Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs invite the public to participate in Essex County’s 2014 Fishing Derbies. The free events will be held in seven locations in the Essex County Park System. There is an evening fishing derby in Essex County Verona Park and, for the first time, a fishing derby will be held at the Orange Reservoir in the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex.
“Our fishing derbies are an excellent opportunity for our children to enjoy the historic Essex County Park System in a different and fun way. You’ll have a great time creating your own ‘big fish’ stories and spending some quality time with your friends and family in some of the most beautiful parks in the area,” DiVincenzo said. “I invite everyone to come out, cast their lines, Experience Essex and take a look at the improvements we are making to revitalize our parks,” he noted.
Sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, each derby is free and open to children ages 15 and younger. All children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own fishing pole, bait, bucket and chair. Prizes in various age categories for catching the first and most fish will be awarded at the conclusion of each derby.
The fishing derbies will be held as follows:
- Saturday, May 3th: Essex County Grover Cleveland Park Pond, Brookside Avenue and Runnymede Road, Caldwell/Essex Fells. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m. Derby is co-sponsored by the Roseland Recreation Department.
- Saturday, May 10th: Essex County Branch Brook Park Lake (near the Prudential Lions), Park Avenue and Lake Street, Newark. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m.
- Thursday, May 15th: Essex County Verona Park Boathouse, Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 8:15 p.m.
- Saturday, May 17th: Essex County Weequahic Park Lake, Elizabeth Avenue and Meeker Avenue, Newark. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m.
- Saturday, June 7th: Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park Pond, Center Street and Harrison Street, Orange. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m.
- Saturday, June 14th: Essex County Irvington Park Pond, Grove Street and Lyons Avenue, Irvington. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m.
- Saturday, September 13th: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Orange Reservoir, Paddle Boat area. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m.
For additional information, please call 973-735-6229. The fishing derbies will be held rain or shine.
