by Charlie Fineran

Hi Everyone:

FIRST – Wishing You all a wonderful Easter!!  HAPPY EASTER!!

SECOND – Can’t think of a nicer or more colorful way to usher in Spring, than to remind you about the Cherry Blossom Festival 2024, April 6^th – 14^th at Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ!!!  (PLEASE NOTE:  Mother Nature has complete control over when the blossoms actually bloom & peak)

INTRODUCTION – Here’s a little-known fact: There are more cherry blossoms in NJ than in Washington, D.C. Branch Brook Park in Essex County has earned the distinction of having the largest and most varied collection of flowering cherry blossom trees in a park within the United States. And this spring, you can see them all.

Branch Brook Park which runs through Belleville and Newark, features more than 5,200 Japanese cherry blossom trees that burst into full bloom during the annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, being held April 6 – 14, 2024.

OBSERVATION:  I realize this is a little out of my usual visiting areas for celebrating History, Wildlife and our beautiful Open Space Lands!!  HOWEVER, consider these facts.  We have a World Class Event only about 45 minutes away!!  VISITOR FRIENDLY – for all ages of the Family – can be celebrated as a drive through event or a park and walk!!  There are actually some Historical connections to our Open Space and History Sites. The Olmstead Brothers designed Branch Brook Park, their father designed Central Park in New York City AND the brothers designed the landscaping for our own Rutherfurd Hall here in Allamuchy, NJ  During your visit to Branch Brook Park you will also be treated to the beautiful world famous Basilica Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which was elevated to the honor of Basilica by Pope John Paul when he visited the site.  On your visit, you may also see Wildlife!!

BRANCH BROOK PARK

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 Olmsted, stepson of Frederick Law Olmsted, planner of N.Y. Central Park and the U.S. Capital Grounds.  A large lake, ponds, winding paths, meadows and woods surround numerous recreation facilities.  Brank Brook Park’s Cherry Blossoms were begun in the 1920s by Caroline Bamberger Fuld, sister of the Department Store Magnate.  The 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.

I have included some links to give you more info about the Park and your visit:

cherry blossom festival at branch brook park – interesting facts – Search (bing.com)

I was raised in East Orange, Branch Brook Park was always and has always been a go to spot throughout my life!!  Place it on your bucket list!!

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran  

Director Open Space Allamuchy – retired