Construction Continues At Watchung Plaza Park In Montclair (See Expected Finish Date)

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Renovations at Watchung Plaza Park in Montclair will continue until at least September, township officials say.

Earlier this year, Montclair officials announced that a construction project will be taking place at Watchung Plaza Park. The estimated time frame was approximately six to eight weeks.

According to a municipal notice, the work will include construction of new brick pavers, resetting and repairing of existing brick pavers, construction of concrete pads, construction of pervious asphalt pavement systems, relocation or furnishing and installation of park benches and picnic tables, electrical improvements, landscaping improvements, and site restoration within Watchung Plaza Park.

“During this time, the park will remain closed to the public until construction is completed,” the township said.

The township gave an update about the ongoing construction on Wednesday:

“Although fencing has partially come down around the ongoing renovations at Watchung Plaza, the project is not yet complete and remains an active construction site. While the majority of construction is finished, the plaza will still undergo aesthetic and finishing touches, including removal of the remaining temporary fencing, trimming of the new grass and trees, installation of new plantings, weeding, and other landscaping work. We anticipate completing the project in September 2025.”

“When complete, the renewed Watchung Plaza Park will be a more welcoming and accessible space for our entire community,” the town’s update continued.

“These updates will make it easier for everyone, including those with disabilities, to navigate the park,” officials said.

• See Related: Busy Montclair Intersection Will Get ‘Long-Awaited’ Safety Upgrade

Some social media users still had questions about the construction work, however. As seen online:

• “Why did you select a petrochemical paving option that isn’t in any way aesthetically in line with the surrounding plaza or the path on the north side?”
• “I’m still confused about this project. Most of us knew nothing about it, until it came up for resolution. The answer we were told, was Ward 2 knew about it because of a community meeting and their input was given consideration. Why didn’t the entire town know? I think it was handled poorly. And why in the world are they leaving that broken down gazebo, instead of replacing it? It’s like it was the secret project of Montclair.”
• “A historic park requires approval from the Historic Preservation Committee and a public review. Neither occurred. The result is disappointing, and adding more asphalt will only make it worse. Hopefully, the proper process can still take place, it’s never too late to do things right.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.