Youth Fishing Derby At Grover Cleveland Park: 2025 Events

CALDWELLS, NJ — Essex County is bringing back its annual series of youth fishing derbies for 2025, including a local event on Thursday, June 5 at Grover Cleveland Park, which is located in Caldwell and Essex Fells.

Essex County’s annual fishing derbies will be held at seven spots over three weeks. Here’s what to know if you plan to go, organizers say:

“Each derby is free and open to children ages 15 and younger. All children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own fishing pole, bait, bucket and chair. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles. Prizes in various age categories for catching the first and most fish will be awarded at the conclusion of each derby.”

Here’s where the derbies will take place this year:

• Wednesday, May 28: Irvington Park Pond, Grove Street and Lyons Avenue, Irvington. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, May 29: Verona Park Boathouse, Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and the awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 4: Weequahic Park Lake, Elizabeth Avenue and Meeker Avenue, Newark. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, June 5: Grover Cleveland Park Pond, Brookside Avenue and Runnymede Road, Caldwell/Essex Fells. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
• Saturday, June 7: Monte Irvin Orange Park Pond, Center Street and Harrison Street, Orange. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 11: Branch Brook Park Prudential Concert Grove, use Park Avenue or Clifton Street entrances, Newark. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and the awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, June 12: South Mountain Recreation Complex, Cherry Lane, Orange Reservoir, Paddle Boat area. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and the awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.

“Our fishing derbies are an excellent opportunity for our children to enjoy the historic Essex County Park System in a different and fun way,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“You’ll have a great time creating your own ‘big fish’ stories and spending some quality time with your friends and family in some of the most beautiful parks in the area,” he added.

The fishing derbies are sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 973-268-3500. In case of inclement weather, cancellations will be posted on www.essexcountynj.org. Cancelled fishing derbies will not be rescheduled.

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