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County clarifies Weekwick Park upgrades, approves park grants and zoo contracts
Summary
County Parks presented multiple contract awards and grants including Branch Brook Park pedestrian safety ($1.375M) and Riverbank Park ($400K); staff clarified that Weekwick Park’s baseball field will be upgraded (not newly constructed), the walking track will be repaired in spring, and permit lists mainly reflect local organizations.
The Essex County Board approved a set of parks contracts and accepted state grants while county staff responded to community concerns about Weekwick and Valesburg parks.
Joshua Zeitz of County Parks summarized awards and grants including a $1,375,000 Department of Community Affairs grant for Branch Brook Park pedestrian safety upgrades and a $400,000 grant for Riverbank Park playground and safety improvements. "We're in the very preliminary stage," Zeitz said of Branch Brook work; funding must be certified and design steps followed.
On Weekwick Park, administration and Mr. Jackson clarified that the baseball diamond under discussion is an upgrade to an existing field, not the construction of a new varsity field. Jackson read an excerpt of a letter from a local high‑school principal urging investment in a varsity field, and he said the county had provided a letter of support to commissioners.
Staff also acknowledged problems with one walking track overlay and said the contractor will return in spring to repair sections where cooler weather at installation affected adhesion. On permits, parks staff said permit lists that appeared to show out‑of‑county organizations were often parent organizations with local teams and that allocation takes local use and past use into account, not strictly first‑come registration.
The board approved the parks measures (resolutions 13–21, 36–38) by roll call. Commissioner Mary Thomas reiterated concerns about public communication and suggested quarterly, district‑based community meetings to notify residents in advance of major park projects; Joshua Zeitz welcomed further collaboration and said parks will present rate schedules and permit policies to the board in early 2026.
