Category: Around Town

Irvington Park

Irvington Park is a mid-size urban park located in a densely populated township, and so it serves as a much-needed recreational area. It is a 24.38-acre park bordered by Lyons Avenue, Grove, May, and Augusta Streets. It is the twelfth largest park within the Essex County system.

There are lawn areas framed by red oak, mulberry, dogwood, elm, and ash trees. A small 1.65-acre pond fed by an artesian well provides fishing and model boat sailing.

This park was purchased for $56,000 in 1906. Construction began almost immediately in order to ready the pond for ice skating in the winter. The proposal was to develop the park along playground lines. The design was completed by the Olmsted Brothers and the park officially opened in the summer of 1913.

In 1914 an addition was approved that included ballfields, tennis courts, and broad lawns sloping to the west from Grove Street to Augusta Street. Work on this portion, including a new fieldhouse, was completed the following year.

The appearance of the park has changed little over the years. A 1979 grant provided $724,600 for site and building improvements.

https://essexcountyparks.org/parks/irvington-park/about

Model Yacht Club Pool And Building, Irvington Park
Some of the park’s frequent visitors from our youthful days. From left front: Mike Sikora, Yvonne Russamano, Bernie Sikora, Kathleen McMinn, Ron Masur, Peter Bronzino. In back: Glen Conrad, Frank Bellis,  Linda Dispenza, Nancy Walker