Place

Riverbank Park

Plan of rectangular park with large playground area, some buildings, with curving tree lined path
Riverbank Park, Job #02138, Essex County, NJ

Olmsted Archives

Quick Facts
Location:
Essex County, NJ
Significance:
Olmsted Designed Park
MANAGED BY:
Influenced by the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Newark, New Jersey wanted their citizens to benefit from open green spaces within congested districts where industry and residences dominate the land. Riverbank Park, designed by Olmsted Brothers, was intended as an urban park to serve the growing city. Originally six-acres, Riverbank Park is the smallest in the Essex County Park System.

The main block around Riverbank Park is lined with sycamore trees along the perimeter, while Chinese elms are placed inside the park along the curved paths. Only three structures sit within Riverbank Park: the Fieldhouse, which is used as a comfort station and changing rooms, the Playground Shelter, an open-air enclosure, and the Grandstand, which provides seating for the nearby baseball field.

Source: "History," Spark Friends of Riverbank Park

For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

Last updated: June 11, 2024