Kip's Castle Park

Kip's Castle Park
Kip's Castle Park is located in Essex County, New Jersey
Kip's Castle Park
Kip's Castle Park is located in New Jersey
Kip's Castle Park
Kip's Castle Park is located in the United States
Kip's Castle Park
TypePublic Park
Location22 Crestmont Road
Verona, New Jersey
Coordinates40°49′45″N 74°13′28″W / 40.829167°N 74.224444°W / 40.829167; -74.224444
Area14.85 acres (60,100 m2)
Created2007
Operated byEssex County

Kip's Castle, is a 10-acre (40,000 m2) estate (8 acres in Verona, 2 acres (8,100 m2) in Montclair) on the ridge of First Mountain, on the border of Montclair and Verona townships. It contains a 9,000-square-foot (840 m2) mansion that replicates a medieval Norman castle, and a 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) two-story carriage house.

Originally built as a private residence, current plans for the estate include housing offices for various administrative functions for Essex County. However, the Castle's is planned to evolve into the County's premiere cultural resource center, supporting and promoting arts and culture throughout the region. Meeting space will be available for conservancies, community groups, and non-profit organizations. A calendar of ongoing educational programming will be developed, and museum space will be created to showcase the history of the Essex County Park System.

A twelve-member Advisory Board has been formed to provide recommendations about not only how to maintain and restore the estate, but also to develop ideas as to how this property can grow into a cultural asset for the community.