Upgrades At Branch Brook Park Fields Expected To Help Stop Rainouts

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The baseball and softball fields at Branch Brook Park in Essex County are going to get a $3.15 million facelift, officials announced Friday.

The fields at the county-run park’s northern division will be upgraded with synthetic playing surfaces on the infields. It’s expected to reduce maintenance and “maximize use of the fields,” where rainy weather has often ended games and practices early, officials said.

Branch Brook Park is located in Newark, with a portion of the park also in Belleville.

Thomas Dougherty, president of the Branch Brook Park Alliance, said that people have been playing baseball in the park since the early 1900s.

According to a statement from the county:

“Known as the ‘three diamonds,’ the area behind the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center includes a full-size baseball field and two Little League/softball fields. After rainy weather, the fields are often not able to be used because of standing water that takes time to drain. To address this, an improved drainage system will be installed and the infield portions of the three fields will be updated with a synthetic playing surface. The outfield areas of the three fields will remain as natural grass. New fencing, covered dugouts, bleachers for spectators, pathways and landscaping will be installed.”

The county released the following financial information about the upcoming project at Branch Brook Park:

“French and Parrello from Wall received a professional services contract of $88,000 to design the field improvements. The Landtek Group from Amityville was awarded a publicly bid contract of $3,068,000 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works will monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. The project is being funded with grants from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the American Rescue Fund.”

“Not being able to use the fields after it rains has always been a complaint,” Newark North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos said. “This is an impressive undertaking by the county executive to improve the park for our youth.”

A similar project was recently completed at Brookdale Park in Montclair and Bloomfield. Read More: $3.7M In Field Upgrades At Brookdale Park Hit Finish Line

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