In 1902, Montclair resident Charles W. Anderson offered to donate 14.85 acres of parkland to the Essex County Park Commission. This came at a time when Essex County was facing a lot of population growth, which brought more homes and less greenery. While Montclair was shifting away from a focus on agriculture and into suburban development, the community recognized a need for parkland.
Fredrick Law Olmsted Sr. died in 1903, but his stepson, John Charles Olmsted, designed Anderson Park. The elder Olmsted was best known for designing Central Park in Manhattan, and his successor firm also designed many of Essex County's parks. For Montclair, the landscape architects envisioned a "neighborhood park". At a time when Theodore Roosevelt was dedicating land to America's national parks, voters quickly approved a park bond issue so that Essex County would accept Anderson's donation.
The park was called Montclair Park until 1909 when the name was changed to Anderson Park at the request of the town to honor Charles W. Anderson.[1]
Modern Dayedit
In 2006, Friends of Anderson Park formed to rejuvenate the original 1904 Olmsted Planting Plan.[2] Since then, the conservancy has planted more than 230 trees and shrubs.
Plaque commemorating Charles W. Anderson
Qualitiesedit
Anderson Park was designed to be versatile and open. It features a meadow, boulders, benches, and pathways. A pear-shaped main loop surrounds the meadow; a smaller inner loop diverges on the southeast end of the park. The park is popular with families, joggers, dog walkers, picnickers, and athletes. Each June, the park is home to the Music Under the June Moon chamber music concert, and in September the Fine Arts and Crafts Fair comes to the park.[3]
Locationedit
Anderson Park is just south of the Upper Montclair Train Station and just west of the historic Upper Montclair business district. Toney's Brook flows through the east side of the park, parallel to the railroad tracks.
^"Anderson Park | Parks | Essex County Parks". essexcountyparks.org. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
^"Our Mission". Friends of Anderson Park. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
^"Enjoying the Park". Friends of Anderson Park. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anderson Park.
Essex County Parks
Friends of Anderson Park
January 01, 1970
anderson, park, jersey, anderson, park, county, park, located, montclair, jersey, united, states, anderson, park, part, essex, county, park, system, anderson, parksign, bellevue, avenuetypepublic, parklocationmontclair, jerseycoordinates40, 827853, 245289, 827. Anderson Park is a county park located in Montclair New Jersey United States Anderson Park is part of the Essex County Park System Anderson ParkSign on Bellevue AvenueTypePublic ParkLocationMontclair New JerseyCoordinates40 49 40 N 74 14 43 W 40 827853 N 74 245289 W 40 827853 74 245289Area14 85 acres 60 100 m2 Created1905Operated byEssex CountyOpenAll yearPublic transit accessUpper Montclair NJT station A portrait of Charles W Anderson Contents 1 History 1 1 Early History 1 2 Modern Day 2 Qualities 3 Location 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editEarly History edit In 1902 Montclair resident Charles W Anderson offered to donate 14 85 acres of parkland to the Essex County Park Commission This came at a time when Essex County was facing a lot of population growth which brought more homes and less greenery While Montclair was shifting away from a focus on agriculture and into suburban development the community recognized a need for parkland Fredrick Law Olmsted Sr died in 1903 but his stepson John Charles Olmsted designed Anderson Park The elder Olmsted was best known for designing Central Park in Manhattan and his successor firm also designed many of Essex County s parks For Montclair the landscape architects envisioned a neighborhood park At a time when Theodore Roosevelt was dedicating land to America s national parks voters quickly approved a park bond issue so that Essex County would accept Anderson s donation The park was called Montclair Park until 1909 when the name was changed to Anderson Park at the request of the town to honor Charles W Anderson 1 Modern Day editIn 2006 Friends of Anderson Park formed to rejuvenate the original 1904 Olmsted Planting Plan 2 Since then the conservancy has planted more than 230 trees and shrubs nbsp Plaque commemorating Charles W AndersonQualities editAnderson Park was designed to be versatile and open It features a meadow boulders benches and pathways A pear shaped main loop surrounds the meadow a smaller inner loop diverges on the southeast end of the park The park is popular with families joggers dog walkers picnickers and athletes Each June the park is home to the Music Under the June Moon chamber music concert and in September the Fine Arts and Crafts Fair comes to the park 3 Location editAnderson Park is just south of the Upper Montclair Train Station and just west of the historic Upper Montclair business district Toney s Brook flows through the east side of the park parallel to the railroad tracks Gallery editAnderson Park Gallery nbsp The Upper Montclair Railway Station from Anderson Park nbsp Anderson Park from Bellevue Avenue Entrance nbsp Path running through the park nbsp Anderson Park Signage as seen from Bellevue Avenue nbsp The lawn Anderson Park 2006 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County New JerseyReferences edit Anderson Park Parks Essex County Parks essexcountyparks org Retrieved 2023 05 16 Our Mission Friends of Anderson Park Retrieved 2023 05 16 Enjoying the Park Friends of Anderson Park Retrieved 2023 05 16 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anderson Park Essex County Parks Friends of Anderson Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anderson Park New Jersey amp oldid 1209751159, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
