By: Richard L. Smith
A newly renovated 2.2-mile walking track and outdoor fitness area in Weequahic Park has been dedicated to Wilbur McNeil, the founder of the Weequahic Park Association, in recognition of his decades of advocacy and commitment to improving the park. 
According to a statement released by Essex County officials, the project was part of an ongoing initiative to enhance recreational facilities in the Essex County Parks System. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. led the dedication ceremony on March 19, 2025, honoring McNeil for his leadership in revitalizing the park and making it a community hub.
“When I took office in 2003, Wilbur McNeil and the Weequahic Park Association were the only conservancy actively working with our Parks Department.
Through his dedication, Weequahic Park has become a destination for recreation and fitness,” DiVincenzo said. “Wilbur was a driving force behind this walking track, and naming it in his honor is a fitting tribute to his legacy.”
McNeil, who has been an advocate for the park for decades, expressed gratitude for the recognition. “Advocating for Weequahic Park has always been a community effort. I grew up here, spent vacations here, and I am deeply touched by this honor,” he said.
The project included a complete resurfacing of the walking track, first installed in the late 1990s with McNeil’s leadership.
The upgrades also addressed drainage issues, realigned sections of the path to avoid frequent flooding, and introduced new fitness stations, benches, and signage.
An expanded exercise yard near the Meeker Street entrance was also added, providing additional workout space with rubberized flooring and shaded seating areas.
Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, who attended the ceremony alongside Assemblywoman Carmen Morales, praised McNeil’s contributions. “Today, we celebrate a leader whose determination helped transform Weequahic Park for generations to come,” Ruiz said.
A commemorative plaque has been installed at the Meeker Avenue entrance, detailing McNeil’s decades of advocacy.
The dedication includes a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”
The $2.49 million project was designed by French and Parrello of Wall Township under a $95,000 contract, while JA Alexander, Inc. of Bloomfield carried out the construction after winning the $2,493,850 public bid. 
Weequahic Park, long a cherished green space in Newark, now has a modernized walking track that will serve the community for years to come—just as McNeil envisioned.