Verona

Listed No. 3 of "25 Great Towns" by New Jersey Monthly Magazine & recently featured in The New York Times as a “hilly suburb where you can stretch your budget.”

Just 19 miles outside of New York City, Verona is an excellent option for commuters and a perfect place to raise a family or open a small business. Most commuters travel into the city via the DeCamp bus, which runs along Bloomfield Avenue and ends at Port Authority. Those who prefer to travel by train have several New Jersey Transit stations to choose from in neighboring Montclair.

One of the most striking features of the town is Verona Park, part of the Essex County Park system. The 54-acre park was designed by the famed Olmstead Brothers, and it features twin lakes and a picturesque bridge that is a favorite location of wedding photographers during the summer months. There is a modernized, expanded boathouse that is adjacent to the 13-acre lake is used for boating and fishing. Special events including craft shows and concerts are held in the park. At sunrise, joggers and runners make their way through the 1.2-mile course around the lakes, while tennis courts and several playgrounds are used throughout the day.

Verona’s main commercial district runs along Bloomfield Avenue, with restaurants, shops, and services that attract residents from surrounding towns. It is home to several popular restaurants, including the Verona Inn, Verona Diner, and Ariane Kitchen & Bar, run by the noted chefs Ariane and Michael Duarte.

Verona has an excellent and highly ranked school system consisting of four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. In addition, the town boasts a large, newly refurbished public library and a recently updated community pool. The Verona Community Pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with water slides, multiple pools, a playground, and a concession area.

Sources:

The New York Times

Verona Township Website

Essex County Parks