Edison, a New Jersey township first settled in the late 1600s, changed its name in 1954 to honor the feats of Thomas Alva Edison. The inventor made many of his famed discoveries -- including the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph and the first recording of sound -- in the late 1870s at his Menlo Park research laboratory. Although nationally known Menlo Park is the site of a memorial tower and museum that pays homage to Edison's work, another of the township's historic parks -- Roosevelt Park -- is heralded regionally for its outdoor theater and year-round recreational amenities, including an ice skating rink.
About the Park
- Roosevelt Park, Middlesex County's oldest park, opened in 1917 and is about a mile south of Menlo Park's Edison tower and museum. The 217-acre facility's recreational amenities include an eight-acre lake for fishing, tennis courts, sports fields, paths for walking and biking, three playgrounds and several picnic areas. In summer months, the park's outdoor amphitheater is home to Plays-In-The-Park, a series of community theater productions that dates back more than 50 years. In the winter, however, the main attraction is ice skating.
Scenic Setting
- Roosevelt Park's Family Ice Skating Rink, typically open from mid-November to late March, is an uncovered outdoor rink that provides scenic views of Roosevelt's lake and the surrounding parkland. The rink has a concession stand that sells hot and cold beverages, sandwiches and other snacks. Basketball courts, a gazebo and a lakeside walking path are adjacent to the skating rink, and a parking area and restrooms also are nearby.
Skating Schedule
- In recent years, the Roosevelt Park rink typically has been open five days a week. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the rink is open on other weekday evenings. On Saturdays, open skating is divided into three sessions from late morning to early evening, with two sessions on Sundays. The ice skating rink typically has longer weekday sessions during holiday periods when area schools are on break. The rink is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and also may shut down in periods of inclement weather.
Things to Know
- A nominal fee is charged for each ice skating session at Roosevelt Park, with children and seniors receiving a slightly discounted rate. Other optional services include skate rental and skate sharpening. All beginning skaters are urged to wear helmets, which are required for skaters ages 6 and under. Helmets are available for purchase at the rink. The park also provides weekly skating instruction for ages 5 and above. Lessons begin in early January and include skate rental and skating during any public session.
