Essex County Opening 500-Space Parking Facility in West Orange

Essex County is opening a 500-car parking garage at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex today.

The parking facility will provide additional on-site parking for visitors to the many attractions at the South Mountain Recreation Complex and will alleviate the number of vehicles parking on the street and in neighboring parking lots, Essex County officials said.

“With Turtle Back Zoo as our anchor and new attractions like the paddle boating and 1.7-mile walking path at the Orange Reservoir, our Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex has become a regional destination for people seeking leisure, recreation and educational activities. This popularity has outpaced the amount of available on-site parking,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said in a release from the county before the construction of the facility began. “The construction of this 500-space facility will enhance our visitors’ experience, provide more accessible parking and alleviate the burden being placed on our reservation and the surrounding neighborhoods where our visitors are parking.”

DiVincenzo announced the opening of the parking garage at the complex, located at 560 Northfield Ave., at 10 a.m. Friday, March 27.

(Photo via Essex County)