The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-31
PURCHASE
WAS JUSTIFIED
Report Shows "a Remarkable
Growth of Weequahie
Reservation.

The report of the Park Commission
of Essex County for the year 1908,
which has just been issued, contains
an interesting account of the remark
able development of Weequahie Park
since 1t was acquired a year before.
This section of the Weequahic Reser-
walton was added to the park system,
according to the report, because OF its
natural beauty, and the belief that at
some future day the citizens might en-
joy II. Its popularity, however, was
immediate, and was so great that the
statistics of its use and attendance
show 1t is ~patronized to ALMOST as great
an extent as is Branch Brook Park.
The report continues:
THE dredging of the old swamp OF
about so acres which lay within its
limits and the creation out of it of a
beautiful lake-the largest in the oun
ty~-attracted thousands of people who
delight in boating, fishing and canoeing.
The game fields were crowded to such
an extent that their area had to be
tflluI Stu, anu LIZ lIldLliiVCSO VI Ah1 ANSN
Horse Association filled the reservation
on every pleasant summer Saturday. In
a word it was found that the people
were quicker to appreciate Weequahic's
beauties than was at first supposed.
and by their Constant use of 1t had
transformed it into Il Park for the use
and enjoyment of the present as well
as the future. so that HON 1t is a reser-
walton only in name. The Legislature
Of $780, passed an act permitting the
county to expend 100000 for the en-
largemcnt Of It's boundaries by extend
ing the taking line OF the west to EIiz-
abeth avenue. Although the commits
sion took no part III urging the pas
sage of the bill the rapidly increas-
ing use Of the reservation and the
obvious advantage to it of the added
territory seemed ample justification for
exercising the authority given by the
statute
The total cost Of the land with the
buildings thereon will be s15o.3o5.9o.
THE increased use of Weequahic
reservation the report continues, LED
the Common Council of the city Of
Newark TO designate il as n OF the
parks in which are held the open-air
band concerts during the summer
months. In order to furnish proper ac-
~commodations therefor the board erect
ed a band stand in a natural arnphi-
theatre on the east side of the lake
near governors hill. The cost was
$1.670.3S. 1t was not finished until after
the concert season closed, but a tenn
porary stand was conveniently located
for use until its completion. The at
tendance at these concerts in this res
ervation, which were held there for
the first time last year. was as great
as at Branch Brook Park"
The completion of the Sussex avenue
athletic field house in Branch Brook
Park at a cost of ss,15o.55 is recorded,
as is the enlargement of the field house
at West Side Park at a cost Of S2,032.24
and the purchase Of land costing
S4s, $50. 40 for the addition to Watsessing
Park.
Interesting tables showing the at
tendance at the Fairgrounds during the
summer show that it ranged from an
average of $3.50 in May TO 10 $50 in
August.
The report is signed by Frederick
NJ. Shepard, Franklin Murphy. John r.
Hardin. Robert S. Sinclair and P. San
ford Ross.