Today, we’re traveling to New Jersey’s Branch Brook Park. The park is closed right now but even when it is open, not everyone can enjoy it. Some of us are just too far, don’t have enough free time, or are confined to our homes. The best time to enjoy the park is during cherry blossom season (going on now), which typically makes it even harder to access. The park can get crowded, and parking isn’t easy, but everyone deserves a chance to take in the picturesque view! So, what can we do? Take a virtual walk through the park. It’s not perfect but it’s still very pretty! First, we’ll cover a bit of history and few things you might see at the park.
Once an army training ground, the park was officially established in 1895. Branch Brook was the nation’s first county park. Today, it spans 360 beautiful acres.
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It offers a lake, pond, fountain, skating rink, walking paths, athletic fields, dog park, playgrounds, and more.
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One point of interest is the adjoining Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Construction began in 1899 and ended in 1954. It is the 5th-largest cathedral in North America.
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It is also home to several historically significant bridges, most of which are designed in the beaux-arts style The Subway Bridges, also known as the East and West Arch date back over a century.
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The cherry blossoms became a park staple in 1927. They were a gift from Caroline Bamberger Fuld, the sister of department store magnate Louis Bamberger.
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Cherry blossom trees have been replaced and added over the years. According to The Essex County Parks website, there are over 5,000 trees today.
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Now, the walking tour! The beautiful footage was captured in April of 2018 by YouTube user Kevin Ly.
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