The park covers 47.63 acres (19.28 ha), making it the sixth-largest in the county system, and the marshy land was purchased for $17,500.

Funds totaling $100,000 were set aside to drain the swamp and to perform the needed improvements in the park.

[2] An artificial turf soccer field was reconstructed at the park as part of a $1 million project that was completed in August 2009, including a scoreboard and fencing, with the park to be the home field for the Orange High School Tornados soccer teams.

The construction was part of a $5 million series of projects that included redevelopment and improvements to baseball fields, basketball courts and playgrounds.

[4] The park was renamed in May 2006 for Orange resident and Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, who played for the New York Giants as one of the first African American players in Major League Baseball.