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.
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service