Essex County is set to refurbish the Rose Garden at Brookdale Park, the roughly 15,000-square-foot plot straddling Montclair and Bloomfield that's been a neighborhood fixture since 1959. The project, a partnership between the county and the Brookdale Park Conservancy, is expected to wrap up by spring 2027, according to county officials.
The upgrade will bring two new flower beds, with permanent stone edges replacing the brick borders currently in place, as reported by WDHA. Crews will also swap out loose river rocks for new pavers, regrade sections of the garden, and add fresh landscaping, per Patch's account of the plans. Pathways and curbing will be repaired where needed, and an existing water shut-off valve will be relocated as part of the work.
What's Changing On The Ground
Beyond the flower beds and paths, the project calls for restoring the garden's carved signs and fixing up its bulletin board and kiosk, the station notes. New benches and trash cans are planned, along with a shed to store equipment and an electrical hookup so workers can charge their tools on site. One of the more eye-catching additions: a 12-foot metal obelisk built specifically for a climbing rose bush to grow on.
The money behind the makeover comes from two sources. A Green Acres grant will contribute $200,000, while the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund is covering the remaining $271,500 in construction costs, the same report states. Patch separately reported that French and Parrello of Wall landed a $296,000 professional-services contract to design the improvements, while AB Contracting of Wharton won a publicly bid $471,500 contract to carry out the construction.
A Garden With Deep Roots
The Rose Garden was established in 1959 by the North Jersey Rose Society and the Essex County Parks Commission, according to the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Essex County, who note the site now spans about 15,000 square feet across 25 beds. Rutgers Master Gardeners and community volunteers have tended the garden since the early 2000s, with peak bloom arriving each June and roses typically flowering from late May through October, sometimes stretching into November.
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. called the Rose Garden one of the most beautiful, unique, and recognizable features of the county's parks system, comparing it to the cherry blossom trees at Branch Brook Park and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Montclair. He said the county is proud to partner with the Brookdale Park Conservancy to restore the rose gardens for future generations.
Brookdale Park Conservancy president Don McLaughlin echoed that sentiment, saying the gardens are jewels of Brookdale Park and that the project will help preserve them for years to come. He added that the conservancy is thrilled about the upgrade.
