North Jersey Park Submerged In Floodwater During Heavy Storm [PHOTOS]

NUTLEY, NJ — They call it the “Mud Hole” for a reason.

A late-summer storm dumped a deluge of rain on Nutley last weekend, causing floodwaters to rise across town.

The flooding was particularly noticeable at Memorial Park near Passaic and Vreeland avenues, otherwise known as the Mud Hole (see photos in gallery above). The park is located adjacent to the Third River.

Nutley carried out a stormwater mitigation project at the Mud Hole last year. The effort was undertaken in response to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida in 2021. The goal? To help prevent some of the flooding the town experienced during the devastating storm.

The project included installing a system that controls the water flow into the Mud Hole, allowing for the drainage of up to two million gallons of water. The system can effectively lower water levels by about 3.5 feet. The new system includes a floodgate that regulates water flow, ensuring that when the pond reaches capacity, excess water is diverted away from streets and into designated areas.

• Related: Revamped 'Mud Hole' Helps To Control Flooding In Nutley Neighborhood

Several people posted photos of the high waters online Sunday, including shots of a waterlogged Mud Hole.

Another community member posted photos of a submerged streetscape at Rutgers Place and Passaic Avenue after the rain stopped, adding the following comment: “Oh boy.”

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