Work Starts On New Community Building At Weequahic Park In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Essex County. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced the start of a project to develop a new senior and community center building in Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark on Wednesday.

The current Feldman "Mootsie" Middleton Jr. Community Center is outdated and can no longer accommodate the number of events and activities being organized in the park. It will be replaced with a larger building that provides modern accommodations for park visitors. The project is part of the County Executive's ongoing initiative to ensure parks facilities meet the changing needs of the community.

"Essex County Weequahic Park has become a focal point for recreational activities, social gatherings and events. The community center, which was built about 50 years ago, no longer has the capacity to accommodate all the afterschool, senior and enrichment activities that are held there and a larger building is needed," DiVincenzo said. "The new structure, with its high ceilings, natural lighting and modern accommodations, will provide park visitors with a welcoming community center that better fits the needs of residents and the groups that use the park," he added.

"This building will become an integral part of the community when it is opened. It is very reflective and captures the essence of preserving the history of Weequahic Park while meeting the current needs of visitors," NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.

"I am proud to partner with the County Executive on these types of projects. This is a beautifully designed building and will benefit the community," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said.

"I want to thank the County Executive for the work that has been done to renovate every aspect of Weequahic Park. I can't wait until this community center is opened," Newark Councilman John James said.

"When you see what is happening, it is incredible. Joe and his team work hard at improving our community and this community center will be a spot that people will want to come to visit," Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said.

The new building will be modeled after the new community centers recently built in Essex County Cedar Grove Park and Essex County Watsessing Park. The 7,500-square-foot building will have a large room for activities, a full-service kitchen, and office and meeting space for the Weequahic Park Sports Authority and the Weequahic Park Association, two community groups that have partnered with Essex County to maintain the park and provide programming for the community. A driveway will lead up to a 40-foot long covered car port to enhance access to the building and there will be a 100-foot long patio for outdoor seating on the back of the building overlooking the Bill Hicks Baseball Field. The building also will have restrooms with outdoor access for park visitors.

The community center was named for the late Feldman "Mootsie" Middleton, Jr., in 2016. Middletown was a Newark entrepreneur and one of the founders of the Weequahic Park Association and the Weequahic Park Sports Authority. When the new community center is opened, it also will be named for Middletown.

Comito Associates from Newark was awarded professional services contract for $271,000 to design the new community center. Aps Construction from Paterson was awarded a public bid contract for $4,519,000 to perform the construction work. The old building was demolished earlier this month; the new building is scheduled to open by the fall of 2021.

Revitalizing Essex County Weequahic Park

In 2018, the Elizabeth Avenue playground was modernized with new apparatus and a rubberized safety surface and the restroom building was renovated. In 2017, The First Tee facilities were upgraded and the entranceway, parking lot and field house were modernized at Weequahic Golf Course as part of a $3.1 million project. In 2016, one of the baseball fields was modernized with a synthetic grass playing surface, new fencing and scoreboard and named in honor of the late Bill Hicks, a long-time little league and high school baseball coach. Also in 2016, the community center was named in honor of Feldman Middleton, Jr., one of the founders of the Weequahic Park Association and the Weequahic Park Sports Authority, and the playground was named in honor of activist Carl Sharif. In 2015, the playground by Building 92 was modernized with new equipment and a rubberized safety surface. In 2012, the four entrances to Weequahic Park received a facelift with traffic islands, lighting, paving and landscaping to beautify the area and enhance pedestrian and traffic safety, and the basketball courts were named in honor of the late Delano Gordon, founder of Above the Rim. Essex County partnered with the National Football League to install a new half-mile fitness course with six exercise stations in 2010. Weequahic Golf Course received a major overhaul in 2009 as part of $7 million modernization project in each of the County's three public golf courses and the Weequahic Bridge was reconstructed for $3 million. A synthetic grass surface baseball field and four basketball courts were developed as part of a $1.8 million project in 2007. Essex County welcomed The First Tee and its nationally-recognized youth leadership training program to Weequahic Golf Course in 2006. The First Tee constructed a state-of-the-art, three-hole youth golf facility for its program adjacent to the golf course. The playground at Building 96 at the Chancellor Avenue entrance to the park was modernized with new equipment and rubberized safety surface in 2006. The Elizabeth Avenue tennis courts were rebuilt in 2004.

DiVincenzo has partnered with the New Jersey Green Acres program, the NJ Department of Transportation, the Essex County Parks Foundation, Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board, Weequahic Park Association and The First Tee to secure grants to fund the improvements in Essex County Weequahic Park.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system in the United States. It has been expanded to include about 6,000 acres of land and includes 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, miniature golf course, five dog parks, a castle, Treetop Adventure Course and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Weequahic Park is 311.33 acres, is one of the original five County parks created in 1895 and is the second largest park in the Essex County System.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com