West Side, Newark, New Jersey facts for kids

The West Side is a cool neighborhood in the city of Newark, located in Essex County, New Jersey. It's like a big puzzle piece, bordered by Bergen Street on the east, Rose Terrace and Avon Avenue on the south, the town of Irvington on the west, and South Orange Avenue on the north.

You'll find some important roads running through the West Side, like Bergen Street, South Orange Avenue, and Springfield Avenue. This area is mostly where people live, with lots of homes. It's also home to a place called Woodland Cemetery and a fun spot known as West Side Park. West Side High School is here too!

Exploring West Side Park

West Side Park is a really interesting place with a cool history. It's a park managed by the county, which means it's for everyone to enjoy!

How West Side Park Changed Over Time

Long ago, West Side Park was on a hill covered with beautiful linden trees. There was even a lake nearby! But over time, the lake was filled in to create more open fields for sports and activities.

Even though the lake is gone, you can still see the park's history. The west side of the park is still higher up than the flat east side. This hill was once used for skiing, which sounds like a lot of fun!

Famous Visitors to West Side Park

Did you know that famous singers have performed at West Side Park? Amazing artists like Dionne Warwick and Whitney Houston once shared their music here. Imagine seeing a concert in your local park!

The History of Wolf's Harbor

Before it was called the West Side, a part of this area had a different name: Wolf's Harbor. This was the area around what is now West Side Park, between 14th Street, 17th Avenue, 12th Avenue, and Avon Avenue.

From Wolves to Magnolias

Wolf's Harbor used to be a huge marsh, which is a type of wetland. And guess what? It was home to several wolves! That's how it got its name.

Later, when the wolves moved away from the swamp, the area was renamed Magnolia Swamp. This new name came from the beautiful magnolia trees that grew there.

How the Swamp Became Land

Over many years, the Magnolia Swamp was gradually filled in. A person named Edward Keogh helped fill in a lot of the land, and that area was even called Keogh's Hole for a while. Eventually, 14th Street was built right through the middle of where the swamp used to be.