spring Brook. This was because someone tried to start a resort business near where the brook is now visible. A surveyor, who measures land, accidentally wrote "McDonald's Brook" on a map. This incorrect name stuck, and now it's the official name.

Mineral Spring Avenue, a street near the brook, still has the original name. This street name might be a reminder of the old resort that tried to use the brook's water for health purposes. Bloomfield Avenue, which is now partly called Broadway, was built in 1803 to give people access to this spring resort.

Lost Ponds Along the Brook

In the past, there were two other ponds along the brook's path further downstream. These ponds were located after the brook crossed Main Avenue (which was then called Franklin Avenue). However, these ponds are now gone because of new buildings and development. The entire stream in this area is now buried underground. Both ponds were along Brook Avenue, on its south side. One was near Park Avenue, and the other was between Gold Street and River Road.

In the late 1900s, the park was updated, and the brook's path was changed again. However, much of the new stream bed washed away at the sides.