Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. thanked the public for making the Essex County miniGOLF Safari at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange an instant success. Since it opened on Thursday, September 16th, 6,578 rounds of golf have been played and $37,414 in new revenue has been created.
“We want to thank the public who has played at our new miniGOLF Safari. We anticipated the golf course would be successful, but its popularity has exceeded our expectations. We are pleased to provide an affordable and enjoyable activity that people of all ages can enjoy,” DiVincenzo said. “Our goal from the start was to transform our South Mountain Recreation Complex into a recreation destination, so our residents did not have to leave Essex to find family-friendly leisure activities. Turtle Back Zoo, Codey Arena and the miniature golf course are attracting not only local residents, but visitors from throughout the Tri-State area,” he added.
Early records for participation were set on Saturday, September 18th – the third day of operation – when 972 people played a round of golf and on Saturday, September 25th when 875 people played. The amount of participation from the public and revenue generated is even more impressive because the miniature golf attraction was closed for four days because of inclement weather and the first evening of operation on Thursday, September 16th golfers were invited to play for free. The Executive also pointed out that 10 new jobs to staff the miniature golf course were created.
The miniature golf course is designed in the shape of the African continent and features areas representing three habitats: the African Congo, the Sahara Desert and the African Grasslands. There are 19 holes, and each one highlights a natural feature or animal found on the continent. Some of the holes are Quick Sand, The Pyramids of Gisa, Rhino Run, Shark Frenzy, Mount Kilimanjaro, Elephant Tusk, Up the Congo River without a Paddle, and The Oasis. The entrance resembles an African hut and includes a ticket counter, rental area for golf clubs and balls, concession area, restrooms and storage. A nearby picnic area has tables with umbrellas.
The miniGOLF Safari is located in the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. It is open Monday to Friday from 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children under 12. For information about the miniature golf course, visit www.essexcountynj.org or call 862-520-5024.
A free shuttle is available in season to transport patrons from miniGOLF Safari to nearby Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and Essex County Codey Arena. All three facilities are also within walking distance.
The County Executive said there is a second phase to develop a restaurant and obtain access to the Orange Reservoir at the miniature golf course location. He noted that negotiations with the City of Orange to obtain access to the nearby reservoir for boating and with a restaurant company are still ongoing.
The 36-acre complex has been named “Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex,” and includes Turtle Back Zoo, Richard J. Codey Arena, the three-story Park N Ride facility, the miniature golf course, 300-space surface parking lot and restaurant (when it opens). The County Executive noted that new signage to “brand” the complex was recently installed.
Revitalizing the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex and Reservation
Since taking office, the DiVincenzo administration has made over $20 million worth of improvements to Turtle Back Zoo, introduced new natural habitat exhibits and developed new amenities such as the Carousel. The upgrades have been funded with grants received from the NJ Green Acres program, donations from corporations or philanthropic organizations. The Zoo earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and, in each of the last four years, new attendance records have been set and the facility is on pace to welcome over 450,000 visitors in 2009. For the second consecutive year Turtle Back will be a self-sustaining facility, meaning the amount of revenue it creates will exceed its operating budget. Traditionally, admission fees make up just 30 percent of zoo revenues. New Jersey Monthly magazine recently recognized Turtle Back Zoo as the best zoo in New Jersey.
Codey Arena also has received a major, $12 million renovation, the first major improvements in the arena’s history, in September 2005. The improvements transformed the building into a premiere ice skating facility and made it able to accommodate other events, such as concerts, boxing events and carnivals. The project was funded, in part, with grants from the State of New Jersey, the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the Casino Reinvestment Development Corporation. It was the first time Essex County received a CRDA grant.
The Essex County South Mountain Park N Ride was opened in 2004 and accommodates 477 vehicles. The facility provides safe and convenient parking for commuters traveling to New York City as well as much-needed parking for special events at the Arena and Turtle Back Zoo. It was funded with a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The opening of the miniature golf course and parking lot are the latest project by the DiVincenzo administration to enhance South Mountain Reservation. Working with the South Mountain Conservancy, a project to accelerate the regrowth of the forest understory in South Mountain Reservation was completed in 2009. A total of 42 enclosures were constructed to protect the more than 10,000 native plant species that were reintroduced to the Reservation. The planting is part of an ongoing initiative to reverse damage at the Reservation caused by years of neglect and overbrowsing by deer. In 2005, a series of improvements were made to repair hiking trails, address erosion problems and improve access to the reservation. In 2006, Essex County and the Conservancy developed a Master Plan that provides a comprehensive overview of South Mountain Reservation and recommends a series of upgrades be made to maintain and revitalize the area. The 2-acre South Mountain Dog Park was opened in July 2006 and has become a popular attraction on Crest Drive. These projects were funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. In 2010, New Jersey Monthly magazine recognized the trails in South Mountain Reservation as the best in the state.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, miniature golf course, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation covers 2,047.14 acres and is located in West Orange, Maplewood and South Orange. It is the largest reservation in Essex County.
