The post This Nutley Park Turned Into a Lake After One Brutal Storm first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
A quiet corner of Nutley suddenly looked more like a lake than a local park after a powerful rainstorm swept through North Jersey on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Memorial Park, a familiar community gathering spot in Nutley, New Jersey, was transformed as floodwater filled the area known locally as the “Mud Hole” , a pond and low-lying retention area near Passaic and Vreeland Avenues beside the Third River.
The flooding followed intense early-day rainfall and rising river levels that pushed water beyond its usual boundaries.
For residents who know the park well, the sight was hard to miss: walking paths and open areas that normally provide space for recreation were suddenly covered with water. Photos from the scene showed the Mud Hole area heavily waterlogged, capturing just how dramatically the landscape changed after the storm.
But behind the eye-catching images was a bigger story about weather, waterways, and how communities prepare for extreme rainfall.
A Storm That Wouldn’t Move
A slow-moving weather system brought heavy rain across North Jersey. Meteorologists described the setup as a stalled front combined with a slow-moving low-pressure system , the type of pattern that can allow rainfall to build for hours instead of quickly passing through.
The Third River eventually overflowed its banks, sending water into Memorial Park.
Local reports indicated that flooding developed after overnight and morning rainfall, with water levels expected to remain a concern into the afternoon. The storm was part of a wider flooding event across North Jersey. A Rutgers weather station in North Haledon measured 4.03 inches of rain between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., showing how quickly rainfall totals climbed in parts of the region.
However, that measurement was not taken in Nutley and should only be considered regional storm context, not an official Nutley rainfall total.
The “Mud Hole” Has a History
While the flooding looked dramatic, the Mud Hole has always played an important role in managing stormwater. The low-lying area is designed to hold excess water, helping reduce pressure on surrounding streets and neighborhoods during major storms.
Flooding concerns at the site are not new.
After the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida caused significant flooding damage in Nutley’s park system in 2021, the township moved forward with a FEMA-supported mitigation project for the Mud Hole. The approved project received $580,000 in reimbursable funding and focused on improving flood storage capacity within the park system.
The improvements included removing built-up debris and material to create more room for stormwater. Officials later explained that the upgraded system includes valves to control water flow into the Mud Hole, can drain up to 2 million gallons, and can lower water levels by about 3.5 feet.
A floodgate was also designed to redirect excess water into designated areas when the pond reaches capacity.
So, did the system fail during this storm? The available information does not show that. Town officials previously said the system operated as intended during earlier rainfall events, while also acknowledging that extreme rainfall beyond forecasts could still cause overflow.
Flooding Beyond the Park
The water story did not stop at Memorial Park. Because rivers and streams are connected systems, rainfall in one community can affect another. Runoff from areas including Montclair, Bloomfield, and Belleville flows through the Third River system toward Nutley, contributing to rising water levels downstream.
Residents reported some basement flooding, and officials warned that road closures were possible as flooding continued. However, reports reviewed after the event did not confirm injuries, evacuations, emergency rescues, official road closure lists, business damage, or total financial losses specifically in Nutley.
The National Weather Service issued flood alerts during the event, including a Flash Flood Warning covering the immediate Nutley forecast area from 12:12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
A Reminder Written in Water
A flooded park may look like a disaster scene, but places like the Mud Hole serve a purpose. They provide room for water to collect when storms overwhelm normal drainage systems. Sunday’s flooding showed the challenge communities face as intense rainfall events grow harder to manage. Even with upgraded infrastructure, nature can still deliver conditions that test every barrier, pipe, valve, and drainage plan.
For Nutley residents, the next sunny day may bring back the familiar sights of Memorial Park , people walking, relaxing, and enjoying the outdoors. But after seeing the park transformed into a temporary lake, many will likely remember the storm and how quickly the landscape can change.
The Mud Hole did exactly what its name suggests that ,it held water. The bigger question is how communities continue adapting when the next major storm arrives.
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