The Children's Playground at The Orange Reservoir is Ready for Playtime!

Taking just a little more than two months to complete, the playground provides a free activity for children to enjoy at the complex and complements the walkway, paddle boating and Clipper Picnic Pavilion. It is the latest project that Essex County is conducting in partnership with the City of Orange to maximize the use of the Orange Reservoir property.

“The natural beauty of the reservation, the walkway around the reservoir, paddle boating and picnic pavilion have attracted people from all walks of life to our South Mountain Recreation Complex. The new playground promotes physical fitness and provides a free activity for children to enjoy when they visit. It complements our other attractions and maximizes the usage and enjoyment of this magnificent open space,” DiVincenzo said. “Opening this playground is additional evidence of the successful partnership we have with Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren and the Orange City Council to transform the Orange Reservoir into a public recreation resource,” he noted.

“I want to commend the County Executive and his leadership because one of his main focuses when opening up all of our venues is to insure that our communities have access to green open spaces and our waterways, but most importantly he has created an atmosphere here where families can come and have accessibility to recreation that doesn’t cost anything,” said NJ Senator Teresa Ruiz. “We are so fortunate to have an administration that knows the importance of having free open spaces within our community and I am honored and proud to be a part of this administration,” she added.

“I’m pleased to represent the Board of Chosen Freeholders today as we open this wonderful children’s playground. Our County Executive really cares about quality of life for the residents of Essex County we support him fully in working to improve quality of life for all,” said Freeholder Vice President Patricia Sebold. “I am pleased to be a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board because working with the County Executive, we are able to do great things, like this children’s playground we are opening today. The South Mountain Recreation Complex attracts so many people and this is great addition we are highlighting today,” she added.

The playground is located adjacent to the paddle boating area and picnic pavilion that opened last year and was designed with the same nautical theme. It has 24 separate pieces of play equipment and a rubberized safety surface. An open area within the playground has a synthetic grass surface so there is less wear and tear. The new facility is enclosed by a chain link fence to prevent children from wandering away. In addition, stamped concrete pathways link the playground to the picnic area, paddle boating and pathway around the reservoir. Work to prepare the site began in May and was completed in just over two months.

“This is just a wonderful day. I want to thank the County Executive for his vision and for the partnership he has with the City of Orange to make all of this happen. This area has totally been transformed and we know residents will continue to enjoy,” said Orange Councilman Kerry Coley.

“This is a fantastic vision of the County Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders and we in the City of Orange are just elated about the partnership that we have up here at the Orange Reservoir,” said Orange Councilman Harold Johnson, Jr.

“The mother in me is excited! I will definitely bring my children here to enjoy this. Parents are always looking for things for their little ones to do and with all the new curriculums in school it is important to be able to take them different places to learn and explore. I can only imagine the reports my 4-year old will be able to do for school,” said Councilwoman Jamie Summers-Johnson. “Thank you to the County Executive and his staff, I am just so grateful or this,” she added.

French and Parrello from Wall received a $74,500 contract to design the playground. Beaver Electric Company from Roseland was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,242,970 to perform the construction. The Essex County Public Works Department worked with the contractors to answer questions and ensure delays were avoided. The playground was funded through the Essex County Capital Budget and a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

Earlier in May, the walkway along the eastern shore of the Orange Reservoir – including the construction of an 84-foot bridge and a 70-foot bridge – from Turtle Back Zoo to the Campbell’s Pond Dam was completed. This created a 1.7-mile walking path around the entire waterway. Previous projects had opened the walkway around the Orange Reservoir from the Turtle Back Zoo entrance way past McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant and ending at the paddle boat dock and picnic area. The pathway is handicap accessible and enhances access to several trails leading into Essex County South Mountain Reservation. There is also decorative lighting designed with a nautical theme, additional landscaping and trees, an irrigation system, fencing, park benches and trash receptacles.

Essex County and the City of Orange entered into a 20-year lease agreement over the property in October 2012. According to the terms of the partnership, Essex County will pay a total of $1.6 million to Orange to lease the Reservoir property and will be responsible for all costs to maintain and develop the site for public recreation.

The first phase of improvements were completed in 2013 and included the construction of a 30-by-60 foot, open-air pavilion for picnics and special events, a floating dock to accommodate access to the waterway for paddle boats, a restroom building and boat rental booth, and the reconstruction of the Oakdale parking lot located across Cherry Lane from the reservoir property. The pavilion is designed with a log cabin theme to match the architecture of the nearby McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant. The area around the floating dock has nautical flags and sailing decorations. The area near the reservoir has walking paths with decorative lighting, benches, trash receptacles and be heavily landscaped.

At the roadway, a cut-out driveway allows motorists to safely park alongside Cherry Lane to drop off passengers. The Oakdale parking lot was upgraded with new pavement and drainage, a nearby storage building was removed, and a traffic light was installed at the parking lot entrance to enhance motor vehicle and pedestrian safety for those visiting the site. In addition, a sidewalk linking the miniGOLF Safari/McLoone’s Restaurant parking lot to the Reservoir and decorative fencing with columns that match fencing at Turtle Back Zoo and the miniGOLF Safari were installed along Cherry Lane, and an old chain link fence, fallen and dead trees, and brush were removed from the wooded area along the waterway.