ANNOUNCEMENT: PLEASE NOTE THAT WORK DAY HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO CONDITIONS AT THE PARK AND THE WEATHER FORECAST. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY AT THE RESCHEDULED EVENT.

This year’s Work Day event will take place at Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ. Branch Brook Park is distinguished by being the first county park to be opened for public use in the United States. It has been placed on both the New Jersey (1980) and National (1981) Registers of Historic Places. The park design originated in 1895 with a pair of landscape architects (Bogart and Barrett’), but the Essex County Park Commission was dissatisfied with their work and hired the Olmsted Brothers firm to take over the project.

Located in the City of Newark with 360 acres, Branch Brook Park is the largest developed park in the County. It is featured by a combination of open meadowland and small patches of woodland on gently rolling terrain.

Named for a branch brook that flowed through the valley into the Passaic River, the stream that remains, and much of the surrounding landscape, still retain a natural appearance. More than 4,000 cherry trees that blossom during April are greater both in variety and number than the famed Washington, D.C., display—the result of a 1927 gift from Mrs. Felix Fuld family. At its height the Cherry Blossom Festival attracts over 10,000 people a day.

The Branch Brook Park Alliance has been at work since 1999 to restore this historic park to its former glory as an Olmsted park. Our chapter is honored to participate in these restoration efforts on behalf of such an integral state and federal landmark. We are in need of volunteers to ensure the success of this fundraising event! The work outlined will require climbers, cranes, grapple saws, bucket trucks, and chippers. This event is a meaningful way to give back to a unique park which is in great need, while supporting the fundraising efforts of our chapter. It’s also a superior way to network with some of the best arborists in the state. Sign up now!