State Of Essex County 2017: Parks, Schools, Zoo, Roads

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — “Scaling mountains, searching for lost treasure and mapping uncharted territories are all adventures, but an adventure can take many forms… Our Essex adventure began when we first took office over 14 years ago.”

That’s the metaphor that Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. used for the county’s evolution under his tenure when he presented his 14th annual State of the County Address on Feb. 27 at the Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove.

“Heart pounding and hair raising... These phrases are not usually associated with government budgets," DiVincenzo said. "But when you inherit a $64 million deficit like we did in 2003 or you’re confronted with the economic storm of the Great Recession in 2007, there’s no other way to describe it."

During a multi-media presentation, DiVincenzo outlined the county’s achievements and improvement projects completed in 2016, services and programs offered by Essex County and plans for 2017.

COMMUNITY SERVICES, SCHOOLS

According to DiVincenzo, the county’s achievements in 2016 included:

• The Division of Senior Services expanded on its nationally-recognized “Cafes in the Parks” to include its sixth location
• The Bloomfield Tech Campus earned its second National Blue Ribbon Award and the Newark Tech Campus earned its first, giving the district four national awards in the last six years
• Construction of the new Essex County Donald M. Payne School started in the spring of 2016 and the school is on track to welcome its first class in 2018
• The Division of Welfare “received a makeover” that included a larger waiting room, information stations to streamline the application process and the continued refinement of case banking, as well as a rebranding to “the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits”

PARKS, ZOO

According to DiVincenzo:

• Five playgrounds being modernized in 2016 and another four are planned for 2017
• Upgrades were made to the football, track, softball and baseball fields in Weequahic Park, the basketball court, sidewalk and running track in Watsessing Park, and the community centers in Irvington Park and Vailsburg Park
• The 77-acre Essex County Cedar Grove Park on Fairview Avenue – the fifth largest in the Parks System – was opened (includes walking paths, a gazebo, bocce courts, a farm-themed playground and a community center named after former Cedar Grove Mayor Robert J. O’Toole)
• Projects scheduled to be completed this year include basketball courts and a soccer field in Independence Park; the walking track, basketball courts and ornamental lighting in Irvington Park; Rink 1 in Codey Arena; fencing around Watsessing Park; the football field and running track in West Side Park; and the parking lot and facilities for The First Tee youth golf program at Weequahic Golf Course

DiVincenzo said that new exhibits and amenities completed at Turtle Back Zoo include the African Adventure featuring giraffes, the two-story Savanna Café, the Sea Turtle Recovery Center, enhanced public viewing areas at the prairie dog and bison exhibits, and the covered walking trail for the pony rides. Scheduled to be completed this year are a lion and hyena exhibit, improved public viewing stations at the wolf exhibit and the giant anteater and maned wolf exhibit; and new exhibits for condors, penguins and flamingoes.

ROAD PROJECTS

Public works projects highlighted during the state of the county speech included $30 million of upgrades to the S-curves along South Orange Avenue and $6 million to modernize 14 intersections in Irvington – both projects funded with grants from the federal government.

According to DiVincenzo, projects underway for 2017 include the rehabilitation of the Berkeley Avenue Bridge and Hoover Avenue Bridge in Bloomfield, both of which are expected to reopen in the spring.

File Photo: Essex County

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