Essex County Will Put $2M Into Verona Park Improvements

VERONA, NJ -- Essex County officials announced Wednesday that $2 million worth of improvements are slated to begin at Verona Park.

According to a county news release, two projects totaling $2 million will be undertaken to modernize the playground and tennis courts and create additional parking in Essex County Verona Park.

County officials stated:

"The first project includes updating the playground by removing the existing equipment and rubberized safety surface and installing new apparatus and rubberized surfaces. The playground has been redesigned and incorporates the topography of the land in the play area. Slides and other features have been built into hills so children do not have to climb ladders to reach the top of the slide; they just walk to the top of the hill. There is a large climbing structure in the center of the play area and apparatus for children ages 2-5 and 5-12. The last time the playground was updated was in 2003 when a rubberized safety surface was first installed. The equipment needed to be replaced, having become worn and outdated from the amount of use the playground receives."

Arterial Design Studio from Montclair received a $49,500 contract to redesign the playground. APS Contracting from Paterson was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,384,505 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works is monitoring the project. The improvements are being funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

Work started in September and it scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

TENNIS COURT, PARKING SPACES

According to county officials:

"The second project includes modernizing the tennis court and creating an additional 52 spaces for cars in a new parking area. The three tennis court surfaces will be milled and equipment removed, and then a new asphalt surface and netting will be installed. The last time the tennis courts were updated was in 2004; it was necessary to replace the playing surface because of age and wear and tear. A paved parking area will be created adjacent to the tennis courts. Verona Park is a popular destination and finding available parking always has been difficult. Creating the additional spaces will address some of the demand for parking."

The updates to the tennis courts and design of the parking area were performed in-house by the Essex County Department of Public Works. Sita Construction from Goshen, N.Y., was awarded a publicly bid contract for $582,165 to perform the construction work. The upgrades are being funded with a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.

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Photo: Essex County