| South Mountain Reservation | |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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| Nearest city | Newark, New Jersey |
| Area | 2,047 acres (8 km2) |
| Established | 1895 |
| Governing body | Essex County |
South Mountain Reservation, covering 2,047.14 acres (8 km2), is a nature reserve that is part of the Essex County Park System in northeastern New Jersey. It is located in central Essex County, New Jersey, within portions of Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange, and borders South Orange, between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains.[1]
Carved from wilderness at the end of the 19th century, designed by Olmsted Brothers, and developed over a few decades, the reservation has changed only slightly through the years. Preserved primarily in its wild state, woodlands abound in a variety of hardwood trees, and tall hemlocks tower above streams, creeks and ponds, and waterfalls. Higher points offer vistas of New York and Jersey City skylines, Elizabeth, Union Township, Staten Island.
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South Mountain Arena and Turtle Back Zoo are located within the reservation's boundaries.[2] In 2010 the recreation area was expanded to include Safari MINIgolf[2] and in 2011, a boathouse.[3]
Orange Reservoir is a reservoir located in the reservation's northern tract. Within the borders of West Orange, it is owned by the City of Orange, It was originally developed during the intense urbanization of northeastern New Jersey in the late 19th century. drwaing from Rahway River.[4] The man-made lake is no longer part of the water-supply system and since the late 2000s (decade) various proposals have been made to allow its use as a recreatioinal resource as part of the Recreationaal Complex. The complex abutting the reservoir includes a miniature golf course[5] and a boathouse-restauraant opened in 2011.[3] Proposals have been complicated by the fact that while owned by one municipality, it lies within the borders of another, and it is unclear whether it is taxable.[6] Offers by the Essex County Park System to buy or lease property have not led to a resolution.[7]
In 1680, wolves, bears and cougars were observed in the area, and there was a bounty on them. in 1896, John Durand, the son of Asher Brown Durand, described the mountain that includes South Mountain Reservation as
The reservation was built from land purchases begun in 1895. It took a decade to untangle the deeds and assemble all the lands at South Mountain. Before he delegated design of the Essex Parks to his stepson's firm, Frederick Law Olmsted visited the newly acquired reservation. He regarded it as some of the most beautiful and promising terrain he had ever seen anywhere. The design of South Mountain was finalized by the Olmsted Brothers in stages over the years. A good deal of construction work — trails, footbridges, shelters, etc. — was carried out by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
Washington Rock is Revolutionary War historic site, dating back to the late 18th century when Beacon Signal Station 9 was located here—one of 23 beacons built by General Washington to observe British troop movements quartered on Staten Island and New York City.
It was from this outlook that, on June 23, 1780, Essex County and Newark Militia were first warned that the British had launched an attack westward toward "the Gap," (Hobart Gap), a natural pathway to Washington's troops encamped at Morris Town. In a pincer movement designed to gain access to the Gap, Hessian troops fought bitterly along Vaux Hall Road, while the British advanced along Galloping Hill Road, until they were repelled, the Hessians at the base of the mountain and the British in Millburn—called Millville in those days. Washington Rock served again as a lookout for the Army when reactivated during the War of 1812.
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