West Orange Seniors Enjoy Cherry Blossoms At Branch Brook Park

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Department of Senior Services recently sponsored a free outing for local residents to Essex County’s Branch Brook Park, the home of one of the most spectacular cherry blossom tree groves in the nation.

Earlier this month, 25 local seniors boarded a jitney bus provided by the West Orange Health Department and made a trip to the park to catch the annual display of cherry blossoms, which is bigger than the national display in Washington D.C. The park is located in Newark and Belleville. Read More: Spring Is Here, Essex County (And So Are The Cherry Blossoms)

West Orange township public information officer Joe Fagan offered a recap of the day’s activities:

“The group was led by Senior Services Director Laura Van Dyke and her assistant Noelia Perez. Everyone arrived at the Senior Center in Bellville at 10:45 a.m. The day started with complimentary water and snacks before listening to a 30-minute talk about cherry blossoms and Bellevue Park history by an Essex County Park representative. A Cherry Blossom Welcome Center is under construction and not currently open to the public. The group however was able to walk the perimeter of the area to take in the view. They experienced the remainder of the park’s spectacular bloom of the cherry blossoms on a slow drive-by tour. As an added bonus, the jitney’s bus driver Marsha showed the group Newark’s majestic Sacred Heart Cathedral located near Branch Brook Park as part of a guided tour that was well received by everyone.”

According to Fagan, outings like this demonstrate why West Orange received formal acceptance into the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities and the World Health Organization Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities in 2022.

To contact the West Orange Department of Senior Services about upcoming events or programs, call (973) 325-4105, or send an email to lvandyke@westorange.org or nperez@westorange.org.

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