Horsing Around: This Beloved Carousel Just Reopened In Newark [PHOTOS]

NEWARK, NJ — A beloved piece of childhood nostalgia recently reopened in Newark: the Military Park Carousel.

The local attraction reopened with a public celebration last month after a six year hiatus, which included repairs, renovations and fundraising.

According to city officials, the carousel is deeply intertwined with local history:

“The carousel was designed specifically for Newark’s Military Park. It was built by Carousels and Carvings of Marion, Ohio, with engineering provided pro bono by Thornton Tomasetti, and was gifted to the City by Newark native and philanthropist Ray Chambers. Its 16 horses each pay tribute to a horse connected to Newark’s history. From its earliest planning, the carousel was intended to give children and families a way to encounter that history through art, play and storytelling, rather than to serve only as an amusement ride. A signature feature of the downtown landscape, it appears in Military Park’s logo.”

The Newark City Parks Foundation will be sponsoring free carousel rides for the public through the end of 2026. It will operate with an attendant on duty Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.

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