Verona’s Colorful Park Gets Shade Awning After Hot Summer

VERONA, NJ — A unique-looking playground in Essex County will be a little cooler next year after county officials made an upgrade at Verona Park.

On Friday, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced that workers have installed an awning over the Verona Park playground. The new addition to the colorful park will provide shade and prevent the apparatus from getting too hot for children to play on.

The awning – and Verona Park – got several positive comments online:

• “Great...all parks should have that...entirely too hot for children!”
• “This park is so beautiful- I drive down a lot to play here and Brookdale with my daughter- by far 2 of my favorite parks!”
• “Glad the problem was addressed.”

However, a few online pundits noted that the awning would have been useful during this year’s sweltering summer. “Dude it’s the end of September LOL,” one quipped.

In October 2017, officials announced $2 million worth of upcoming improvements at the county-run park. Efforts were slated to "modernize the playground and tennis courts" and create additional parking. However, the plan to create an extra 52 parking spaces was nixed when several Township Council members and local residents expressed opposition to the idea.

• See related article: Essex County Will Put $2M Into Verona Park Improvements
• See related article: Extra Parking Spaces Nixed For $2M Verona Park Project

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Photo: Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.

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