Essex County Park System Archives

10/28/2026

It's Essex County Environmental Center! Located in Essex County West Essex Park, the center is nestled within a wooded wetland habitat with access to the Passaic River. As an environmental education center, our mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the environment and its relationship to Essex County residents. For more information about the center and programs offered, visit our website at https://essexcountyparks.org/facilities/environmental-center/about.

10/27/2026

Essex County Teen Arts Festival Category Spotlight: Visual Arts 🎨 From painting to drawing to photography, digital art, and mixed media – if you create visually, this is for you. Exhibit your work, receive professional feedback, and see your art displayed alongside other teen artists from across Essex County. Tag an artist who needs to see this. 👇

10/26/2026

Guess the park! Can you guess what park is featured in this historic photo? Come back on Wednesday to find out!

10/23/2026

Archives 101:What is mylar and why is good for photographs? Mylar is a strong, transparent, and heat-resistant polyester film. According to the Society of American Archivists, mylar should be used for storing photographs because it is chemically inert (won't have reactions), physically durable, and safe for long-term preservation. By storing photographs this way, archivists can make sure that the photographs remain in good condition for a long time.

10/22/2026

It Came From Within the Archives! (Throw-back Thursday) Did you know the land where the Essex County Enviromental Center is now used to be a tavern and vegetable stand owned by the Pontecorvo family from 1920-1967. Orginally from Sorrento, Italy, Frank and his wife Claudia moved to the U.S. in 1912 settling in New York City. In 1919, Frank purchased land in Roseland along the Passaic River.

10/21/2026

It's Essex County West Side Park! Located in the Central Ward of the City of Newark, West Side Park was one of the orginal five parks of the newly established Essex County Parks System in 1895. For more information about West Side Park, visit our website at https://essexcountyparks.org/parks/west-side-park.

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

Guess the park! Can you guess what park is featured in this historic photo? Come back Wednesday to find out!

10/16/2026

Archives 101: What is alkaline and lignin? Why is lignin bad for archives? Alkaline refers to a chemical state on the PH scale that is basic rather than acidic. Ideally, archival collections are stored in neutral to mildly alkaline environments. Sometimes an alkaline "buffer" will be added to archival folders and storage boxes that will help to neutralize or absorb existing acids in the documents. Lignin is a natural polymer from the cell walls of the plants and wood that were used to create the paper. Over time, the lignin breaks down and can form harmful acidic compounds, which alkaline buffers in archival storage materials will absorb.

10/15/2026

It Came From Within the Archives! (Throw-back Thursday) Did you know a bowling green for lawn bowling was opend in Essex County Watsessing Park in June 1924? The game of lawn bowling dates back to the 13th century when "bowling on the green" was enjoyed across Europe, with especially large followings in England and Scotland. As the second-oldest British sport, lawn bowling made its way to Essex County when British, Scottish, and Canadian immigrants requested the addition of a bowling green.