Washington Park features numerous monuments and is surrounded by historic civic and commercial buildings, highlighting why it has become an essential element for the community in Newark, New Jersey. Mentioned as the green space anchor of historic Newark institutions, the park is connected to the past and future of the community on multiple levels.
Culture, History and Beauty
Offering community engagement in the way of culture, history and beauty, what is now Washington Park was laid out in the colonial era. A marker calls out the line of march of George Washington’s Army through New Jersey during the Revolutionary War.
A statue of Washington taking leave from his troops at Rockingham defines the park. It depicts him having just dismounted from his horse and standing on the horse’s left side. Installed on a low rectangular base that rests on the top of a mound, it was created by J. Massey Rhind but is just one of many monuments in the park.
The Indian and the Puritan monument by Gutzon Borglum is one of the more notable landmarks that Washington Park contains. Constructed in 1916 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, this piece is an addition to others that include a sculpture of Seth Boyden, who was one of Newark’s leading citizens, as well as a piece depicting Jose G. Artigas, who is considered a Libertador of Latin America and a national hero in Uruguay.
Bordered by the Newark Museum of Art and Newark Public Library, weekly green markets and outdoor concerts are held in the space over the summer and autumn. Surrounding businesses use the identity that it has cultivated, highlighting the many ways that the space connects with the past and future of the entire community.
A Destination for Members of the Community and Beyond
Mentioned as a destination for anyone in the Newark area that is seeking both relaxation and stimulation, Washington Park is an essential element of the community which highlights the significance of how it continues to evolve with that community. Doing so further strengthens the connection it has to the past and future of the entire region.
