Your Local Town Guide to Verona, NJ
Local Town Guide: Verona, NJ
Are you considering moving to Verona, NJ? Verona is a great town to live and raise your family in. Verona is ranked #9 as “Best Places to Live in Essex County” and in the top 100 for “Best Suburbs to Raise a Family” by New Jersey Magazine. The town features activities for all ages, great shops, and local eateries. Here are some of the highlights of Verona, NJ.
HISTORY OF VERONA, NJ
Verona and several neighboring Essex County towns were all originally known as the Horseneck Tract. In 1702, a group of settlers left Newark and purchased a large tract of land northwest of their home city for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. This piece of land was called Horseneck by the natives because it resembled the neck and head of a horse. What was then known as Horseneck contained most of the present-day northern Essex County towns: Verona, along with Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Essex Fells, Roseland, and Cedar Grove are all located entirely in Horseneck, and parts of what are today Livingston, Montclair, and West Orange were contained in the Horseneck Tract.
COMMUNITY & ORGANIZATIONS
Verona residents thrive within a community full of recreation activity provided through municipal services and a network of volunteer-run organizations. Verona is currently expanding their Community Center and Veterans Sports Complex. This is where they host activities for the community. These facilities house high school and youth sports, youth programs, community organization meetings, senior exercise classes, and so much more.
Verona Park in Verona, NJ. Verona Park is a 54.32-acre park with gorgeous picturesque views and a lake. This 13-acre lake is perfect for paddle boating and fishing.
The great outdoors
For nature lovers, one place to experience is the beautiful outdoors at Verona Park. Verona Park is a 54.32-acre park with gorgeous picturesque views and a lake. This 13-acre lake is perfect for paddle boating and fishing. Verona Park also has a tennis court, a stage for outdoor concerts, a playground, sports fields, walking paths, and they also have an annual craft show there! Verona Park is a beloved staple of the town.
Lenape Trail, a trail that runs from the Pulaski Skyway in Newark to the Passaic River in Roseland. The Verona section runs from the West Essex Trail, down and through Verona Park, and up toward Eagle Rock Reservation before entering West Orange
Another highlight of Verona is in the summer their recreation facility houses one of the best municipal pools in North Jersey. They also have multiple parks, a Ropes & Challenge Course, and several multi-use fields around town.
Kip’s Castle in Verona, NJ. Constructed as a medieval-style structure, Kip’s Castle was built by Frederic Ellsworth Kip, a textile magnate, in 1902.
EXPERIENCE HISTORY
If you love history, another great activity to do in Verona is Kip’s Castle Park. Kip’s Castle Park is a magnificent 9,000 square foot mansion built in 1902 that replicates a medieval Norman castle. The estate rests on eleven acres of land on the ridge of First Mountain. While you are here make sure you experience the spectacular views of New York City. The castle and carriage house exteriors are constructed of local trap rock trimmed with sandstone.
LOCAL DINING, MARKETS, AND SHOPS
Looking for a place to eat in Verona, NJ? Whether you want a cozy coffee shop, kid-friendly Italian restaurant, or a local family-owned pub; Verona has them all. In addition, there are also ethnic food options including Thai, Vietnamese, Asain, and Indian.
While you are in town make sure to also stop at Hillcrest Farms Garden. A family-owned farmer’s market. They are open all year round and sell delicious fruits and vegetables in the summer, beautiful flowers in the spring, and fresh Christmas trees and wreaths in the winter!
Education
Verona Public Schools serves Pre-K till twelfth grade. They have four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Verona school district has been recognized on three occasions with the Best Practice award. The Best Practice Award is given to schools that implement exemplary and/or innovative strategies. Three Verona schools were also recognized as a “Star School” by the Department of Education. This is the highest honor a school can achieve.
Verona also has Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School which is a Private Catholic School. They serve students in Pre-K through Eighth Grade. Our Lady of the Lake is situated near Verona Park and is run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. This school was recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Program in 2011. They were 1 out of 305 schools recognized and one of 14 selected in New Jersey! They were honored again in 2017 as an Exemplary High Performing School by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program by the Department of Education. They were one of eight private schools recognized with this esteemed award.
Transportation
Verona is 14.3 miles away from Newark Airport and 20 miles from NYC which is great for commuters. Within the limits of Verona Township is Route 23, CR 506, CR577. Other highways close include Interstate 80, Garden State Parkway, and New Jersey Turnpike. NJ Transit bus routes #11 and #29 service the town. Commuters can also take the 45-minute ride on the DeCamp Bus Line No. 33, which runs from Lakeside Avenue to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.