82 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
NUCLEUS OF NEWARK PARK. 
While the question as to the general policy of the board 
was yet undecided, there seemed to be no doubt 
that the Branch Brook reservoir property should be- 
come the nucleus of the central park for Newark. The loca- 
tion was central—although far north of the center of the 
large population in Newark. The tract belonging to the 
city, had in December, 1899, owing largely to the active 
efforts of the Roseville Improvement Association, Charles 
HT. Pell and others, been transferred by the Aqueduct 
Board to the Common Council, and a few days later was 
dedicated to park purposes and came under the control of 
the Board of Works—the right being reserved to use such 
part of it as necessary for reservoir purposes. There had 
been more or less agitation in favor of having the transfer 
of this tract made to the Park Commission. The Mayor 
recommended it and the press favored it. It was “as good 
a place to begin with as any, and all should help hasten the 
development of the park system. Let there be some practi- 
cal results shown as soon as possible.”: That was the way 
The Call put forth its claims for a park site to public favor. 
The tract as transferred contained about sixty acres. Ad- 
joining on the easterly side, within the park site soon after- 
ward chosen, were many residences, always very costly in 
acquirement for park uses. But the reservoir property was 
already in municipal control and held for park improve- 
ment, and in July, 1895, was transferred by the Newark 
Board of Street and Water Commissioners to the Park 
Commission. 
At the board meeting of July 18 the landscape architect 
and engineers were requested to prepare a map indicating 
their best judgment as to the lines for a Branch Brook 
Park. The lines soon afterward recommended, did not 
then, as now, include either the central or northern divi- 
sions, and on the north extended only as far as Fifth ave- 
nue. This plan was approved July 30, 1895. 
The subject of a county bond issue for the parks was also 
