DiVincenzo, Warren Tour Orange Reservoir Renovations

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. joined Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren for a tour of the renovations taking place at the Orange Reservoir property Tuesday, officials said.

The reservoir, located in Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation on Cherry Lane, is undergoing the renovations to allow for new recreational opportunities — including picnicking areas, paddle boating, fishing, ice skating and hike — and the county executive and mayor viewed construction of the open-air pavilion for picnics, a floating dock for paddle boating and upgrades to the Oakdale parking area, officials announced.

“Thanks to Orange Mayor Warren and the Orange City Council, we have established a partnership to open the Orange Reservoir property to the public and allow the county to develop the site for recreation purposes,” DiVincenzo said. “The improvements we are making will create an extraordinary location where the public will be able to escape the concrete and asphalt and enjoy the spectacular views and water,” DiVincenzo said.

Orange halted its use of the reservoir as a source of drinking water in the late 1990s, officials said.

French & Perrello Associates of Wall designed the project after being awarded a $2,371,458 contract to perform the work.

Essex County and the City of Orange agreed to a 20-year lease for the property in October 2012. According to the terms of the partnership, Essex County will pay a total of $1.6 million to Orange to lease the reservoir property and will be responsible for all costs to maintain and develop the site for public recreation.

Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer.