Military Park

Military Park is a six-acre, triangular park in the downtown district of Newark in Essex County. The park has been a public space since the city was planned in 1667 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It is home to notable outdoor sculptures, including the massive statue called Wars of America by Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore. Previously, a training ground for soldiers until 1869, the park served as the town commons and most recently underwent a major revitalization.

Today Military Park has over an acre of new gardens, a new restaurant, public restrooms, movable chairs and tables, and lawns and plazas that host a range of free cultural and recreational activities. The park has its own on-site day and night security and a maintenance staff to keep the park clean, attractive and in bloom. Since its soft opening, Military Park has become a gathering place for people from all over Newark, including residents, commuters, and visitors. The park serves as the focal point for significant development in the downtown district and will be instrumental as the district begins its transformation from a Monday through Friday, 9-5 area to one that is vibrant and busy every day and into the evening.