Editing Montclair, New Jersey (section)

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:AndersonParkMontclair NJ.JPG|thumb|[[Anderson Park, New Jersey|Anderson Park]]]]
[[File:Edgemont Park.JPG|thumb|[[Edgemont Memorial Park]]]]
Montclair is home to many parks and nature reserves. Parks in Montclair are both county and municipal. Additional open space includes the [[Presby Memorial Iris Gardens]], and many school-owned sports fields, viz., [[Montclair State University]]'s [[Sprague Field]]. In total Montclair has {{convert|153.9|acre|km2}} of township park land spread over 18 parks and {{convert|123.8|acre|km2}} of county park land consisting of five parks.<ref>[https://www.montclairnjusa.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=5276290&pageId=5573710 PAkrs and Park Facilities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122072037/https://www.montclairnjusa.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=5276290&pageId=5573710 |date=January 22, 2018 }}, Montclair, New Jersey. Accessed January 21, 2018.</ref>

Municipal parks include Mountainside Park, the township's largest at {{convert|33.2|acres}}, which offers extensive tennis and recreation facilities, and includes the [[Presby Memorial Iris Gardens]], a {{convert|6.5|acre|adj=on}} living museum donated by the family of Frank Presby that is maintained by volunteers and dedicated to the [[iris (plant)|iris]].<ref>[http://presbyirisgardens.org/wordpress/the-gardens/history-of-the-gardens/ History of the Gardens], Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Accessed January 21, 2018. "Frank Presby was an iris hybridizer and owned a fine iris collection. It was his expressed wish to give a collection of his favorite flower, the iris, to Montclair's newly acquired Mountainside Park. Unfortunately, before he could carry out his plans, he passed away in 1924."</ref> Covering nearly {{convert|20|acres}} of wetlands and uplands along the [[Third River (New Jersey)|Third River]], the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve offers hiking trails and other passive recreation.<ref>[https://njurbanforest.com/2012/04/28/montclairs-alonzo-bonsal-wildlife-preserve/ Montclair's Alonzo Bonsal Wildlife Preserve! ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122001123/https://njurbanforest.com/2012/04/28/montclairs-alonzo-bonsal-wildlife-preserve/ |date=January 22, 2018 }}, NJUrbanForest.com. Accessed January 21, 2018. "Welcome to the 20.68 acre Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve! The preserve is located and owned by the Township of Montclair, New Jersey and was purchased with NJ DEP Green Acres funds."</ref> [[Yantacaw Brook Park, New Jersey|Yantacaw Brook Park]], covering {{convert|11.5|acres}}, surrounds a pond that is fed by Yantacaw Brook and that in turn feeds into the Third River on its way towards the [[Passaic River]].<ref>[https://www.yantacawbrookparkconservancy.org/about/ About] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122071905/https://www.yantacawbrookparkconservancy.org/about/ |date=January 22, 2018 }}, Yantacaw Brook Park Conservancy. Accessed January 21, 2018. "Yantacaw Brook Park is the municipal park located in Montclair, New Jersey. The park consists of approximately 11.5 acres (47,000 m2) of land. The park contains a small pond and a stream that feeds into it. The pond is surrounded by trees and low hills. There are paths and benches throughout the park. The Yantacaw Brook feeds the pond and then continues into the Third River through Bloomfield, Nutley, and Belleville where it finally meets the Passaic River."</ref>

The township has 17 public tennis courts, four skating rinks (two of which are indoor), and three public swimming pools: the Mountainside pool, the Nishuane pool, and the Essex pool.<ref>[http://montclairnjusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=340&Itemid=509 Montclair Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423095842/http://montclairnjusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=340&Itemid=509 |date=April 23, 2008 }}, Township of Montclair. Accessed July 4, 2008.</ref>

In 2007, township residents advocated for the construction of a public skatepark.<ref>[http://www.baristanet.com/2007/07/skateboarder-arrest-fuels-new-bid-for-skate-park/ "Skateboarder Arrest Fuels New Bid For Skate park"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124063428/http://www.baristanet.com/2007/07/skateboarder-arrest-fuels-new-bid-for-skate-park/ |date=January 24, 2013 }}, July 31, 2007. Accessed October 3, 2013.</ref> Community members revitalized the effort in 2010 and lobbied the Parks and Recreation Committee for support. The township council passed a resolution expressing approval of the project but allocated no funds for it.<ref>Emling, Shelly. [http://montclair.patch.com/groups/sports/p/montclair-town-council-to-consider-skate-park-resolut8df2e5ecf0 "Montclair Town Council To Consider Skate Park Resolution Tuesday"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213053/http://montclair.patch.com/groups/sports/p/montclair-town-council-to-consider-skate-park-resolut8df2e5ecf0 |date=October 4, 2013 }}, Montclair Patch, August 2, 2010. Accessed October 3, 2013.</ref><ref>Emling, Shelly. [http://montclair.patch.com/groups/sports/p/skatepark-in-montclair-ready-to-make-their-case "Skatepark In Montclair NJ! Ready To Make Its Case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004212924/http://montclair.patch.com/groups/sports/p/skatepark-in-montclair-ready-to-make-their-case |date=October 4, 2013 }}, Montclair Patch, July 4, 2010. Accessed October 3, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://kids.baristanet.com/2010/06/montclair_parents_and_skateboarders_rally_for_skatepark/ "Montclair Parents and Skateboarders Rally For Skatepark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235633/http://kids.baristanet.com/2010/06/montclair_parents_and_skateboarders_rally_for_skatepark/ |date=October 4, 2013 }}, Baristanet, June 30, 2010. Accessed October 3, 2013.</ref> In the spring of 2020, an impromptu skatepark was created by community members on two of the unused tennis courts at Rand Park on North Fullerton Avenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, the township held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially recognize this space as a temporary skatepark. The township's playground insurance covers skateboarding, allowing it to allocate funds to the park. The township has paid for signage using its playground fund. All skating equipment (ramps, rails, etc.) at Rand Park has been provided by community members with no financial support from the township.<ref>[https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/long-awaited-skate-park-opens-montclair-amid-pandemic/ "Long-Awaited Skate Park Opens In Montclair Amid Pandemic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003191500/https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/long-awaited-skate-park-opens-montclair-amid-pandemic |date=October 3, 2021 }}, Montclair Patch, August 4, 2020. Accessed October 3, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/montclair/2020/09/29/montclair-nj-skate-park-offers-teens-refuge-time-coronavirus/5859122002/ "Montclair's skate park, open after decades of wrangling, is refuge for teens amid pandemic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003191458/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/montclair/2020/09/29/montclair-nj-skate-park-offers-teens-refuge-time-coronavirus/5859122002/ |date=October 3, 2021 }}, NorthJersey.com, September 29, 2020. Accessed October 3, 2021.</ref>