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Weequahic Park Restoration
LOCATION: Weequahic Park, part of the Essex County park system, is located within the limits of the City of Newark and is bounded by the cities of Elizabeth and Hillside.
PURPOSE:
- Reduce pollution entering the lake by installing structural water quality management devices on pipe systems that discharge storm water from paved areas in to the lake. Plant herbaceous and woody shrubs and small trees to stabilize exposed soil within the wooded fringe between the lakeshore and roadway. Plant woody plants, including shrubs and small trees, along and adjacent to the lakeshore to stabilize the lake shore and remove pollutants from surface runoff.
- Establish an ecologically diverse forest under-story that provides habitat (cover and forage) for migratory and resident birds and other wildlife found within the park, and provide shade and cover along the lakeshore for aquatic species. These are comprised of native plant species that when established will out-compete existing invasive plant species.
FUNDING: The Office of Natural Resource Restoration (ONRR) is providing the Weequahic Park Association with $200,000.00 to assist with a portion of the lake restoration known as
Areas 14 -17. The Green Acres Program provided additional funding. Total project cost is $514,150.
PROJECT SUMMARY: Weequahic Park has 311 acres of active recreation fields, play areas, woodlands, golf course and a lake that is over 80 acres in size. The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architectural firm in the early 1900’s. The Olmsted Firm’s involvement continued throughout the parks refinement from inception on into the 1930’s. The park and lake are located within 3.5 miles of the Newark Bay and has been identified as a Priority Restoration Site, within the Hudson Raritan Estuary, by the Harbor Estuary Program. At 80 acres the lake is the largest freshwater water body within WMA7 (Watershed Management Area), the state designation that encompasses 4 counties and 36 municipalities. Located on the eastern flyway for migratory waterfowl and song birds the park, with its mature forest canopy and lake, provides a resting place and temporary sanctuary.
With runoff from highly urbanized areas entering the lake through the municipal storm sewer system and overland flow from the upslope areas surrounding the lake the lake has become highly eutrophic. The causes of the eutrophic conditions are sediments being washed from the soil surface by the overland runoff, contaminants from streets and high levels of nutrients contained within the lake sediments. The lack of an established and dense forest under-story can be directly linked to the sediment being contributed to the lake. There are extensive areas upslope of the lake shore that have bare soil exposed.
BENEFITS: Improve water quality within the lake and to re-establish a diverse forest under-story and habitat. Maintain and enhance migratory waterfowl habitat.
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