Forest Hill in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Branch Brook Park
Historic Site
Photographed by James True, July 5, 2011
1. Branch Brook Park Historic Site Marker
Inscription.
Branch Brook Park. Historic Site. This is the oldest park in the first county park system established in the United States, and an outstanding example of naturalistic landscape design. The Essex County Park Commission, formed in 1895, acquired the first 60 acres from the City of Newark that year. Later land donations and purchases expanded the park by the mid-1930s to its present 2-mile length in Newark and Belleville. Named for a brook that flows into the Passaic River, these 360 acres once contained swamps, cornfields and a training camp for Civil War troops. Most of the design was by John Charles Olmstead, stepson of Frederick Law Olmstead, planner of New York's Central Park and the U.S. Capitol grounds. A large lake, ponds, winding paths, meadows and woods surround numerous recreation facilities. A skating rink now occupies a former reservoir that was carved out of a brownstone quarry near Clifton Avenue. Branch Brook's 3,000 cherry trees are the largest collection in the nation, begun in the 1920s by Caroline Bamberger Fuld, sister of a department store magnet. This elaborate gateway, modeled on one in Scotland, was donated in 1899 by Robert Ballantine, whose brewing family once owned some of this land. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
This is the oldest park in the first county park system established in the United States, and an outstanding example of naturalistic landscape design. The Essex County Park Commission, formed in 1895, acquired the first 60 acres from the City of Newark that year. Later land donations and purchases expanded the park by the mid-1930s to its present 2-mile length in Newark and Belleville. Named for a brook that flows into the Passaic River, these 360 acres once contained swamps, cornfields and a training camp for Civil War troops. Most of the design was by John Charles Olmstead, stepson of Frederick Law Olmstead, planner of New York's Central Park and the U.S. Capitol grounds. A large lake, ponds, winding paths, meadows and woods surround numerous recreation facilities. A skating rink now occupies a former reservoir that was carved out of a brownstone quarry near Clifton Avenue. Branch Brook's 3,000 cherry trees are the largest collection in the nation, begun in the 1920s by Caroline Bamberger Fuld, sister of a department store magnet. This elaborate gateway, modeled on one in Scotland, was donated in 1899 by Robert Ballantine, whose brewing family once owned some of this land. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Erected by The Newark Preservation and Landmarks
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Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 40° 46.268′ N, 74° 10.412′ W. Marker is in Newark, New Jersey, in Essex County. It is in Forest Hill. It is at the intersection of Lake Street and Ballantine Parkway, on the left when traveling north on Lake Street. Marker is attached to the gatehouse on the right as you enter the park from Lake Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newark NJ 07104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Jersey and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
2. The Ballantine Gates at the entrance to Branch Brook Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2011, by James True of Newark, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 992 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2011, by James True of Newark, New Jersey. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
