How Do I Host an Event at a Newark Park?
If you’re looking to host an event at a Newark park, use this guide for navigating City or County procedures.
Find out who manages the park
City of Newark manages neighborhood parks, several athletic fields, and adjoining recreation centers.
Newark City Parks Foundation manages downtown parks.
Essex County manages larger regional parks that may also include athletic fields and facilities.
If you’re looking to plan an event or reserve a park area, first confirm who it is managed by: City of Newark, Newark City Parks Foundation, or Essex County.
You can find who owns and manages a park here:
Find a schedule of upcoming events in Newark parks
See if a park is open for an event on your proposed date by looking at a park’s schedule of upcoming events.
For events at Jesse Allen Park, Mildred Helm Park, or Nat Turner Park, please visit https://www.unitedparksasone.org/events
For events at downtown parks, visit https://newarkcityparks.org/park-events/.
For events at Essex County parks, visit https://essexcountyparks.org/.
Reserve a picnic area in my park
No permit is needed to picnic at a park managed by the City of Newark.
No permit is needed to picnic at a park managed by Newark City Parks Foundation.
Essex County maintains two picnic sites in Newark:
Weequahic Park at Elizabeth Avenue
Weequahic Park at Rt. 22
To reserve a picnic area in Essex County parks, please fill out the application form at:
https://essexcountyparks.org/_media/_data/EssexGlobalPermit/picnic-application-20250102102500.pdf
Host an athletic event in my park
If you’re hosting an athletic event in a City of Newark park, you must submit a permit to secure the field. Field permits require:
a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan (EAP) (per Title 2, Admin, Ch 12, Section 1.6)
a permit fee ($150 for Newark residents; $350 for non-Newark residents)
a Certificate of Insurance
Permits cover activities over 90 days from issuance. The covered activities for this permitting process include: xxxx
If you’re hosting an athletic event in an Essex County park, you must submit an Athletic Field Permit Application. These permit applications require
A permit fee (from $15 to $165 depending on organization and/or field type)
A Certificate of Insurance
The Essex County Athletic Field Permit covers the following sports activities: baseball, basketball, softball, football, soccer, cricket, lacrosse, and tennis
The permit application includes further details on permitted and prohibited activities: https://essexcountyparks.org/_media/_data/EssexGlobalPermit/athletic-field-application.pdf
Need additional help?
For questions about the City’s athletic events permitting process, please call (973) 733-5373 or email recpermits@ci.newark.nj.us.
For questions on Essex County permits, please call (973) 268-3500 or email Permits@parks.essexcountynj.org .
Host a special event in my park
A special event may include
arts festivals
farmer’s markets
races
music festivals or concerts
carnivals
demonstrations
film and photo shoots requiring exclusive rights to a park, such as for a wedding or commercial photography purposes
To learn how secure a space for a special event in a park managed by the City of Newark, please visit https://specialpermitapplications.newarknj.gov/
Special events require a permit, which can be applied for online at
https://specialpermitapplications.newarknj.gov/login/
Essex County Special Events permits require:
A permit fee (ranging from $600 to $5,250 depending on number of participants)
A Certificate of Insurance
Depending on type of event, Essex County may require additional permit fees. More information can be found on the permit application:
For questions about the City’s special events permitting process, please call (973) 733-3646 or email specialevents@ci.newark.nj.us.
For guidance on hosting special events in parks managed by Newark City Parks Foundation, please visit https://newarkcityparks.org/special-event-application/.
For questions about NCPF’s permitting process, please call (201) 341-8311 or email hello@newarkcityparks.org
For guidance on hosting special events in Essex County parks, please visit https://essexcountyparks.org/permits.
For questions about Essex County’s permitting process, please call (973) 268 3500 or email Permits@parks.essexcountynj.org