Branch Brook Park Reviews

Stopped here to photograph the cherry blossoms. While there weren't as many blooming as I had hoped, I still enjoyed walking around the lake. Plenty of photo opportunities. Lots of joggers and passersby. Nice scenic park.

I have biked and walked thru this park for many years. This year is one of the best for cherry blossoms. Designed by Olmsted, decorated with cherry trees from the Bamberger family in 1927 and improved upon in the last 10 years are all reasons to visit.
The trees bloom for about 4 to 6 weeks. Anyone who grew up in Essex County remembers viewing the cherry blossoms dressed in their new Easter clothes. Today it is more casual. Park your car in the visitor's center or nearer to either end of the park in Belleville or Newark and walk.
There are special programs....walks, bike rides, shows...that are offered on weekends but your focus will be on the flowers. Any day in April will work.
We love this park and like walking in it throughout the year. Except for Cherry Blossom time, the park is pretty empty but still very pretty.
There are some nice Italian and Spanish restaurants, if you exit the park onto Bloomfield Avenue, in either direction. There is a great Thai restaurant in Belleville on Washington Avenue.There is beautiful Sacred Heart Cathedral that also deserves a visit.
Bring your camera and see the best cherry blossoms in the world!

A smaller Northern New Jersey counterpart to Central Park, sharing the same designer, Branch Brook Park offers a quiet, beautiful, scenic drive through Newark and Belleville.

I just wouldn't feel safe walking around the park ,but it is very pretty .

This is a great place to visit for the photo opportunities, This is awesome during the springtime. The Cherry blossom festival is among the best around. Always crowded and parking is hard at times, but this place is awesome and beautiful.

I visited the branch brook park with family and friends in the second week of May. While the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom in April, there were some trees left with blossoms for us to admire!
The park is beautiful and serene. there is water body as well where one can enjoy fishing. It is great place to have a picnic. Carry your own picnic baskets, some blankets , fishing gear and a camera and you are set for the day.
It is best to visit the park in April, as the park looks blooming pink. Towards the end of the month and early May is also fine.

Beautiful park and looks fantastic during spring cherry blossom. But is crowded. It is Quite a walk to cover the whole park. Also parking is a pain !

A wonderful playround and park
to spend a relaxing day. During the Spring, Branch Brook has the largest Cherry Blossom Festival in the world.

It's not fair...I live nearby. I've joined someone for tennis, played my guitar, eaten a box lunch from a takeout place...and this facility is huge...watch a softball game or fly a kite or just go for a walk....and its a nice long walk...cherry picking any one ?

Great, fun-filled skating with my sisters and friends to popular music and affordable deals for food as an a combo. I absolutely love family-friendly environments where children can be themselves. I would definitely recommend to others.

This is my second time here and I travel from Brooklyn just to come and skate. And be around good energy, good music, good environment. Like it's just warm. And you meet people who are willing to help u with tricks and get better. I truly thank Tiffany for welcoming me when I first came an because of that warm experience from the Gate!!! I will keep coming back.

A beautiful place to take a walk in nature or play with kids in the park or playground.
The relatively new playground they put in but the welcome center is great fun for the kids to enjoys for hours!
The place is safe for the family which is very important especially in the surrounding area!!!

Next time I am staying longer, packing a lunch and enjoying it!! This was a first visit which was a bit short on time but the site of these trees is breathtaking! Do not forget your camera, really! We visited the cathedral and I would have liked to take the tour as well to learn more about the history. The park grounds are very nice and lots of people take time to enjoy their surroundings. Lots of children and pets too! The fountains along the water do add some flair as well. Parking was fairly easy to find and it was nice to park, walk and then drive a bit and park somewhere else and walk there. The grounds are large so wear very comfortable shoes. Too much to see in one day ~

We have gone to the park for the Cherry Blossoms for years and this time we tried the bus tour. What a great tour. Good information about the Cherry Blossoms the history of the trees. Why pine trees were placed near the Cherry Blossoms (color highlight and complimentary tree). Saw the Ballantine Gate and learned about all the bridges and the Lions protecting the water and park.

Famous for the Cherry Blossom festivals. A beautiful scenic park which extend into two cities I believe. Great for jogging, strolling and taking pictures. Many wedding pictures have been taken there throughout the years. A must visit when in Newark.

This part is absolutely beautiful in the spring around Easter time. This is when they have the Cherry Blossom Festival. Riding through the park seeing the abundance of pink blossoms and overall nature is amazing. Taking pictures is a must. People come from all over to see the cherry blossoms. Come and experience this for yourself!!! See you at Easter!!

Grab a partner and walk because it is a nice stroll around the park and now they are building a doggy park. check it out

the park is clean, small but still has a variety of views: lake, trees, and birds, all very close. It has inside a roller skating center, very affordable, but it has very loud Music, almost disturbing.

Went to this park last Saturday during the Cherry Blossom Festival. A lot of stuff was going on. We wanted to go on the historic tour but never found the building to register. But all in all it was a beautiful day, we walked around and got some great pics of a small portion of the park and the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Cherry blossoms weren't fully out yet. But buds were popping!

I was so excited to go- three hours to drive but the thought of more cherry trees than DC and peak blossom was advertised. The park was crowded with Easter families, everybody was happy and pleasant, parking was relatively easy, but...the south side had so much garbage, in the shrubs, in the water, blowing on the grass. The north side much, much cleaner. About ten trees in bloom and everyone wanted to stand under them for their photos. No water to be found to drink except from the two bathrooms sinks open (one on each end of park) or the incessant ice-cream/novelty trucks playing unending music just outside park borders. South pathways also half mud or dirt while north all paved. Even the visitor center posted signs that said only staff could drink the available water.

This park is so beautiful year round! However it transforms into heaven during cherry blossom season. A must see for all who love nature at its best!

You want to see cherry blossom and not to drive 5 hours , this a place to be. It is completely safe and gorgeous . Take you kids and camera for memories

Maybe during spring is a lot better. However, do not come the ought Clifton or 7th ave at night because that's the bad area of Newark.

The plus was the option of rollers skating rink. There are some paths but is mostly drivable

I didn't see any food trucks and parking is mostly along the lake where they do have a shoulder lane for those who wanted to stop and be by the lake

The park covers an area of about 300 acres. One of the prettiest park in New Jersey.The Cherry Blossom trees are beautiful in the spring time. It transforms into heaven during Cherry Blossom season. The Sacred Heart Cathedral Basilica over looking the big lake is amazing.

Branch Brook park was one of the first parks many Italian, Irish, Polish and German immigrants called home when they settled in North Newark. Cherry Blossom festival in April brings back these generations. An award winning designers from Central Park era. Visit with care. The neighborhood around is changing, use care and common sense.

Branch Brook Park is amazing. They have tennis courts and several areas for picnicking. Also during when the cherry blossoms bloom the park is a great sight to behold. But parts of the surrounding neighborhood is a little unsafe so take some caution especially at night. Overall the park is safe.

Drove through Branch Brook Park on Friday to check out the foliage. At lunch time I stopped at Tony’s Hotdog truck to get a couple of “dogs” with onions and a soda. The food had changed but nonetheless they were still filling!

I have to say that Branch Brook Park is a little slice of Heaven that's been cut into the city of Newark, NJ. No matteer what time of the year you go there, it's so beautiful and so relaxing. The best time however, is the spring, during the cherry blossom time. It's short, but amazingly beautiful!!!

This park is huge and one of my favorite places to visit during the Spring because of the cherry blossom festival. It's a gorgeous place to walk around and take pictures. Highly recommend visiting if your nearby the area! The weekends during this time gets pretty busy so I recommend going during the week to beat the crowds!

I attended the Cherry Blossoms Fest in 2012 and the family was happy to spend the day in the park together. The Fest offered bouncy's for kids, paddle boats on the lake and live music. I left disappointed only because I did not see the cherry blossoms that I had paid a toll and driven 23 miles for? This year (4/28/13) I made a point of finding them! The better part of them are located in the northern point of the park starting at Heller Pkwy and the Cherry Blossom Center. Here you can bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the pink like forest! I wish there were more and not so close to the road or other vehicles but it made for some great pictures! Though I don't think my family shares the same enthusiasm, thanks to the Newark Police sirens that bellowed around us, Ill sneak back in a couple weeks when the petals start to fall like snow. Cant help myself; Im a romantic! Lol

This park is absolutely one of my favorites. Ive been visiting this park every year since i was 11. I actually lived for 12 yrs right next to it. Everything from the cherry blossom trees, cherry blossom festivals, movies in the park, seeing the nj symphony orchestra perform w fire works afterwards, free concerts, marathons, bicycle racing, walking, going for a run, climbing trees, having a picnic, seeing squirrels, birds,groundhogs, possum n deer, the ducks enjoying themselves in the water, the trees...especially the weeping willow, the view of the trees during a snowstorm, not to mention I'm getting married in a gazebo right across the street from a breathtaking church that pope John Paul II made into a basilica when he visited in the 1990's. Come visit. You won't regret it

It all depends on what area in the Park you are going to. I live not to far and I enjoy bike riding and walking through the park from certain areas. Branchbrook Park stretches from Newark to Belleuvue. I will say the end near Clifton Ave can be very dirty and at times dangerous. I was robbed having my jewelry snatched off my neck by a man riding on a bike as I walked through the park. Newark side off of Clifton Ave. I still go through the park but I am more cautious. I actually like the cleanliness a little further down towards Bloomfield Ave. There is a baseball field, roller skating rink and a soccer field in different areas of the park. There is also an area where there is a water fountain in the middle of the lake however it is fully of garbage so you definitely don't want to eat the fish out of it in case you are going fishing.

Is a very nice park to run relax and have a good family time . You can have picnic and even play some sport

You do not need to go Washington DC, This park can rival those Cherry Blossoms in April. Get your camera ready. Best to go during week day, less crowd.

most cherry blossoms in the world! come during april to see them. otherwise, lots of sites at other parts of the park. people playing bocci, cricket, roller rink, lots of lakes and bridges. nice place to visit!

What a beautiful place in the springtime when the cherry blossoms are out.

Branch Brook Park is a great place to relax on the beautiful grass or a quiet walk around the park on the new rubberized walkways. Its a great place for one to meditate on life while gazing at the beautiful trees to absorb all that nature has to offer. Its a place where I go to let go of the past and regroup to continue moving forward. Whether your alone, with love ones, or just friends, Branch brook Park offers a unique experience for all to enjoy.

Beautiful park, especially in April when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.
We went during the week, when it is less crowded, and it is easy to find a parking spot. You can park anywhere along the roads in the park. There are several types of cherry trees, blooming at slightly different times, so basically the first half of April is beautiful. There are also daffodils and flowering bushes.
Great place to walk and take photos. Some artists were painting the gorgeous scenery.
Many families walking with children and strollers, as schools have spring break in April. Many families brought a blanket and snacks, and had a picnic under the beautiful blooming trees.

Did you know that Branch Brook Park has MORE Cherry Blossom Trees than Washington, DC? The yearly festival is a week long event, a great place to visit and enjoy the vision that Frederick Law Olmsted (designer of Central Park) had in 1895 for Newark.

This park are amazing on spring, it have a thousands of cherry trees, try to visit it when it's blooming!

An urban oasis bordering on sections of Newark that never completely collapsed. (Of course, be smart and you'll probably be safe - but that's true anywhere.) Each spring (time varies according to Mother Nature's schedule) hundreds of cherry blossom trees bloom and the park becomes a pink and white wonderland of blossoms. Driving and parking can be tough but well worth it. Another highlight: a bocce court with active - and some quite skilled - players, seemingly always active on warm weekends. Adjacent: the Newark Basilica. Worth the trip.

What a lovely wee cafe in Eglinton,staff were friendly, efficient and very busy, the food was amazing, table dishes and the whole cafe simply spotless,and well designed and homely, really relaxing,shall be back here for sure in the very near future❤️

Just returned home after spending a day at the Branch Brook Park. I did enjoy the stroll through the park, but I must admit I expected a lot more cherry trees.

What i liked most about the park is that there arent too many people. I noticed a few people playing sports such as baseball, soccer, football and volleyball. There were some men fishing. Some people were walking their dogs and/or babies.

Some Negative aspects of the park include lots of noise such as loud ambulances and traffic and the fact that the park is not very well maintained (there is lots of garbage, dead trees etc)

But I did spend a wonderful day at the park. Definitely go see it.

Nice to sroll along the park on a nice breezy day with the trees in full bloom. You can walk or drive through the park and at the end come across the Church as well.

This place is very big and clean. I like to jog through the park. It has a skating rink if you have kids or you just want to work out. very beautiful place

Branch Brook Park keeps getting better and safer every year and you can see that the City of Newark has put a lot of money into maintaining the park. They have planted more Cherry trees all over the place and most of the sections where the Cherry Blossom Visitors Center is located have been fixed up and updated.

Still when the Cherry Blossoms are in season, the park is at its height of beauty. It is nice to walk along the paths and admire the trees which are there to be graceful. It is like Mother Nature's gift to us after a long winter (and cold one). The trees that last week of April were still in bloom and with the recent rain storm just beginning to fall off. Still there were lots of wedding and engagement pictures being taken in the park and plenty of people walking along the paths getting pictures in.

This is something that happens in the month of April so try to see the trees when they are in full bloom. It is a real treat to just relax, walk the paths and enjoy the park on a warm Spring afternoon.

Visited on April 13, the official celebration on the cherry blossoms is tomorrow. However this is a late season. The blossoms may not be in full bloom for maybe a week yet. I only wish there was a website that tracked how full the blossoms are.

This is a beautiful park at any time but especially during the height of the cherry blossoms. It is an amateur photographer's dream! You could spend hours just looking at the trees and taking photos. There are plenty of walking paths for the nonphotographer.

This is an absolutely magnificent example of a park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park. The park is undergoing major renovations directed by the Branch Brook Park Alliance. Ornamental flowering cherry trees are an important feature of this park, which bring thousands of visitors each spring. I live near this park and walk under the blossoms to celebrate the arrival of spring. Biking through the park every few weeks gives me a new lease on life. This place is a destination any time of year, but springtime is best!

Oh, if you like hot dogs, there are trucks in several areas that sell some of Noo Joyzee's best!

Branch Brook Park, having been around since the late 1800’s, is amazing. Found in the City of Newark, this nationally renowned Park is several miles long. It has trails, ponds, lakes, streams, sporting venues and most of all, it has cherry blossoms, thousands and thousands of them. In the spring it is a heavily trafficked area where the beauty of the pink and white flowering trees are abounding. People from all over the world gravitate to this exquisite locale. There is plenty of parking, but it does get congested when the blossoms are in bloom. Bring your camera and a smile and you are in for a wonderful time. Visit the website for a more detailed look at the events. Don’t miss it!

When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, it's an amazing sight. However, at nearly every tree, there were parents pulling and shaking branches so that petals would fall for their child's "perfect photo" and many parents and children snapping off branches. This behavior should be admonished. Shame on them all.

This park is a Joy to see during it annual Cherry Blossom Festival every April. The massive display of cherry blossom in bloom (over 5000 in all) creates and unique and colorful display that exhibits the awakening of Spring in all it's glorry

Branch Brook Park during the spring is heaven on earth. There are more cherry blossom trees here than anywhere else in North America. We try to go every spring and picnic here and enjoy the beautiful blossoms.

This relatively large and somewhat quaint picturesque park transforms annually into a spectacular gem of blooming Japanese cherry trees (sakura trees). This is quite a spectacle... I have not seen that many sakuras in one park anywhere else in the USA.
Previously there would be no way online to check whether cherries are in bloom, but now there is a real-time camera, which is certainly an improvement.
This park becomes very romantic when sakuras are in bloom, with paved leisurely walks along the river canal.

Having seen beautiful photos of this place on social media for the past few years, I decided to head over there on the first sunny April weekend. I was a little apprehensive about going there alone and at the crack of dawn. The park is within the city limits of Newark and there are some rough neighborhoods there.
So I decided to begin at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center which is on the outskirts of town. The welcome center has some displays inside and tours are offered from here seasonally (there is also a self-guided mobile phone tour which I did dial in to a few times.) When I arrived, there were a few other people wandering around with cameras, so it seemed safe enough. I took a few pictures here and then drove to the other end of the park via the park road.
Branch Brook Lake is at the Southern end of the park with the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on its East side.  The blooms were just starting here. We've had a very cold Spring. In fact, it was only 34 degrees while I was snapping these photos.

So I went to walk around Newark and I specifically wanted to go to this park so we went. I was expecting a park practically full of cherry blossom trees; as I entered the park I looked for them and all I saw was a regular park. Yes; it's a long park but the maintenance of it is bad. Paths should've been cleaner, benches look nearly abandoned; the grass and trees should've been fixed/trimmed properly! I was just disappointed. I didn't hate it; but I just really wanted more cherry blossom trees. I was just so happy to see this nature but oh well! The park could be way better thats all!

First time to visit this enormous park. Parked a little too far, but got in a good 10 mile walking tour of the park along the paved walkway. This is the most beautiful blossom festival of the year. Today was real treat, bicycles, kids, dogs, public toilets, food vendors and well supervised with lots of police presence. Very nice will be back.

Designed by the same designer of Central Park in Manhattan, it has graceful bridges, wonderful paths, and in spring, more cherry blossoms than either Tokyo or Washington, DC!

Hard to believe, but in Newark, this park though somewhat neglected, shows it's cherry trees well.

The Cherry Blossom Festival is just magic. While this is clearly a people park in Olmstead's tradition, it also has its grandeur, including its proximity to Sacred Heart Cathedral.

My wife and I visited the park on a beautiful evening when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

It gets extremely crowded and good weather with plenty of basketball games and other things going on.

Beautiful and big park with a lake. Nice scenery to see. It also has cherry blossoms so if you go during April and May you will get treated with seeing these beautiful cherry blossoms trees.

Think you have to go to Washington D.C. to see cherry blossoms??? Think again, Branch Brook Park in Newark is outstanding!

This is a really big park and has a Cherry Blossom festival every year. I would go just for that... Nearby is Forest Hill neighborhood, which has many historic mansions.

Beautiful and big in the Forrest Hill area of Newark. But not safe at night, and I would not go there alone during the day either...

A beautiful park for any season. I recommend going there during the cherry blossoms which are spectacular.

Branch Brook Park has the largest collection of Cherry Blossoms in the US. That’s the beautiful place where my friends and I go for our power walks and where I take mom on her wheelchair to enjoy nature.

beautiful cherry blossoms amid ample walking areas, more than DC; live cam to time your visit and friendly visitors center to help. Newark Basilica nearby.

Great place beutiful its clean. Love the park its a beutiful place to take pictures, make a picnic and have a great familly time.

This is the most magical park during cherry blossom season. They have more cherry blossom trees than Washington DC. The traffic moves slowly as everyone is looking at the trees so just get there early and park and take a stroll. Breathtaking!!

It's a marvelous display of cherry trees. It represents the greatest diversity of cheery trees in the world and exceeds those on display in our nation's capitol. The cheery tree tradition in the park started in the 1920's when the Bamberger Fuld family made the original gift of 2,000 trees to the Essex County Park Commission. This year, 2016 is the Cherry Blossom Festivals fortieth year and seems to growing in popularity each year. The Cherry Blossom Festival is free and attractions tour busses mostly on the weekends. Presently the cherry trees have not reached their peak. I visited on Wednesday April 13. 2016. If you start your visit near the Basilica of the Sacred Heart church find a spot nearby to take photographs. Their are ample designated parking area through out the park. The Welcome Center is about 2 miles down the road from the Basilica in the park and is worth a stop. Free literature is dispensed, as well as, historic photos of the park. I particularly enjoyed the pictures of the Cherry Blossom Queens through the years. The Welcome Center also has rest rooms, a modern playground facility for children and a receptionist that loves to talk about the park. In about a week the cherry blossoms should peak. That date would be around the weekend of April 21, 22 and 23. Some of the cherry threes were already showing their blossoms the day I visited while others were just in the bud stage. Flower gardens of daffodils and hyacinths were all in bloom. See my photographs below.

Perfect time to visit Branch Brook Park is right now as the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom. Maybe not as many as in Washington, DC but still beautiful. Attended the festival yesterday and spent several hours there viewing traditional Japanese drummers, dancers, singers & musicians on stage as well as sushi, floral & samurai demonstrations. Plenty of food trucks & retailers selling all sorts of goods. Perfect weather for a Sunday in the park.

Very big park with lots of Cherry Blossoms which is the big attraction. Has a lake running through majority of the park. Good for weddings. The area around the park isn’t the nicest, it is poor and ghetto.

April is the time for cherry blossom festivals and one of the largest is at the Branch Broom Park.The park is a long swath from Newark to Bloomfield and you will find cherry blossoms all over.The Cherry Blossom Center entrance is near Belleville next to the Nanina’s in the Park restaurant and Clara Maas Medical Center.There are ample parking and bathroom facilities.A good walk around would give you good exercise and wonderful views of the cherry blossoms.

Supper beautiful place, flowers and nice park for family. Also we go here when bloosom season, beautiful and super nice.
Many parking lot

I find both the north and south ends of the park to be the best for cherry blossom walks. You can skip the middle. For the north end, park at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center (listed on GoogleMaps) and walk away from the playground towards the ball field area. You'll hit the river and there are lovely paths along it. The trails can be a little confusing, as they are mostly unmarked and we had to cross the road a couple times when our path petered out to hook up with a new one. But it's a skinny park and you can't go far wrong. GoogleMaps on your phone can be helpful.

Once back at your car, drive down to the south end of the park - it's a long walk and there's not many blossoms in between. Follow Branch Brook Drive, which stays inside the park, until you see a small parking lot on your left. At this point you'll likely see cars parked on the sides of the road. Park anywhere in this area and walk around the pond - lots of beautiful trees! When walking up the eastern side of the loop, you'll see the spires of Sacred Heart Cathedral which is a very short walk from the park and worth visiting even just to see the impressive outside up close.
There are restrooms at the Welcome Center and also by the pond at the south end. I hope you enjoy this lovely park!

We love the park because it has a lot of areas to walk and enjoy the landscaping. The pond is gorgeous to take a stroll next to. We also like that there is a children's play ground and a basketball court for the adults. I like the open space for cook out purposes and having family time. We visit often. Very clean.

Nice Well Kept Park, in Size. Nice Place To Have A Picnic and See The Cherry Blossoms When in Bloom.

I was here watching my son practice for his baseball team; great weather, scenery, and sights. Parking can be a little touchy but it’s a nice park overall

This is a beautiful park especially in the spring. Don't miss the Cherry Blossom festival in April. They bring in vendors, music, activities for the kids. Lots of fun. There is also a heavy police presence that day if you're worried about safety.

Very few people know this, but the second largest collection of cherry blossoms after Washington DC, is in Branch Brook Park. The park is beautiful when they are blooming. I have seen both DC's blossoms and Newark's blossoms and Newarks are on par with Washington's.

Cherry Blossom time in the spring is a real treat. The long linear park is fun to walk and watch others watching you. Don't let the Newark address keep you from enjoying a park with more cherry trees than Washington D.D.

Summer concerts there are for everyone, family park, picnics are roomy for privacy with families. It's worth travelling here for the concerts, if your not a local, if your more local, nice park to take advantage of.

Our 1st stop on our East Coast vacation was New Jersey n our New York friends took us on a sightseeing tour of d city n took us to a park with lots of beautiful cherry blossom trees...we really enjoyed taking pictures n posing by all d wonderful colorful trees....i’ve never seen a park so big n full of cherry blossom trees, u can imagine that u are in Japan!

A good friend is going to Rutgers for her Ph.D.in bugs or germs or something like that. I went along to help with the move. Branch Brook Park is right out her apt. door !!! She and her dog are in Heaven !!!

Fishing with kids was amazing. The fountain spotting water into the air with the cathedral view in the background truly spectacular!!! The blooming cherry blossoms were amazing!! A must see for all of all ages! It's very understandable why people from all over including other countries come to see this marvelous sight❤️

Not 100% sure it was May but it was Cherry Blossom time & the park was quite beautiful. We parked the car & walked for about 2 hours visiting most sections of the park where we viewed older gentlemen playing Boci, cards & dominoes and people picnicking & exercising throughout the park.

First visit for us and we have lived in NJ forever! Great park to view the cherry blossoms. The walk around the lake is quite picturesque. Easy to park right in the park. Don't forget your camera! The Cathedral across the lake makes for a great back drop.

I am so lucky to live across the street from this park. It is beautifully maintained and the walking tracks are user friendly. If I had a wish list, it would include additional playgrounds in the northern sections and better lighting.

Beautiful park, home of the Cherry Blossom Festival, baseball, softball, bike, marathons and tennis tournaments as well. Kept very clean. Safe and relaxing.

If you're in the area you have to drive through during Cherry Blossom Season. We've been going since I was a child. The park is beautiful and one of the best kept secrets in Newark.

This park is well maintained, spacious, nicely laid out... The largest collection of Cherry Blossom trees in the entire country stand right here in Belleville, NJ. Make sure to visit during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in early April- it is breathtakingly beautiful.

The park is great for everyone. There is a children's play area, miles of walking trails and in Spring, the park comes alive with greenery. The cherry blossoms are second to none. There are more trees than in Washington, DC.

I have found out about this beautiful park from a friend of mine few days ago. I used to go to Washington DC to watch cherry blossom over there. Now, I am glad I can enjoy cherry blossom in NJ, so much closer to my home. The Cheery blossom festival is beautiful, cherry trees there are amazing. I believe this is much bigger area than in DC.

The park is almost 4 miles and runs through the North Ward of Newark. The park and parking are both free. Roadside parking is available along most of the route. It was the first county park in the United States and partially designed by Frederick Law Olmstead of Central Park fame. Today it hosts the largest display of Cherry Blossom trees with over 4,000 trees and 14 different varieties. In terms of the number of trees, it exceeds the Washington D.C. display. In the fall of 2016 another large number of trees were planted which when I visited on April 13, 2017 were not yet in bloom. Through experience I think the true peak is going to occur around April 21rst this year. There is a live Web Cam on line which will help you decide when to visit. While Japanese Cherry trees predominate, Yoshino Higan and Fuji Cherry trees have been added. These trees color the landscape in shades of white to pink and extend the blooming period beyond two weeks. I suggest you visit the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center first which you will find by just following the waterway which runs through the park. There you will find some history, maps and guiding pamphlets. The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival Bloomfest takes place this year on April 23, 2017. They will be having live performances, cultural demonstrations and children's activities. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981. Be sure to visit the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart which is located at the southern end of the park. Penn Station is the arrival port of trains and buses. Newark has a light rail line which has numerous drop offs along the park route if you are not going to drive.

My wife and I went to see the Cherry Blossom in May. We saw all the beautiful flowers and experience the view of other folks taking pictures.

First time visit to see the cherry trees. Must go early in order to get a parking spot, park does get crowded. There are over 5,000 varieties of cherry trees. Truly beautiful!!! Alot of walking.

Truly Newark's greatest attraction, Branch Brook comes alive for 2 weeks in April with pink cherry blossom trees, and there's an associated bike race and running race, along with Japanese bonsai tree, origami and kimono demonstrations (cherry blossom trees originated in Japan). While Tokyo's Ueno Park has more and MUCH bigger trees, the Newark selection is quite dense in places, though you MUST be in the upper 1/3rd of the park to see any trees at all. The rest of the year, this park is just like any other - nice for a stroll and a picnic.

Great place to go for a walk with your kids, specially now that they added swings! Go visit anytime! A little bit busy when they have Cherry Blossom Festival going but worth the trip.

This park is fantastic during cherry blossom time when you'll see more cherry trees in bloom than in Washington, D.C.! Really. Plan on taking a stroll through the park, bring along your camera, and during the celebration days, you'll find vendors and musicians. Parking is free and around the perimeter of the park.

This is a nice escape if you are in Newark and want to get away from the bustle of the city. It's about 350 acres and has nice scenery. We had no problem with parking or crowds but if you go for the Cherry Blossoms it can be totally overcrowded. There is a skating rink, jogging areas, walking paths, and plenty of room to sit and relax. This is a good place to spend a couple hours on a nice day.

We went for the cherry blossoms 🌸 festival. It's from April 2-10 th, 2022.
Great place for having a picnic with family and lots of people brought their pets. Clean park. Cherry trees are in bloom and looks very beautiful. Beautiful views. Daffodils are also in bloom. There is a park around the lake that leads to the basilica. Parking is hard to get but if you drive around you can find free street parking. Must see place for this time of the year. Great photo opportunities. Nice place to relax with family. Free admission. Food trucks are around for the events.

Central Park in New York City gets all the fame, but this is another great park designed by the Olmsteads. The Cherry Blossom area on the north end of the park is unique and worth the visit anytime, but best enjoyed in April. Nice place for a leisurely walk. Check out the bocce courts, right near the parking area by the cherry trees. They're especially well maintained, and there's usually a game on played by some real experts- you'll get to see this game played the way it's supposed to be played. This park is taken for granted by the locals, but it's really a gem.

a beautiful park with a large lake, many shade trees and opicnic areas, jogging and walking paths. you can rent boats for then lake. very clean..the park and the rest rooms. convenient parking thru out. in the spring you can enjoy the cherry blossom festival..more trees here than in DC!! music festival and other attractions all summer....all FREE!!

My favorite place to visit as cherry blossoms bloom with beautiful gardens, ponds and fountains! Truly picturesque and peaceful. Amazing jogging trails as well!! They also have a skating rink and several playgrounds for the kiddies. Love it!

Revisited branch Brook Park on Friday, April 18. Hundreds, if not, thousands of cherry trees - was beautiful. But this state was clearly a week or so past the peak for Cherry blossom blooms. If heading to Brentwood Park suggest no later than April 10 - but if you’re in the area in early April, this is a must see - more cherry blossoms than Washington DC.

With the gorgeous trees and little rivers along the walk side, it makes excellent wedding and any other event photo event.

It is cherry blossom time, and we had a nice afternoon visit.
parking was easy but we did drive a few blocks to get near the
cherry blossoms. Park information indicates 1000 new cherry
blossom trees have been planted in recent years.
The cherry blossoms were mostly white and not especially pink this
year, at least the ones I saw, but plentiful and in full bloom.

There is a really cool "free cell phone audio tour" by dialing a posted phone
number. Also really cool... there are signs indicating the pond is stocked with
trout and fishing is allowed (with a permit). This will be fun sometime.
The tour indicated this is the first county park in the country.

Only negatives was park was overcrowded with Cherry blossom admirers,
on a weekend afternoon.

There were occasional bratty kids who needed more supervision,
and there were over zealous selfie takers everywhere... but none of this
was the fault of the park at all!!!!

This is a beautiful park all the time! I was just under a lovely natural tree canopy and the air smells good and the trails here are nice and each section of this large lovely park is excellent. The Newark light rail stops right here from Newark Penn Station. Come and visit, you will like Branch Brook Park

You would be shocked Newark has parks like this. This park was designed by the same person who designed the central park in NYC. It's awesome to walk and exercise. Also just to hang out in a beautiful fall day :) Hope it will have more bars installed so that people can do some pullups while they run...

The park was just alright. We went to see all these cherry trees in bloom. We missed the bloom for sure and really we biked the entire park and saw so few trees. The traffic that drives around the park was heavy the day we were there and they really did not want to wait for a bike to cross the road. I mean the drivers were so rude. My hubby dropped his water bottle and he was trying to get it but a car just ran it over and popped it! He did not even get to drink out of it yet. How rude the drives are in this area. We will not return. Sad I was born in this area and up until 1965 this was my park and I wanted to so enjoy it. The park is located inside a very bad neighborhood and the drivers have no regard for the law about bikes and people in the cross walk. Did not get a family feel here at all. Police are all over the place which maybe a good thing. Sorry we will not be returning.

Love this place! When the cherry blossoms are in season, it is a beautiful sight. Just driving through the park is very nice. During cherry blossom festival, parking is quite a challenge. Try to go right before the festival for awesome pictures.

French Park Park in Newark has been renovated last 10 to 12 years to make what used to be nice even nicer, within the park this football leagues baseball leagues soccer leagues lakes rollerskating a padded trail for jogging and walking, every year there's different events they have bike racing, concerts during the warm time of year, and the big attraction is the cherry blossoms usually in April which branch Brook park is more cherry blossoms than Washington DC does.
The park is not a big park like Central Park it's a long park it stretches a bunch of miles from 280 all the way to Belleville straight through Newark and at one point it's right across from where Frankie Valli lived.

Great park to run, play tennis or just sit on a bench and read a book. I live near by so I visit frequently. I watch baseball games there from local school teams. I also have brought a chair and had a picnic with a friend.

Went here hoping to see some fall colors and we were not disappointed. Lots of pretty sites other than just the colors - pretty bridges and a lake and fountain with the cathedral in the background. Be careful if you go around the east side as there are a lot of geese and geese droppings to avoid.

It is Cherry Blossom time in Newark, NJ and that means an annual trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival at Branch Brook Park. The parking can be insane on a beautiful day but the park is worth the trip. Hundreds of Cherry Trees have sprung their blossoms and the whole park is awash with pinks of various hues.

The festival has a tour bus that will go around the park to observe the trees in bloom as well as their is music and activities the day of the festival. It is a nice park to walk around in and on a beautiful sunny day, you would not even know you were in Newark.

There are all sorts of paths and streams to follow and explore and lines and lines of Cherry trees. It really is a beautiful park and it helps avoid the trip to DC.

A ride through Branch Brook Park during cherry blossom time is a ride through an enchanted land. We visited there just slightly before the peak which came early this year. We were there on a Friday so there was ample parking to stop, take pictures and enjoy the startlingly beautiful scenery. There are also parking lots along the way if you want to hike or picnic.Start your drive at the Cathedral end of the park and work your way out to Washington Ave. in Belleville. There is a great Portuguese restaurant there. See my review for Solar do Minho. Then drive back through the park and stop at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart which you can see from the park. See my review of the Basilica. What a great way to spend the day.

I give it a 4/5 because it needs more vigilance in certain isolated areas. The rest is good. A lot of options for sports and relaxation. Great acces to public transportation.

The parking would be really difficult to find during cherry blossom season so we highly recommend to visit early to beat the crowd.

The park is not huge but delicate and well planned. The trial was wide and flat so it is also great for babies in strollers or elders.

However, some of the trials were muddy so it won’t be a perfect time to visit after a rainy day.

You will want to visit the park and stop and probably picnic. The best time is during the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms.

Happened to steal away here during peak cherry blossom season. It was a fairly cloudy day; it was just a joy to be able to be among the blossoms. There are circular paths that you can take throughout the park, walking by water and by road. This park is likely very lovely at every other point in the year and with less traffic. I don't think I'll go again, but I am glad to have experienced the beauty of this place.

The blossom photo ops get a little annoying. So many people wanting to do their wedding, Christmas and engagement photos and set up camp in some of the most idyllic spaces. It would be fine to shoot and move on, but that's not what people do. Know that's a phenomena of being in the park.

Branch brook park is actually such a stunning park with all its nice cherry blossom trees. Always a nice place to take pictures at.

Enjoy walking in the park, skating in the rink, or working out, Branch Brook Park has a little bit of everything. You also can see the Cathedral from this park.

We went after the peak blossom which was about a week again. Despite that we had a great time. Many of the cherry blossoms were still in bloom. The park is clean with a lot of activity. We walked from the cherry blossom center to the lake where you can see Sacred Heart Cathedral. Would go back. Try and go when the trees are at there peak. This year it was April 22-24 I believe.

The best time to come here is for the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival. As I walked from the light rail station to the festival grounds section of the park, I walked past pink and white cherry blossom trees in bloom, I also saw some of those cherry blossom petals on the ground creating and pink and white enchanted fairy land! Of course the festival had its share of entertainment, crafts, food, drink, and other vendors, but this park is worth visiting almost anytime of the year.

My daughter is in an organization, that volunteers in the Garden at Branch Brook Park. It is an excellent park for the community. The Cherry Blossom Center has great activities for the entire family.
One of Essex counties Gems.

Or maybe it was the weather...

But this was one of the worst parks I have ever had the displeasure of visiting. You literally cannot take two steps without stepping in dog, rodent, or duck feces. I was stomping my feet on the sidewalk for at least 10 minutes to get my shoes clean.

Went to a birthday party here in July. Very beautiful park. Also very huge and easy to get lost if you don't know where you are going. Seemed safe despite being in Newark

This huge, 122 year old, 360 acre Park is on the National Register of Historical Places. It is a very soothing place that is known for having the largest collection of Cherry Blossom Trees in the US. In fact, there are about 4300 of them in 17 different varieties. Many of them were gifted to the park by Caroline Bamberger in 1927.

We love this place. It is one of our favorite places to visit in April. We come here to marvel at the gorgeous blossoms, and take in all that awesome beauty. We were a little late coming this year, but still managed to catch the tail end of the lovely blooms. Some of the trees were still stunning. The array of flowers in several shades of pink and white, filling the air with a heady scent, was lovely.

Once the cherry blossoms are gone, people can still come to read, write, draw, paint, explore and hang out with friends. Throughout the Park there are walkways, benches, pretty bridges and sculptures. The Prudential Lions and the Fountains are the very well-known symbols of the area. Our favorite view is that of the Cathedral across the pond.

Recommend a visit.

Played tennis in this park with my high school tennis team and skated with our hockey team in this park as well, back in the late 60's. Now its a perfect setting for urban life with all that has to offer. Keep your eyes open if you find yourself in this park. Especially after dark.

BB park is especially relaxing and pleasing to experience when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. This is an ideal place to spend an afternoon for the sole purpose of enjoying mother nature at her very best.

Beautiful cherry blossoms. We took our bikes from West Orange. Saw the mad house traffic. Leave a few hours to walk around this expansive park.

If this is the park near the Basilica, then it looked to be a very nice park to visit but I was on foot from Newark and didn't spend long there.

Visit all the phases, i loved it, visited twice in current season, would go there in peaks too.
it was wonderful.

What a park, beautiful, serene, lots to do, and plenty of space so you don't feel cramped. The place to hang out in the spring and summer time, enjoy all the festivals and trails.

Well, thousands of people flock to Washington, D.C. every year to see the cherry blossoms, but we have our own cherry blossoms, right here in the tri-state area. At Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey.

In springtime, the highlight of Branch Brook Park is definitely the cherry blossoms (we visited last week). The park features a combination of open meadows and small patches of woodland on gently rolling terrain.

Fact: With more than 4,000 trees, Branch Brook Park has the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States!

And though you can enjoy cherry blossom trees throughout most of the park, the most extensive collection can be found around the lake at the southern end.

Depending on the weather, one can enjoy the park at its peak. Don't forget to check out the stunning Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Parking: could be tough to find on weekends, its street parking so just wander around until you don't find one.

Located at the far end of Branch Brook Park near Route 280, the roller skating rink features a large wooden old school rink. You must enter the park to gain admission. Parking is convenient since it is ample and adjacent to the facility. Public transportation is available. Groupon offers deals so check it out. Each day seems to have some type of promotion like Monday Nights are Family Fun with reduced admission while Saturday skating has three sessions: 11:30-2:30, 33-6 and 7-10. Most of the public skating times will cost you about $8 with a $4 skate rental fee. They have a newsletter and you can sign up for promotions. Monday has the lowest prices. The rink has hand rails and you can rent skate mates to help you or your kids stay on their feet. Lockers are very affordable. They play a variety of music like old school, new music and radio hits. They have a café which I have not tried, It offers the expected fare like pizza and hot dogs. When promotions are run there are probably going to be a lot of kids. Sunday night 9-1am is reserved for adult skating and the price for skating is $10 with a $4 rental fee. There is a noticeable police presence..

Great place to take a walk,sit and relax and during blooming time, this place looks magical. The park has a play area for the kids, there is tennis courts ,baseball fields,etc.

Branch Brook Park in Newark,Essex County, NJ was the nation's first county park! Frederick Law Olmsted designed it originally AND it's on the National Register of Historic Places. There are more cherry trees in Branch Brook Park than in Washington D.C.! A gorgeous setting for a gorgeous festival.

Amazing once a year beauty in an ugly unsafe city. If you go, just be vigilant. Best to drive by through the park to see the blossoms.

In the spring it is an absolute Must to go to Branchbrook Park to see the magnificent cherry blossoms. They are always exquisite and well worth seeing. The park is enormous and offers much for everyone. We watched men playing bocci and strolled through the park there are ball fields!swings etc.

I was fortunate enough to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom here a few years ago. This year, not so lucky. There were still some cherry blossoms around but I think we came about a week too late. We dropped by on a Saturday at around 1 pm and it was pretty crowded. We were afraid of what the parking situation would look like but it was actually pretty easy to find free street parking. Even though there were a lot of parked cars, it seemed like someone was always leaving.

Will try again next year but will go on a weekday just to avoid the crowds. Also seems like a nice place for a picnic, which not a lot of people were doing. Most were just crowding around the few cherry blossoms that were still in bloom.

Tip - there's a cherry blossom cam on their site (but seems like only a few of them work)

What a beautiful park it was. My husband and I use to take our son there. He would play and have such fun. Climb trees, and play with other children. My husband and I loved the cherry blossoms. So many people is to come to see them. Many Asian people too. Miles of Cherry Blossoms, Brooks and wonderful scenery. Peaceful place. If I ever go back to N.J. I will visit again. It may be a little different but I am sure it is still BEAUTIFUL. GUARANTEE IT!

This a beautiful well kept park!! Good for family gathering also running and playing basketball, baseball,soccer or just a moment to relax enjoy the weather. Very safe no issue!! Police present all the time constantly all over the park also know for famou blossom trees in April

It's a big beautiful park, with 3 sections that span 2 cities. Parts are in somewhat bad neighborhoods, so I wouldn't advise going after dark.

I live close to this park and often go on runs through the park. If there is trash or a fallen tree/branch it is immediately cleaned up or removed within the next day.

This is a huge park set in the North Newark area. It has a soccer field, 3 baseball fields and jogging tracks near the Bloom field Ave. Light Rail station. Near Park Ave. you can see the almond trees go pink on the spring. It´s a very beautiful site you can´t miss.

My first visit to this absolutely amazing park in Newark, N.J., designed by the Olmsted Brothers, same landscape architectural firm that designed Central Park. We went to see the largest cherry blossom collection in the United States, more than Washington, D.C. There is no admission fee and parking is available on the street inside and outside the park. In addition the park is on the National Register of Historic Places. The cherry blossom trees were full peak when we visited, April 22, 2018, there are 5000 trees, many varieties that bloom four to six weeks. It was an amazing spectacular, seeing over 2,000 blooming cherry trees at their peck.

lovely park near Newark Airport and Newark Museum with April Cherry Blossom Festival with thousands of trees

Branch Brook Park has more Cherry Trees than at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC. Many trails to walk, one by an aqua duct that runs along the main road. The park covers an area of about 300 acres. They have a bus that takes you through the whole park. I skipped the bus and just walked for about an hour and a half. Many people are there on a warm Saturday taking pictures everywhere. You can find uncrowded paths *(try the ones that go uphill) . Good Fun!

One of the nicest parks in New Jersey. The Cherry Blossom Trees are beautiful in the spring time and the park is really a fun place to visit. The Sacred Heart Cathedral overlooking the big lake is majestic. This park was an engineering masterpiece in how it was laid out. There are a number of open fields and bike trails as well. A really nice time to spend a weekend afternoon.

Essex County Cherry Blossom available now (April 2019) for a short time in Branch Brook Park due to Blossom short term. Gergous coloring, Great park and pathes to walk around (some area can use bike, not too long of a strech). Awesome nature walk, visiting center available, awesome day for a family. Some benches to sit and enjoy. Recommend to take a good 1-2 hours stroll around park. Didnt observe much biz travelers or professionals, seems more newark local residents from the area. Several residential buildings/ garden apartments in close proximity. Magnificent sunsets!

I've lived across the street from the park for years. Cherry Blossom season (April) is the best. The most beautiful time of year. They've added more trees at the beginning of the park near the skating rink. Can't wait until they bloom. I love just driving from the beginning to the end of the park. Very peaceful.

Went there to see cherry blossom , beautiful trees with flowers, it’s not in full peak but good enough to enjoy. Parking is little bit disappointed, need to go around whole park to find it, plus is that you can still watch trees from car.

The cherry blossoms in Branch Brook Park are wonderful. They often bloom earlier than expected, so don't go by the date of the festival. Great place for a walk or a bike ride.

This is actually a lovely park that is in both Newark and Belleville. It is well known for the spring cherry blossoms, and it I is just another one of Olmsted's Masterpieces.

Branch Brook Park in Newark is like a breath of fresh air. In spring, the cherry blossoms turn it into a dreamy spot for walks and picnics. The paths are nice, there's a calm lake, and you can do all sorts of stuff there. Plus, the local vibe makes it feel like a real community hangout. Whether you're into chilling or getting active, Branch Brook Park nails it right in the middle of Newark.

If you want to see heaven on earth then go there in blossom time specially in mid of April . view is Sooo pretty..pack some food with you and have picnic in heaven...my whole family love to go there every year

I went to take pictures. The park is clean and beautiful and has clean bathrooms
Follow on insta to see more pics debstone18

Branch Brook Park has more cherry blossoms than Washington, DC. This is a beautiful park that is constantly being renovated. It was designed by the same man who designed Central Park.

Beautiful park with a stream nearby the cathedral also home of JJ's hot dogs. Several baseball diamonds and a beautiful fountain.

Of course, it`s not equal to Central Park in NYC, but it`s definitely pleasant place with huge area. I hope there is no one bigger parks in NJ state.
Branch Brook Park contains many attractions like rollerdrom and kids corners. But the main feature is nature. Take a time and go to this park to freshen up your mind.

The best when the Cherry blossoms are in bloom. Great access and facilities.

Beautiful cherry blossoms in early Spring. Find out when they will peak and bring your camera. Hidden jewel in Spring.

The park has so much to offer year long. Best for me is the early Spring when the blossoms bloom. Over 800 varieties are planted throughout the park, provided by the incredible philanthropic efforts by Mrs. Bamberger’s. The park also supports a multitude of charity races, festivals and entertainment. Let’s not forget the hundreds of runners and walkers that you can see dat and night.

It's surprising how underrated this park is. The cherry blossoms here are just amazing! The park is huge, stretching both through Newark and Belleville. It's not that obvious though, how big the park is. What people should know is that Belleville is labeled as the "Cherry blossom capital of America".

This park is absolutely great for walking, running, cycling and picnics. It runs along a stretch of water that has lots of fountains and ducks. A sporting facility is also at hand as well as skating center. Lots of abolition facilities. The gardens are kept immaculate and it is a pleasure just walking along and relaxing. Ample parking alongside the road.

Designed by the same mind that designed Central Park, Branch Brook Park has cherry blossoms that match those in Washington. The trails and open spaces are constantly being improved. There is a great view of the Cathedralfrom across the lake. Also see the skating rink and playing fields.

Most people don't realize that BBP is a public-private partnership -- Essex County manages the majority of the park, with Branch Brook Park Alliance managing the 83-some-acres of Prudential Concert Grove near the lake.

Essex County takes great care of this park due to the cherry blossom trees, which bring in thousands of visitors each April. They just sunk big bucks (millions) into renovating the cherry blossom welcome center, which should act as a community center as well, but it's $$$ and they charge you. Essex County simply does not care for its other parks the way that it does here. They also support the Park Alliance through various funding and in-kind donations, per a conversation with Summer, the angry lady in the park with volunteers, who can be verbally abusive and rude.

This park is absolutely gorgeous and offers trails to walk around. While you can't go swimming or boating in the lake, it's a great spot to catch and release (fish), have a picnic, and enjoy a beautiful day. Police frequent the area, and will write you a ticket/fine if you are doing something against the County's policies (no balloons, fires/grilling, large parties unless with a permit, etc.).

The part that's problematic for me here is the Park Alliance and the lack of response and action taken when there's a concern about a clean-up or something going on in the park (from the County). I volunteered here in April and got to know other volunteers, staff, and community leaders. Kelley does a great job working with volunteers - easy to understand, kind, soft-spoken, and I felt like she genuinely wanted to create a good experience so you would come back. Summer is disrespectful. The way that she speaks to you is like she's yelling at you and there is irritation behind her words, like she thinks you're stupid or something. She will aggressively let out air, letting you know you've irritated her, and she is almost verbally abusive - but that would seem crazy, right? Like, I am here volunteering my time, and you're treating me this poorly? Maybe it's just me.

I met a couple of community leaders, like Crystal, who is warm, welcoming, and vibrant! She LOVES this park and the area and had so many fun stories and things to share. I met a board member, Linda, who was selling suncatchers and calendars, and she was so pleasant and kind. To experience people like Linda and Crystal, and then experience the staff was like night and day. I met this guy in a light grey jacket, who I was told was the "man in charge," of the park alliance. He was so fake. He spit out rehearsed words and didn't care about you or what you had to say unless you were making a big donation. I was also really uncomfortable with the different treatment depending on your assumed status, and appearance.

Bottom Line - beautiful park, great spot to come out and enjoy; be mindful of who is around you after about 5 PM; County does a great deal for this park and helping to keep it well-maintained; the Park Alliance lacks community support and awareness.

Did you know there are more cherry blossoms in Branch Brook Park than DC? There are making this a very beautiful spot every April.

Branch Brook Park is famous for its magnificent Cherry Blossom in Spring and we were impressed when we visited last March.

The parking would be really difficult to find during cherry blossom season so we highly recommend to visit early to beat the crowd.

The park is not huge but delicate and well planned. The trial was wide and flat so it is also great for babies in strollers or elders.

However, some of the trials were muddy so it won’t be a perfect time to visit after a rainy day.

The park is huge. There is plenty of parking. The cherry blossom festival is held here every year. You'll get a lot of great pictures. There is a tennis court, baseball fields and lake.

This is a beautiful park, a mini central park. It has formal gardens and wild sections with a big pond. In the spring there is the cherry blossom festival when hundreds of cherry trees bloom. It is spectacular. There is always something nice to see in the park.

Branch Brook Park, the largest park in Newark has plenty of great events throughout the year. I titled this rating "Little advertised" because I usually find out about these great events after-the-fact. It's probably best to record the occurence of these events in your mental data base and visit when the time comes around. Kids will enjoy the annual Fishing Derby Day (April), FREE Outdoor Movies Under the Stars (July) and Roller Skating (year round). Adults will enjoy Dancing Under the Stars with FREE dance lessons (August) and everyone will the annual Cherry Blossom Festival (April).

Gorgeous park! I am fortunate to live right across the street from it. It is truly an Essex county gem.

Live right across the street and it's a great place to walk and excersize. Of course as in any public park, be careful in the evenings. I see a lot of people walking after dark. Better to do it in pairs or a group. Other than that, have fun!

The park is getting better every year. Lots of places to sit and take in the beauty. I would not walk in the park after dark. But from sunrise to sunset it is safe like any other park in a big city. We need more place around the park for refreshments. So for now bring your own food and beverages.

After a longggggg, cold, dreary winter I was longing to see flowers again. Boyfriend and I visited this park and I totally got my "fix". THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE EXQUISITE!!!! Myriads of these gorgeous trees decorate the 360 acre park. Such a peaceful stroll through an enchanted garden where the bees are busy and butterflies fluttered with delight. Want to get away from the busy city and unwind? Branch Brook Park is sure to soothe your soul.

This is a Great Big park for family fun and picnic, especially in the Spring Time Cherry Blooms Festival with the beautiful Cherry Blossoms in bloom. These are bike paths and jogging and walking paths available all year except the winter for snow tobogganing or snowman making fun for family. Lots of colorful leaves on the trees in the fall to enjoy while you take a stroll in this park.

This park has a history of its own. The park spans from Newark to Belleville. Must see in the spring when the Cherry Blossoms are in Bloom. There are bocci courts, tennis courts, streams, skating and this park is accessible by Light Rail.

Who would have thought that such a beautiful park with cherry blossoms and linear paths and many many athletic fields just two rapid transit trips out of the city? PATH to Newark to the Newark City Subway, and you're basically in DC.a

Beautiful park during Cherry Blossom.Good to spend 3-4 hours and parking is not a issue here. This park wont disappoint you if you come here to see Cherry Blossom.

Branch Brook is the most beautiful park with very serene spots that are very safe to enjoy Gods artwork!!! The sound and serenity along Second River along Mill St. are unparalleled!This is my chill spot even if I decide to sit in a different part of it each day!! The sound of the water is calming, the sunlight hits beautifully on the rocks in the water. I even seen a pair of white ducks that were very bonded to one another-which is rare to experience. Lots of ducks here but that day was special. Anyone that visits Branch Brook Park can have their own special experience here any day of the week- rain or shine. People have a stereotyped idea of the city of Newark but this park is special and rustic and very lovely and yes it is SAFE!!! Enjoy your visit and open your heart to the beauty God placed all around in Branch Brook Park. You will not be disappointed!!!

Now that the worst of Winter is over and Spring is rapidly approaching, this is the time that you want to make your plans to attend the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom display is the largest in the United States outside of Washington, D.C. The beauty of the Newark Cherry Blossoms is comparable to that of the trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. The Newark festival is several days long and includes a Bike Race, a variety of family activities and concerts, in addition to the normal attractions in this very large park, which spans two cities. Driving through the park can be magical when the ground is covered with snow or invigorating when the Spring comes and the buds are sprouting. I like to drive through just to clear my head.

Great park, nice water feature, new and clean facilities. Excellent spot for events not large and small.

Another Newark gem destroyed by the drug and criminal element.
This city is an AVOID COMPLETELY area. Even their no good mayor got out ASAP.
Born here but WILL NOT RETURN EVER AGAIN.

Gorgeous cherry trees, BUT very bad area. No place to park safely, just drive through it, if you want to see cherry blossoms.

Went for the cherry blossom- family day event. Had a good time. The children’s play area is easily accessible and well maintained. With blooming flowers the park looked beautiful.
My little one enjoyed fishing too (first attempt although she caught none lol)
Since there were events it was not overcrowded and packing was a hassle but that’s one of those days, which you can easily ignore.
A must go place with the family.

I love to ride by bike in the is wonderful park. I live across from the park. I love to see the Cherry Blossom bloom

The weather has been so cold and rainy even late into April and the Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park were in peak form. I wanted to get into the park before the rains knocked the petals down. The park is so amazing to visit and they even have a new visitors building on the grounds.

I walked the entire side of the park where the trees were in full bloom. It is quite the site even on a cloudy day. The seas of pinks, whites and deep rogue were Mother Nature’s way of showing off her beauty. It only shows for a limited time and then they are gone.

You have to visit the park to see this wonderful display every April.

Brand Brook Park is rather remarkable. It has lakes, cherry blossoms, fields for playing all types of games, a roller skating rink, areas for resting, tennis, bocce ball courts, basketball, fitness courses and areas for fishing. There is a statue of Essex County's own tennis champion Althea Gibson adjacent to the tennis courts. Renovations to the park have included reinstating the fountains. Sometimes I go out of my way to ride through the park. The ride centers me and let's me take a good look at the nature around me. Adjacent to the park is the Cathedral Basilica. Have a ride through. You won't be disappointed.

The Cherry Blossom Festival in the early spring is a must do if you live anywhere in the tri state area. This expansive , well kept park is the pride of Newark, and rightfully so. The parks Dept does a fabulous job of maintaining those thousands of cherry blossom trees , I believe the Emperor of japan gave the best ones to Newark , and the rest to Washington. The park is large but the best concentration of Cherry blossoms are on the Belleville/Newark border.Plan early and keep an eye on the parks dept festival website to get the best window of opportunity, one heavy rainfall, or windstorm at the wrong time will disperse all those beautiful , delicate blossoms. Please do not snip the branches for the blossoms, they will promptly fall of in a day, and it destroys the plants,( Slow growing)I have seen Japanese people from as far away as Michigan make the trip , trust me, it's a wonder to behold

I've been told this is not as good as Washington DC, but nevertheless a beautiful place to see Cherry Blossoms. Mid-April is the ideal time, so please check the dates and the weather before you go. Great place for kids to play as well.

We were there at the peak of blossoms. Just beautiful . Lots of walking thru areas full of trees . We caught the Japanese geisha dancers . Parking was a bit of a challenge but then what do you expect . Later in day was a better choice as people had started to leave . Had some bouncey houses for the kids . A must see if you’ve love cherry blossoms 🌸

Absolutely Beautiful ... you would never think this treasure exisits, espec. b/c of its urban surroundings, but it does. I've only gone twice during cherry blossom season wh/ is difficult since these trees and flowers are so delicate. You have to go at just the right time - Last yr. b/c of the wind and rain we missed most of them but were still able to get some great pictures. This year, we timed it just right. Different fr. places like Wash. DC - whom i thought had the largest collection of cherry blossoms in the US (Branchbrook is the biggest in the US), their trees are spread apart and as i recall had little variety. Here, the trees are clustered so that when they bloom it's a sky-full of various pinks and white flowers. Awesome photo opportunities!

I come here yearly for the cherry blossoms. It never cease to wow me. Worth a trip to picnic or simply see the cherry blossoms

Beautiful place especially during cherry blossom season. Love the family environment. Always clean and well kept.

Wonderful place to run, to fish, to relax. Spectacular scenery with flowers, basketball courts and special attention for iced rink

...keep your eyes open at all times....especially when walking along.....otherwise is a beautiful place for a walk and not only....

Attended the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival and took the shuttle bus tour. Nice way to see the entire park and learn a little Newark history too! Like ours was the first park in the counter and that Branchbrook Park has the largest collection on cherry blossom trees in the nation! Yes, even more than the nation's capital!

'Cherry blossoms' has been a surprise in my visit to New York and New Jersey since I am expecting for more edifices and modern architectures to see. However, aware that this fora grow in cold climates like Japan, I have never expected that NJ, the garcen city, would have this many beautiful trees. Came here May though so the color of the flowers are darker and more vibrant in shade. -more on pinkish actually already. I will come back here to see the early stage of its blossoming. If you are heading for NJ or NY, make sure to drop by. =)

Today, 4/13/2019, is the best for Cherry Blossom at Branch Brook Park.

Most of the cherry trees are concentrated around the Welcome Center. Paved footpaths spiderweb out from the center — grab a map and start walking!

Field was a bit messed up but overall it was a fantastic game n day can't wait for the All-Star game there

The only and only plus point of this park is it has 1000+ cherry trees.

1. This park is big enough to walk, so if thats concerned you. Park the car at near fountain. Most of the cherry trees are near by.
2. Since location is off, try to come by car and avoid public transportation.
3. This park won't disappoint you specially during cherry blossom.

we went to this park this pat weekend on as gorgeous day. the faculties were great and the park was in fantastic condition. we enjoyed walking our two dogs on the paths and found several places to go to the side to let them have a drink. a very pleasant afternoon.

I went for the Cherry Blossoms and it was gorgeous. It was a fun day and a beautiful park. Unfortunately not peak for the blossoms because of cool weather but many were in bloom.

I grew up around this park,fished w my father in this park good memories.THe cherry blossom ar beutiful.

My daughter loves walking through the park looking at the blossoms, throwing rocks in the water we enjoy our what time there every visit. Very pleasant place

We had heard that Branch Brook Park had cherry blossoms that rivaled Washington, DC and decided to check it out on the 23rd of April. The park is absolutely beautiful! Tons of cherry trees and lots of green space!! Definitely worth a stop during anytime of the year.

Great location. Beautiful scenery. This is the most beautiful park in Newark. Simply breathtakingly beautiful. Great place for family fun, walks, exercise and relaxation.

I bike around the area and have found the branch brook park a good park to bike around. Paved roads to dirt trails, there is always a path for all types of cyclist. What you should not do is bike during night time. Its a huge park and though there is lighting, i dont recommend it.

This week is the cherry blossoms fest, so bring your camera and your bicycle and pedal away.

It is beautiful and well taken care. The have the most beautiful cherry trees. Plenty of space for the kids to run.

Branch Brook park is a pretty nice park despite being surrounded by a less than desirable area. The park is nothing special until their Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom Festival is beautiful and worth the visit as long as you know where to park outside of the grounds and walk in. Or if you know someone who will drop you off and pick you up. The narrow roads inside the park and the few tiny parking lots are a madhouse the entire length of the festival. If you mistakenly even start driving through the park it could take 45 minutes to even get through with all the people fighting for the one or 2 spots that come open.

Once inside the park is packed with tourists and people who come to obviously see the trees. Everyone is taking pictures and crowded around the biggest and brightest of the trees so expect all of your photos to contain dozens of strangers in them as well.

The park is pet friendly and has some nice walking paths along the way.

Newark's Branch Brook Park has more Cherry Blossoms than Washington DC. People come here from all over the tristate area. In my last visit this past April their was a secret photo shoot for a Asian Theme Clothing Company. The pictures looked fantastic.

Wonderful park, safe, well cared for and quiet. Many different areas from play (soccer, baseball, roller skating) to walking, biking and quiet contemplation. Recommended highly, hope they will put in a dog area soon.

What a spectacular view when all the cherry blossoms are in bloom!
The drive through the park was amazing. There is a cherry blossom center
which I did not go in, so I cannot review, but that is an option to stop at.
Well worth driving through when the blossoms are in bloom.

The cherry trees were lovely. Families posed for pictures. It was fun to see cute children and extended families, many of them apparently immigrants, enjoying a beautiful sunny day. Walk or take public transit to afford traffic tie-ups around and inside the park!

Great location! Wonderful activities for the for all family members. Excellent nature trails and cherry blossoms!!

The park holds a cherry-blossom festival in spring. More blooming trees here than in the festival in Washington, DC.
I return year after year to visit beloved trees, varied landscape.
People bring picnics and stroll in a leisurely manner.
Al year, there is something beautiful to see and do in this public treasure.

I just visited Branch Brook Park on 4/23/2015. The Cherry Blossom Trees are at their peak so don't wait much longer .The park passed Washington Dc in both the number and variety of cherry trees. There are nearly 4,000 cherry trees and 78 other varieties of trees. The park was conceived by Frederick Law Olmstead (Central Park, NYC) fame in 1867 and features many unique buildings, bridges and water features. Historic sites include the Octagon Shelter and the park entrances. Other notable structures are the Prudential Lions and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart which is adjacent to the park. Stop in at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center and pick up a map which displays the various prominent locations. Also at the center are some interesting letters by Olmstead in regard to the development of the park. There is a pamphlet which explains the Essex County Branch Brook Park Audio Tour. It's a self-guided historic walking tour and can be accessed via a cell phone or smart phone. Tour stops are marked by a little green sign at each stop which is numbered. Smart phones can scan the QR codes on the tour stop signs for an explanation of the site. There is ample parking along the street which runs through the park and at some of the sites. NJ Transit and Newark Light Rail will get you to the park. Follow signs on Route 280 or Bloomfield Avenue which runs right through the park. Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy this free park.

I had all day to wander, and looped the entire trail around the park. The park is massive and has several different sections. It is a fantastic escape from the city and is clean for the most part. There are a lot of places here for outdoor activities and sports. It was nice to see people enjoying the park and being active, there are several streams and lakes/ponds here which are scenic. Someone told me that the cherry blossoms here in the spring are some of the best in the world!

This park is very dirty and the area is really sketchy.

What a fantastic place to come mid-to-late April to take in the bloom of the different cherry tree varieties. I was in awe of the beauty surrounding me in this large park which goes through the towns of Belleville and Newark. Easy to get to, lots of parking, bring a picnic lunch and your camera. We go every year to take photos of the family. Can't wait to return in April 2012.

It's always been beautiful the entire park, but now they planted 100"s of new cherry blossom trees that will make it even more beautiful.

Can't say enough about my backyard park I live minutes away from it they have done a beautiful job decorating in the North Ward can't say enough about the great work done thanks to da keep'n us safe in our parks go Newark ☝️

The Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom this weekend for the Cherry Blossom Festival and the park was just mobbed with people. There are all sorts of species of trees here so there is a vibrance of color. Everything seemed to be blooming at once and very different from my recent trip to Washington DC for the festival down there.

It was nice to walk along the paths and just enjoy the view. I think many visitors should learn to respect the trees as they were climbing on top of the them and pulling the on the branches and stripping them of the blossoms. I can't believe how people behave.

I have been coming to the park for years and I have never seen people behave like this at the park. Most everyone else was just walking on the paths enjoying the view.

Branch Brook Park is US's first country park, so we had some expectations for it. Although the view is not bad, it is certainly not outstanding. The green space is not so different from any parks. Also, the water of the lake is very filthy and stinky. The smell is particularly pungent around Park Ave. More work should be done to maintain this place.

Great park to go dog walking or just to relax with a great book and a friend. Love the view and spacious lawns. Have to check of the water sprouts so beautiful.

This is a usual urban town park that you can find in any NYC borough. Yes, there are cherry trees here and there. It is a good park for local residents. I found it not worth a special trip. Nothing special.

Walked around on the walking track at Branch Brook Park. Lots of trees, very scenic and tranquil. Great place to bike ride.

For those visiting the area or even for people that live here and can't or don't want to make the trip down to Washington DC for the Cherry Blossoms, this is a great alternative. The trees are beautiful in bloom and you can't beat the free trolley tour. Even out of season, there are reasons to visit the park. There are lots of trails and space to picnic and sports areas.

It was a little early but I did see a few cherry blossoms. It is a beautiful park and it's huge. Visitors center had a map. I think I will make it my yearly treck. Not too far off of the parkway.

this is a beautiful park. its hard to believe your in Newark. The Cherry Blossom Festival is great. (in April). Its a beautiful oasis in the city. There are rest rooms available. Food trucks are available.

Park was really good to walk around or bike along the constructed pathways. Parking generally not an issue if you drive around a bit. Great for exercise, playing sports or just chilling.

About Branch Brook Park I learned from media which said that a great number of sakura trees are situated there and ready to blossom. It is a very nice park with a lake with lots of cherry trees. It was really beautiful. Territory is very clean and well kepped.

Really nice park with a lake and some beautiful trees. An impressive cathedral on the perimeter with amazing gothic architecture! Lots of benches. Some pretty cherry blossom trees to boot!

Lot's of traffic and lot's of garbage littered in the park somewhat dulled the experience!

Just a quick blossom update for those thinking about visiting the park. We visited today, 04/20/2016, and there are only scattered double blossom trees blooming in the north end and extension sections of the park. The sign at the north end visitor center says past peak, and the staff there told us there had been multiple small blooms this year rather than one big show due to some trees blooming in December and a cold, wet and windy spring. Even without the blooms, the park is very pretty, and we had a pleasant two hours walking from the Cherry Blossom Visitor Center through the extension section, then driving to a parking lot near the lake, and walking around it to see the Prudential Lions, with a short detour to Sacred Heart Cathedral (5miles total). Directions to the park are on their web site, and the visitor center has maps.

This long, winding 4-mile by 0.25-mile park follows the Branch brook, a small tributary of Passaic river, and separates Belleville and Bloomfield from Newark. With 4,000 cherry trees, the sight at blossom time (2-3 weeks in early April) is stupendous! The blossoms attract Asian (particularly Japanese, Korean, and Chinese) visitors with various ceremonies (tea?) involving traditional dress, which then attracts more visitors, adding to the festival-like atmosphere. Bring a camera, blankets to sit on, and a picnic. Alcohol is ignored if you are discreet.

Dc is too far for me. So I visit this park to see cherry blossom. I can not compare with other cherryblossom place. But It's very beautiful. And there are also very beautiful cathedral, located right next this park. It was hidden gem for me. enjoy beauty of nature, enjoy beauty of man-made house of prayer.

Branch Brook Park is a nice little place to escape from in the middle of the ghetto Newark. I know people often go here for the cherry blossoms which I have yet to see, and honestly have not been here for a very long time. I used to go here for cross country meets. The course we run was relatively flat so not a huge challenge. Not a place i would go out of my way to see or hang out at, but nice that there is some greenery in the middle of Newark.

Visited this park to see cherry blossoms. Thought instead of going to Washington DC or New York City parks, lets give it a try and I was surprised to see so many trees looking so beautiful with cherry blossoms. The park is maintained very well.

I went to Branch Brook Park on April 17th 2011 On the last day of Springfest (Annual Spring Festival). There are some lovely cherry blossom trees there. Beautiful park. Also they organize many cultural activities in the festival. I saw some martial art show in the park on that day. Also will upload some pictures i took that day. Also there were many shops for kids and family including food for the festival. There were temporary bathrooms available during Bloomfest (Not sure if they keep them all the time or not).

Definitely a place to see if you are visiting Newark. Specially during spring.