Watsessing Park In Bloomfield To Get $931K Facelift

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Essex County officials have announced plans to conduct a $931,000 expansion project at Watsessing Park on the Bloomfield/East Orange border. The facelift will include a 3,000-square-foot addition at the playground located near Dodd Street in East Orange, officials said.

According to Essex County officials, the addition will include:

• A variety of “water spray equipment” for children
• A shade structure with Adirondack chairs for parents and guardians
• The installation of a drainage system, water fountains, a bicycle rack, benches and trash receptacles
• Trimming of trees and enhanced landscaping

Planned work will include a cargo net climber and other new playground equipment will be added to the playground that is located on Glenwood Avenue near the intersection of Prospect Street, officials said.

Mott MacDonald engineers from Islen was awarded a $55,000 contract to design the Watsessing Park playground improvements. Zenith Construction Services, Inc. from Orange was awarded a publicly bid contract for $931,091 to perform the construction work, officials stated.

Funding will be provided from the Essex County Capital Budget and with a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, officials said.

Work started in March and is scheduled to be completed by July.

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Photo: Essex County