Vintage Grover Cleveland Park Postcards on Display

The postcards can be seen at the Caldwell Library throughout the month of May.

The Caldwell Library is now displaying vintage postcards of Grover Cleveland Park. These historical images can be seen throughout the month of May in honor of the 100th anniversary of the park. Copies of original postcards are from the collection of Richard Gibbs of Essex County. Pictured above is the park's pond circa 1920 identified as “Cleveland Park." Note the wooden building to the side which served as a changing station for skaters in the winter. The second is a picture of an old bridge that is postmarked 1907 before the park’s official stature. The picture shows a partly passable dam under the White Bridge which crossed over Pine Brook on Runnymede Road.   The library is located at 268 Bloomfield Ave. For more information about the …

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Derby Awards Those Who Catch First Fish, Most Fish

Photos from annual fishing derby at Grover Cleveland Park in Caldwell-Essex Fells.

The annual fishing derby held at Grover Cleveland Park Saturday attracted dozens of children from all over Essex County who came out for a chance to win prizes and practice their skills.  This year's winners in the first fish category were Jonathan Pucciarello of Caldwell and Cameron Marino of North Caldwell. Prizes were also awarded to "most fish" caught in different age categories.  The remainder of the Essex County fishing derby schedule is as follows: The Grover Cleveland Park fishing derby is co-sponsored by the Roseland Recreation Department.

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Grover Cleveland Park Fishing Derby Set for Saturday

Prizes will be awarded for first fish and most fish caught.

The Grover Cleveland Park pond is stocked and ready for the upcoming fishing derby — as evidenced by the wide mouth bass pictured above caught recently by Mike DeFrance using a fly rod.  The annual derby at the Caldwell-Essex Fells park will take place on Saturday, May 4. Registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby starts at 9 a.m., with prizes awarded at 11:15 a.m. The derby is free and open to children ages 15 and younger, accompanied by an adult. (Sorry Mike, but you're too old!) Children are asked to bring their own fishing poles, bait and buckets. Prizes are awarded for the first fish and most fish caught in different age categories. The remainder of the fishing derby schedule is as follows: The Grover Cleveland Park fishing derby is co-…

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History of Grover Cleveland Park Topic of Talk

Presentation part of 100th anniversary celebration of Essex County park.

Essex County's Grover Cleveland Park turns 100 in 2013 and the park’s conservancy members are planning events all year long to mark the anniversary. Next up is Highlights of a Century: Grover Cleveland Park, the second in a series of presentations about the park, at the Caldwell Public Library on Wednesday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m. Richard Cummings, a member of the Grover Cleveland Park Convservancy’s founding Board of Trustees, will discuss the history of the park from its origins in the early part of the 20th century to its rebirth at the start of the 21st century. The Conservancy partnered with the Essex County Park System in 2001 to begin a rehabilitation of the park land, located in Caldwell and Essex Fells. Cummings has lived in …

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Grover Cleveland Park Clean-Up Set for April 20

Join Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy members for annual park spruce-up.

The Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy will hold its annual spring clean-up on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed to help pick up trash and small debris along pathways and open fields.   If you would like to participate, meet at the Grover Cleveland Park Children’s House (building across from the playground) at 9 a.m. Trash bags will be supplied by the conservancy. Participants are advised to bring a pair of gloves and water bottle, and wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Clean-up will be held rain or shine. For more information, call 973-618-9154 or e-mail gcpc@molink.com. Located in Caldwell and Essex Fells, the Essex County park's conservancy is celebrating Grover Cleveland Park's 100th anniversary this year.

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JAS

12:42 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013

I do agree that more county money should be spend on Grover Cleveland Park. It's a really nice park with lots to do. Looking forward to the special things the committee going to be doing to celebrate 100 years. Wish I could help on April 20 but I'll be volunteering locally aiding those who get injured or sick.   more ›

Essex County News

Project Improves Wheelchair Access to Grover Cleveland Park

Essex County announces addition of ADA-compliant parking spaces, paths and picnic tables at Caldwell/Essex Fells park.

New parkings spaces, a paved path and a picnic area are part of a $155,000 project to make Essex County Grover Cleveland Park more accessible to people with disabilities, county officials announced Monday.  Work began about a week ago to add two van-accessible parking spaces on Buttonwood Court at the Essex Fells end of the park. The spaces are compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), as are the other improvements underway. A paved path from the parking spaces which leads to a blacktop area where handicap-accessible picnic tables soon will be installed. There will also be new signage and landscaping. The improvements were designed by the Essex County Department of Public Works engineering staff and Sita Construction from Kearny …

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Essex County News

Essex County to Unveil Plans for Grover Cleveland Park

Plans will make county park more accessible for people with disabilities.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. will outline plans to make Essex County Grover Cleveland Park more accessible for people with disabilities at a press conference on Monday, March 18, at noon, at the park. Plans include creating parking spaces compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), installing handicap accessible picnic tables, repairing walking paths, installing signage and making various landscaping upgrades, Essex County officials said. The announcement will be made at the intersection of Runnymede and Brookside roads, rain or shine.  Due to water main work in the area, Brookside Avenue in Caldwell is closed from Westville Avenue to Cleveland Road. 

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'Olmsted Parks in New Jersey' Author Kicks Off Grover Cleveland Park Centennial Celebration

Author of book on Olmsted Parks to speak at West Caldwell Public Library Sunday.

The celebration of Essex County Grover Cleveland Park's 100th anniversary kicks off this weekend with the first in a series of talks. Jeanne Kolva, author of Olmsted Parks in New Jersey, will speak at the West Caldwell Public Library on Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. Kolva will discuss Grover Cleveland Park, which along with numerous Essex County Parks, was designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers landscape design firm founded by the son and stepson of the creator of New York's Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted. The 41-acre park is situated in the boroughs of Caldwell and Essex Fells. The Essex County Parks System became the first county park system in the country with the creation of Branch Brook Park in Newark in 1895, according to Essex …

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Essex County Likely to Open Grover Cleveland Pond for Ice Skating

Sunday could finally be the day to lace up those skates.

Essex County will likely open the pond at Grover Cleveland Park in Caldwell for skating on Sunday, according to the Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy.  Conditions are looking favorable after several days of below freezing temperatures, according to the conservancy. The pond will be supervised by a county employee starting at 10 a.m. The skate house also will be open, offering a warm fire, a place to change in and out of skates and restrooms.  There is no charge to skate on the pond and there are no rentals. Bring your own skates.  The Essex Fells pond on Fells Road could also be open on Sunday. Check the Facebook page for updates. 

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Letter: Vandalism Decreases at Grover Cleveland Park

A letter to the editor from the Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy.

The Conservancy is happy to report that after the article appeared in The Progress and the Caldwells Patch we received extra special attention from the Caldwell Police Department, Essex Fells Police Department, County Sheriff Department and patrons of the park. With this support the amount of vandalism has decreased dramatically. We are hopeful that the above mentioned will continue their diligent attention to our beautiful park. —Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy The Patch welcomes your opinion. Send Letters to the Editor to caldwells@patch.com.

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