VAILSBURG PARK PLAYGROUND
LOCATION: NEWARK, NJ
CLIENT: ESSEX COUNTY
MARKET SECTOR: PUBLIC
SIZE: 30 ACRES - TOTAL PARK SIZE
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Frederick Law Olmsted designed Vailsburg Park completed construction in the late 1920s. The park served as a US Army campsite during WWI and WWII and again in 1952. It is the tenth-largest park in the Essex County Park system and serves the densely populated neighborhood in Newarkâs Vailsburg section. When the County was ready to invest in an upgrade to the existing playground, PS&S was selected to design and prepare construction documents for the future playground improvements. The proposal looked to upgrade play equipment, enhance the spatial quality of the space, meet ADA guidelines, and provide a space for seating.
THE CHALLENGE
The surrounding area around the existing playground included numerous large, well-spaced shade trees and a neighborhood in need of a playground that could handle the density of the local community. The challenge was to introduce as much play equipment as possible while simultaneously decreasing the footprint of the space to preserve many of the existing large shade trees. The new play equipment needed to be vandal proof and able to handle the large volume of children that visit the park.
THE PS&S SOLUTION
The final design arced and looped around the play space to create a dynamic and fun ground plane that works harmoniously in the space. The playground has two play areas: one for children ages 2-5 and one for children ages 5-12. There are slides, spinners, and swings for both age groups, including handicap-accessible swings, musical play equipment, and a large 12-foot-tall net climber. There are also synthetic turf areas where children can run and play, in the center of the playground is a seat wall, and there are benches throughout the space from where parents can watch their children. The playground upgrades have been well received by Essex County and the local community of Newark.