Community Corner

Construction is Underway at Orange Reservoir

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo announced the county's plans to build two pedestrian bridges and upgrade a walkway around the waterway in the heart of South Mountain Reservation in West Orange.

Building two pedestrian bridges and completing a walking path around the Orange Reservoir in Essex County South Mountain Reservation are the latest construction plans to get underway in the county, according to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo.

The Orange Reservoir is 115 acres and lies on Cherry Lane in West Orange and within the boundaries of South Mountain Reservation. The upgrades will create a 1.7-mile pathway around the waterway and help continue the transformation of the area into a recreation destination, according to a press release from the Essex County Executive’s office.

At a press conference held at McLoone’s Boathouse Nov. 25, DiVincenzo announced that construction of the two bridges and pedestrian walkway will be completed in April 2014 and will contribute to the “economic development” of the County and give visitors more recreational options in the reservation.

Find out what's happening in West Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

“This waterway brings an additional recreation activity that won’t cost visitors anything,” DiVincenzo said at the press conference. “People can enjoy the beauty of what we have to offer without costing them a dime through the pathway and bridges. The entire complex is not just for Essex County, but also for those from other counties and other states.”

Find out what's happening in West Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

The upgrades cost an estimated $2.1 million and will be paid in its entirety through the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, according to DiVincenzo.

French and Parrello of Wall, NJ, received a $106,923 contract to design the upgrades and Shauger Property Services of East Orange was awarded a publicly bid contract for $2,157,260 to perform the construction work, according to the release.

One bridge will be constructed at the Reservoir Dam and be 84 feet long and another bridge will be built over a creek leading into the Reservoir at 70 feet long. There will be seating areas and planters on the bridges and walkway, and blue nautical-themed lighting will canvas the entire area at night. The walkway will be approximately 10 feet wide and will endure a landscaping face-lift throughout the construction period.

 

DiVincenzo stated in the release that he believes the upgraded pathway will create recreational “opportunities” for people visiting the South Mountain Recreation Complex.

 

“Having a continuous 1.7-mile pathway around the Reservoir will create unbelievable opportunities to enjoy nature, link hiking trails to South Mountain Reservation, stroll around the waterway and observe different perspectives of this magnificence open space that were never possible before,” DiVincenzo said.

 

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura was also in attendance at the conference and stated the police department will do everything possible to ensure safety of the people visiting the complex and the new area.

 

“I already hear how safe people feel here and we will continue to make sure our resources will be used to keep this place as pristine and safe as we can,” Fontoura said at the conference.

 

Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren also attended the conference and stated he was “happy and delighted” for the project and the collaboration between Orange and Essex County to make the project possible.

 

Essex County and Orange entered into a 20-year lease agreement over the property in Oct. 2012, according to the release. The release further states that according to the terms of the partnership, Essex County will pay a total of $1.6 million to Orange to lease the Reservoir property and will be responsible for all costs to maintain and develop the site for public recreation.

 

DiVincenzo stated at the conference that upon completion, the project would be “something great.”

 

“Once this is completed, the bridges and pathways will be lit and go around the entire complex,” DiVincenzo said at the conference. “It will complete something great.”

DiVincenzo further stated that once this project is completed, the next project the county will look to is building a parking deck across from Turtle Back Zoo in the complex.

“After this project, we will build a brand new parking deck with 500 parking spaces in front of Turtle Back Zoo,” DiVincenzo said. “We hope to have the ground broken with that by Sept. 1 of 2014.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here