Elizabeth Recreation
With approximately 46 parks, there is always a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy in Elizabeth. Its main parks include Warinanco and Mattano parks, both belonging to the County system, and the majestic Veteran’s Memorial Waterfront Park. The City’s most extensive park is Warinanco Park, a county park designed by the noted landscape architect Frederick Olmstead, who also designed New York’s Central Park. It is truly a park for all seasons, with winding trails, huge trees, flower gardens, ice skating rink, track, fitness course, tennis courts, and football, soccer and baseball fields. In the spring, cherry blossoms sprout and turn the park into a colorful place that must be seen. Azaleas, tulips and magnolias surround the park. Also, a winding waterway with various birds and waterfowl crosses through the park.
At the eastern end of town is the Veteran’s Memorial Waterfront Park, which Mayor Bollwage dedicated in 1993. The park fronts the Kill Van Kull waterway, which flows into the New York Harbor. The boardwalk recreation area contains a fishing pier, tables for chess, bike racks, and benches. There is a City-run marina that has slips and dry-docking facilities for more than 60 privately owned pleasure and fishing boats.
At Mattano Park, there are more ballfields, playgrounds, and a water spray for children in the summer. There are beautiful views of green fields and the Elizabeth River. Union County also recently opened Phil Rizzuto Park on the borders of Elizabeth/Union/Hillside in honor of the New York Yankee Hall-of-Fame baseball player who lives nearby. The park is a 10.4-acre multi-use facility that also contains a “Boundless Playground” area, which allows children with disabilities to play alongside their peers.
The City has a number of recreation centers open to the public throughout Elizabeth, including the Thomas G. Dunn Sports Center and the YMCA on Madison Avenue. Elizabeth is within easy driving distance of at least three golf courses in Union County alone, including Ash Brook, Oak Ridge, and Galloping Hill. During the off-season, Galloping Hill is transformed into a winter wonderland, offering sledding, cross-country skiing and ice skating.
The City of Elizabeth has served as a backdrop for a number of famous movie productions, including one done by Woody Allen, and music videos for performing artists such as Sting, Brian Adams, and Rod Stewart. TV shows such as “The Sopranos” have used the City as a backdrop. The Elizabeth’s Department of Recreation boasts a wide-array of programs that makes it one of the best in the state. Every kind of sport imaginable is offered: from youth sports leagues to tennis instruction, to basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, swimming, and boxing. There are also day camps, ceramic and flower classes. The department runs two in-ground pools and six fountain sprinkler systems from July 4th until Labor Day. The City hosts an annual recreational event, the “Tour de Elizabeth” bicycle tour of the City. Because of the overwhelming success of the event, the number of participants has nearly doubled. The “Tour de Elizabeth” is now set to take place on the 4th Sunday in May.
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