Branchbrook Park Alliance
Newark’s Branchbrook Park is a crown jewel among parks– not just in Newark, but across New Jersey and beyond state lines, making it a potent space to support the health, wellness, and exercise needs of the surrounding community. HFNJ provided two grants to the Branchbrook Park Alliance – $25,000 each in 2022 and 2023 – to support wellness activities at the park.
The community response to the offerings was immediate. In the first year of the program, 1,100 individuals participated in programs, including yoga (542 participants), park walks (342 participants), and Zumba and Soul Line Dancing (195 participants). All classes are offered free of charge. In the word of one participant, “providing Yoga classes to the community for free…has changed my life and my outlook on life!”
By the second year of the program, a sense of community had grown between former strangers who regularly participated in the programs. Participants have grown to expect wellness programing and look to the Branchbrook Park Alliance as a community wellness hub.
As part of HFNJ’s grants, the Alliance also sponsors community health fairs, provided in partnership with the Essex County Department of Health. In 2023, three health fairs attracted a total of 780 participants. 12% of those visiting the fairs received at least one health screening (A1C, blood pressure, and BMI). Through programs, recreational activities, and health fairs, the Branchbrook Park Alliance is helping to build a healthier Newark.