Community Corner

A Guide to Union County Parks

Quick facts about the county's Olmstead parks system.

This month marks the 90th Anniversary of the Union County Parks Department. Designed by the Olmsted brothers, whose greatest hits include Manhattan’s famed central park, the parks system offer diverse recreation opportunities for Union County residents. 

The parks system’s best-known attractions are the Trailside Nature and Science Center and the Watchung Stable, both in the 2,065-acre Watchung Reservation, Galloping Hill Golf Course and Learning Center in Kenilworth, Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains, and the 50-year-old Warinanco Ice Skating Center in Warinanco Park.

In honor of Earth Day, Patch has compiled information on Union County Parks. For maps of the park and more information, including upcoming events visit the Union County Parks website.

Black Brook Park in Kenilworth 

  • Baseball Field
  • Fishing
  • Ice Skating
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field

Briant Park in Summit  

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  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Ice Skating
  • Picnic Area (Reservable)

Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield/South Plainfield  

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Handball
  • Ice Skating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field
  • Spray Pool
  • Tennis Courts

Echo Lake Park

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  • Dog Park
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Ice Skating
  • Paddle Boating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Sledding
  • Snack Bar
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field

Elizabeth River Parkway, Chatfield (Zimmerman) Section in Hillside/Union  

  • Baseball Field
  • Softball Field

Elizabeth River ParkwayLightning Brook Section in Hillside/Union  

  • Baseball Field
  • Fishing
  • Playground

Pruden (Pearl Oval) Section in Elizabeth  

  • Soccer Field

Salem (Rutgers and Liberty) Section in Hillside/Union  

  • Basketball
  • Fishing
  • Playground
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field

Woodruff (Conant St) Section in Hillside/Union  

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball
  • Fishing
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Shuffleboard
  • Soccer Field

Esposito Park in Clark 

  • Fitness Trail
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Skate Park
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field

Green Brook Park in Plainfield/North Plainfield  

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball
  • Fishing
  • Ice Skating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Soccer Field

Houdaille Quarry in Springfield  

  • Pistol Range

Kawameeh Park in Union

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Playground
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field
  • Tennis Courts

Lenape Park in Cranford, Kenilworth, Springfield, Union and Westfield  

  • Bicycle Path
  • Fishing
  • Model Railroad Club
  • Nature Trail

Madison Avenue Park in Rahway  

  • Baseball Field
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Soccer Field

Mattano Park in Elizabeth 

  • Baseball Field
  • Handball
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Running Track
  • Skate Park
  • Soccer Field
  • Spray Pool
  • Tennis Courts

McConnell Park in Cranford  

  • Fishing

Milton Lake Park in Clark and Rahway  

  • Canoeing/Kayaking
  • Fishing
  • Ice Skating

Nomahegan Park in Cranford  

  • Baseball Field
  • Bicycle Path
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Ice Skating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field

in Clark

  • Archery
  • Bicycle Path
  • Fitness Trail
  • Restrooms

Passaic River Parkway in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit  

  • Canoeing/Kayaking
  • Fishing
  • Nature Trail
  • Picnic Area
  • Soccer Field

Phil Rizzuto Park in Elizabeth 

  • Fitness Trail
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Soccer Field
  • Spray Pool

Rahway Park/Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool in Rahway

  • Baseball Field
  • Bicycle Path
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Ice Skating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Running Track
  • Snack Bar
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field
  • Swimming
  • Tennis Courts

Rahway River Parkway in Rahway

  • Bloodgood’s Pond Clark
  • Canoeing/Kayaking
  • Fishing

Rahway River Parkway, Clark-Linden (Osceola) Section, in Clark and Linden

  • Fishing

Rahway River Parkway, Jackson’s Pond Section, in Clark 

  • Canoeing/Kayaking
  • Fishing

Mohawk Drive & Sperry Pond in Cranford 

  • Basketball
  • Bicycle Path
  • Fishing
  • Ice Skating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground

Mohawk Drive & Sperry Pond, Squires Island, Rahway

  • Fishing

Snyder Park Field in Berkeley Heights 

  • Playground
  • Multi-Use Turf Field
  • Baseball
  • Spray Park
  • Walking Trail

Meisel Avenue Park in Springfield 

  • Baseball Field
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Ice Skating
  • Running Track
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field

Washington Avenue in Springfield

  • Playground

Sperry Park in Cranford 

  • Fishing

Unami Park in Cranford, Garwood and Westfield 

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball
  • Picnic Area (Reservable)
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field
  • Tennis Courts

Warinanco Park in Elizabeth and Roselle

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball
  • Bicycle Path
  • Cricket
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Trail
  • Handball
  • Horseshoes
  • Ice Skating – Semi-enclosed Ice Rink
  • Paddle Boating
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Running Track
  • Shuffleboard
  • Snack Bar
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field
  • Spray Pool
  • Tennis Courts

Wheeler Park in Linden

  • John Russell Wheeler Memorial Pool
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Snack Bar
  • Skate Park
  • Soccer Field
  • Softball Field
  • Swimming

Watchung Reservation in Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Springfield and Watchung

  • Bridle Trails
  • Canoeing/Kayaking – Lake Surprise
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Fishing
  • Ice Skating (Outdoor)
  • Trailside Nature and Science Center
  • Nature Trails
  • Organized Camping Area
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Snack Bar
  • Watchung Stables


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