Urban & Cultural Centers
Newark, Montclair, South Orange, Maplewood, Bloomfield and surrounding towns offer universities, dining, arts, music, sports venues and transit access.
Things to Do in Essex County
Essex County blends dense urban centers, classic commuter suburbs, historic neighborhoods, major universities, performing arts venues, professional sports, county parks, reservations, gardens, golf courses, and family attractions.
Parks & Reservations
The county’s park system includes classic city parks, large reservations, golf courses, nature centers, trails, gardens and recreation facilities.
Family Attractions
Turtle Back Zoo, Codey Arena, South Mountain Recreation Complex, Branch Brook Park and Prudential Center give visitors year-round options.
Commuter County
Essex County is closely tied to Newark, New York City, major rail corridors, bus service and nearby regional employment centers.
Essex County Towns
Use these NJTGO town links to jump from the county guide into local pages. Multi-word town filenames use the newer underscore style.
Education & Libraries
The original Essex County page included a strong higher-education list. This refreshed version preserves those institutions while using current naming where appropriate.
Bloomfield College of Montclair State University
Bloomfield
Caldwell University
Caldwell
Eastern International College
Belleville
Essex County College
Newark
Montclair State University
Montclair
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
Newark
Rutgers University–Newark
Newark
Seton Hall University
South Orange
Libraries
The legacy source left the library section mostly blank. Essex County communities are served by municipal libraries and regional library systems throughout Newark, Montclair, Bloomfield, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Nutley, the Caldwells and other local towns.
Government
The old page had a useful government section but also included an incorrect Morris County Prosecutor link. This version updates the wording and points the content back to Essex County offices.
County of Essex
Main county government complex and official county services.
Public Information
Public-facing information center for county government departments and agencies.
Board of County Commissioners
Legislative branch for Essex County government and public meetings.
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
County-level law enforcement office. The old page had a Morris County prosecutor link; this has been corrected.
County Counsel
Handles county legal matters and litigation support.
Essex County Sheriff’s Office
Provides county law enforcement and specialized services.
Essex County Parks
The original page contained a large parks directory. This refreshed version keeps the key park names, locations and features, then presents them as scannable cards.
Anderson Park
Montclair- Scenic park landscape
- Lacrosse and field hockey use
- 3/5-mile jogging path
- Annual craft show
Becker Park
Livingston / Roseland- Open space reverting to nature
- Large white oak trees
- Passive recreation
Belleville Park
Belleville- Senior citizens center
- Playground
- Bocce courts
- Softball and soccer fields
- Jogging path
- Connects toward Hendricks Field Golf Course and Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park
Newark / Belleville- Nation’s first county park opened for public use
- Cherry Blossom Land
- Playgrounds, ballfields, basketball, tennis, horseshoes and bocce
- Greenhouse, senior center, roller rink and jogging loop
Brookdale Park
Bloomfield / Montclair- Fitness course and running track
- Soccer and softball fields
- Archery field
- Tennis courts
- Rose garden and summer concerts
Eagle Rock Reservation
West Orange- New York City skyline overlook
- 9/11 memorial
- Hiking trails and bridle paths
- Picnic area and natural habitat
Glenfield Park
Montclair- Community center
- Football, field hockey and softball fields
- Tennis courts and lighted basketball courts
- Playground and fitness court
Grover Cleveland Park
Essex Fells / Caldwell- Foot bridges and stream landscape
- Lighted tennis courts
- Baseball field and playground
- Fishing, jogging paths, picnic grove and ice skating
Hilltop Reservation
Cedar Grove- Hiking trails
- Wildlife refuge
- Preserved reservation setting
Independence Park
Newark- Playground
- Youth softball fields
- Lighted bocce, basketball and volleyball courts
- Soccer field, hockey rink and gazebo
Irvington Park
Irvington- Pond and fishing
- Running track and jogging path
- Football, soccer, softball and baseball fields
- Lighted basketball, tennis, playground and fieldhouse
Ivy Hill Park
Newark- Tennis courts
- Baseball fields
- Football/soccer field
- Band concert area and playground
Mills Reservation
Cedar Grove / Montclair- Preserved open space
- Walking trails
- Scenic lookout at Quarry Point
Monte Irvin Orange Park
Orange- Football and soccer fields
- Jogging path
- Fishing pond
- Lighted basketball, softball and playground
Kip’s Castle Park
Verona- Castle grounds open dawn to dusk
- Historic building used for cultural and historic affairs
- Picnic-friendly lawn
Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
Upper Montclair- Historic garden property
- Thousands of iris varieties
- Major spring garden destination
Riker Hill Art Park
Livingston- Art studios
- Craft center
- Panoramic western Essex views
- Outdoor sculpture collection
Riverbank Park
Newark- Grandstand and baseball field
- Playground and shelter
- Tennis and basketball courts
- Running track and soccer field
South Mountain Reservation
West Orange / Maplewood / Millburn- Turtle Back Zoo
- Codey Arena
- Washington Rock Lookout Historic Site
- Picnic areas, hiking trails, carriage roads and Hemlock Falls
Vailsburg Park
Newark- Baseball and soccer fields
- Modern playground and shelter
- Senior center and bocce
- Basketball courts and jogging path
Verona Park
Verona- 13-acre lake
- Boating and fishing
- Boathouse and ornamental bridge
- Tennis, playground, bocce, concerts and fitness course
Watsessing Park
Bloomfield- Playgrounds
- Football, softball and soccer fields
- Basketball courts
- Historic bandstand and senior recreation building
Weequahic Park
Newark- 18-hole golf course
- Lake and jogging track
- Tennis and paddleball courts
- Concerts, formal garden and picnic areas
West Essex Reservation
Livingston / Roseland / West Caldwell / Fairfield- Golf driving range and miniature golf
- Environmental Center
- Boating, canoeing and fishing
- Interpretive trail and bird-watching
West Essex Trail
Verona area- Bike and hiking trail
- Trestle bridge over Peckman River
- Linear trail experience
West Side Park
Newark- Basketball, handball, volleyball and multi-purpose courts
- Baseball and football fields
- Tennis courts
- Running track and playground
Yanticaw Park
Nutley- Fieldhouse
- Football and baseball fields
- Playground
- Foot bridges, shuffleboard, bocce and basketball
Sports & Recreation
Major attractions include the South Mountain Recreation Complex, Prudential Center, Turtle Back Zoo, county golf courses and local skating/hockey resources.
Codey Arena at South Mountain
Ice skating, hockey, public sessions and special events in the South Mountain Recreation Complex.
Edison National Historical Park
National historic site preserving Thomas Edison’s laboratory and related history.
Essex County Environmental Center
Nature programs, education and outdoor learning in the West Essex Reservation area.
Prudential Center
Major arena for New Jersey Devils hockey, Seton Hall basketball, concerts and events.
Turtle Back Zoo
County zoo and family attraction within the South Mountain Recreation Complex.
Basketball
Seton Hall Basketball
Major college basketball games played in Newark.
Golf
The legacy guide included county public courses and private clubs. This page preserves the full Essex County golf list.
Francis A. Byrne County Golf Course
Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052
973-736-2306
Cedar Hill Country Club
100 Walnut Street, Livingston, NJ 07039
973-992-4700
Crestmont Country Club
750 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
973-731-0833
East Orange Golf Course
440 Parsonage Hill Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-379-7190
Essex County Country Club
350 Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
973-731-9764
Essex Fells Country Club
219 Devon Road, Essex Fells, NJ 07021
973-226-5800
Fernwood Country Club
Fernwood Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068
973-226-3200
Forest Hill Field Club
9 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
973-743-1250
Glen Ridge Country Club
555 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
973-744-7803
Green Brook Country Club
100 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-228-1800
Hendricks Field County Golf Course
240 Franklin Avenue, Belleville, NJ
973-751-0178
Maplewood Country Club
28 Baker Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040
973-762-0215
Millburn Municipal Golf Course
White Oak Ridge Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-379-4156
Montclair Golf Club
25 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
973-239-0160
Mountain Ridge Country Club
713 Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-575-0734
Rock Spring Club
Rock Spring Road, West Orange, NJ 07052
973-731-6466
Weequahic Park County Golf Course
Elizabeth and Grumman Avenue, Newark, NJ
973-923-1838
Hockey
New Jersey Devils
The Devils play in Newark, making Essex County one of New Jersey’s major professional sports destinations.
Regional NHL Teams
The original page also included nearby regional NHL teams for broader fan interest.
Codey Arena
Indoor skating and hockey venue within the South Mountain Recreation Complex.
Visitor Resources
Official County Website
Use the official county site for government departments, public records, county services, alerts and public information.
County Parks Department
Use the county parks site for permits, golf, hiking, concerts, rentals, park facilities and recreation updates.
Plan Around Major Events
Check schedules before visiting Prudential Center, Turtle Back Zoo, Branch Brook Park cherry blossom season and South Mountain Recreation Complex.