Weequahic Park

Weequahic Park, located in Newark’s South Ward, is the second largest park in the city and home to the largest lake in Essex County. The 311-acre park is a vibrant community hub, offering a range of amenities and hosting numerous events. Today, it’s hard to imagine that the park was once considered a serious hazard. The park began to deteriorate following the Newark Rebellion of 1967. “I hear that you would find dead bodies in the lake, and sometimes cars were dumped there.” This was shared by Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds, current Executive Director of the Weequahic Park Association (WPA). Wilbur McNeil, founding President of the WPA, said “even the squirrels didn’t want to hang around the park.”

The founding members of the Weequahic Park Association (WPA) remembered what the park had once been like in their youth. Designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architect Firm, Weequahic Park had been well-maintained in what was a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in the early 20th century. So, in 1993, these dedicated residents took it upon themselves to improve the park by forming WPA. The initial ten members and all the park users who signed the petition— Wilbur McNeil, Rashad Ali, Darryl Bowen, Ronald Joseph, Jeff Jeffries,  Allen Little, Quintin William, Shelby Garrett, Cyril Reed and Raheem Ali—met at 9:30 am on the dot every Saturday for five years to devise a plan to revitalize the park and restore it for community use.

The group started by reaching out to the Essex County executive with their concerns. From there, their efforts expanded to testing, monitoring, and eventually removing 100 years’ worth of sludge build-up in the park’s 80-acre lake. WPA also secured a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reverse the erosion of the lake shoreline by stabilizing the perimeter. As a part of this restoration, a 2.2-mile-long rubberized running track was installed along the lake.

Neighbors also took an active role in redesigning the park. Richard Whitten Jr., the son of Gloria Whitten and Richard Whitten Sr., two significant figures in the revitalization of Weequahic Park, remembers the role his mother and neighbor Jewel Blaney played in redesigning the playground: “[They] were the grandmoms of the playground.” Though neither woman had formal experience in playground design, the two grandmothers selected the equipment, oversaw the layout, and supervised the installation—ensuring the playground reflected the needs and spirit of the community.

When Wynnie-Fred first became involved with WPA, the group had lost momentum, as many original members were aging “Even though they were running marathons, they were [still] retirees when they founded the Weequahic Park Association.” So, when Wilbur McNeil asked her to take on the role of unpaid Executive Director, she initially declined, concerned with the responsibility, especially since it was so time consuming. She eventually agreed to step into the role motivated by a sense of deep purpose. “It looked like the organization was going to die, and I said it can’t—because there are so few examples of grassroots organizations run by people of color that are championed, especially around environmental issues. What these community people did was just amazing.”

Once Victor Hinds became Executive Director of WPA, the organization regained strength and secured a grant to fund her position and hire three staff members. One of the biggest challenges WPA faced in its early days was resistance from politicians who favored commercial development over restoring the park as a vital green space. This power struggle continues today. Victor Hinds calls making ineffective politicians and people in charge uncomfortable her “superpower”. “We have to hold them accountable. It’s not about them, it’s not about their donors, it’s not about what’s best for their bottom line. It’s about what’s best for the community and its sustainability ­­­­—period, end of story.”

Victor Hinds’s vision for the park continues to expand. The organization hopes to build a boat house café and Environmental Education/community center, launch farmers markets, and re-introduce canoeing and kayaking on the lake. WPA is also developing an “Eco-Warriors” youth program, combining physical activity/sports and environmental activism to keep young people engaged.

On April 22nd 2025, WPA hosted a citywide Earth Day celebration in partnership with several environmental justice groups. The event featured inspiring talks on environmental health and climate resilience, along with a hands-on gardening session at the Wilbur Sensory Pollinator Community Garden.

To learn more about WPA and find information about upcoming events, visit their website at weequahicparkassociation.org. WPA welcomes formal and informal volunteers to support park operations. “Come in with a bag and start picking up litter,” said Victor Hinds. “Before you know it, you’ll start hearing things—you start learning more about the broader environmental issues, climate change, and how you can be good stewards of the park.”

Whether you're looking to make a small difference or take on a larger role, every action helps preserve the park for future generations.