Eastside Park
Eastside Park Map
About Eastside Park in Paterson
Eastside Park is a historic public park located in Paterson, New Jersey. Originally dedicated as Washington Park, it is also referred to as East Side Park. The park spans approximately 66 acres and is bordered by Martin Luther King, Jr. Way (Broadway) to the north, McLean Boulevard (State Route 20) to the east, Park Avenue to the south, and Derrom Avenue to the west.
Established in the late 19th century, Eastside Park was formally designed in 1899 by John Y. Culyer, a landscape architect from New York City who had previously worked as an assistant engineer on both Central Park and Prospect Park projects. The park's design reflects the City Beautiful movement of the era, featuring intricate walkways of cobblestone and gravel laid out in an organic fashion.
Eastside Park serves as the cornerstone of the Eastside Park Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 2004. The park and its surrounding neighborhood became a catalyst for the development of Paterson's Eastside area, with many of the city's industrialists and mill owners building mansions adjacent to the park.
Throughout its history, Eastside Park has undergone various modifications and additions. These include the construction of tennis courts, baseball fields, and other recreational facilities. One of the baseball fields has been named in honor of Larry Doby, a star athlete from nearby Eastside High School who became the first African-American to play in the American League.
The park features several notable monuments, including the Alice Weight Memorial Fountain (erected in 1916), the Charles Curie Monument (1913), a Civil War Monument (1922), and the Kazimierz Pulaski Monument. These structures add historical and cultural significance to the park's landscape.
Today, Eastside Park continues to serve as a vital green space for the community, offering a mix of recreational facilities and historical landmarks. Its tree-lined paths, open fields, and various amenities provide residents and visitors with opportunities for leisure, sports, and cultural appreciation.
