Welsh Park in East Brunswick has a baseball field, basketball court, playgrounds, a picnic area and opportunities for hiking. Take Summerhill Road toward Spotswood, then turn left onto Gordon Avenue (the third street after the 7-Eleven). You'll see the park on the right.
Wolf Hill Recreation Area is a 92-acre site that features open areas and two softball fields. It also features an off-leash dog area for dogs that weigh 35 pounds or less.
Camp Glen Gray began as a Boy Scout camp and is now a weekend camping facility. This location joined the Bergen County park system in 2002 and posts regularly updated information about outdoor event schedules on its web site. In addition to campgrounds for overnight stays on the weekends, this park also has trails for hiking and other family activities. Interested parties can register for a camping session on the park's web site, or over the phone.
Sunnyside Recreation Area houses the Park System's Equestrian Division. It is open to riders of all levels and offers special programs for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. The facility features an 18-stall stable, an indoor instructional arena and an outdoor instructional ring. Sixteen horses are available for riders.
The Darlington County Park is a 178-acre facility the offers various activities throughout the year, including in-season swimming, hiking, basketball, handball, tennis, a playground, picnic areas, paths, wildlife observation, catch-and-release fishing and other activities. Residents holding Bergen County Parks cards receive discounts for the activities in the park that require a fee. Interested parties should call with questions about the required camping permits and New Jersey fishing licenses.
Turkey Swamp Park is a 2,111 acre facility in the Monmouth County Park System. The park includes campgrounds, nine miles of trails, archery grounds, picnic areas and a lake. The lake is open for boating, fishing and ice skating. Boat rentals are available on weekends from May 1 through June 19 and daily during the summer.
Turkey Swamp Park is one of the more busy parks in Freehold but the hundreds of acres allow ample room for everyone to enjoy the facilities or commune with nature.
East Freehold Showgrounds is located along the commercial corridor of Kozloski Road. The park is an 81-acre facility in the Monmouth County Park System and is used for special events, such as horse shows. East Freehold Showgrounds is also home to the annual Monmouth County Fair. Groups can rent to showgrounds for events.
The Kinnelon Recreation Municipal Complex is located behind the Kinnelon Municipal Building on Kinnelon Road. The fields are used primarily for football and lacrosse. Dogs are not allowed on the fields. The fields are available for public use during athletic events.
With its glassy fishing pond, wide open fields and first-rate playgrounds, Monmouth County Park System's Holmdel Park is the township's gem. More than a million people come each year to enjoy family time and recreational sports at this public park . Yet it can also be be a place of serenity. Walking the well-marked trails in the quiet woods, listening to the rustle of leaves and singing birds among the towering trees, is a peaceful experience.
The 565-acre free park features Historic Longstreet Farm, an Arboretum, fishing, tennis courts, two playgrounds and in the wintertime, ice skating and sledding trails. There are more than 10 miles of well-maintained paths. Stroller-pushers will prefer the half-mile paved loop linking the pond and playground. Fitness seekers will head up the hills to the shady woods and rolling hills for a energetic challenge. Everyone loves the Marsh Walk, a boardwalk-style journey over the wet forest floor.
The Campgaw Mountain Reservation offers a variety of recreational activities depending on the season. The grounds have a disc golf course, archery field and hiking in a wooded area during the warmer months. In the winter, Campgaw offers skiing, snow tubing and other activities in the winter. The park offers races, lessons, parties, snow monsters and other programs for kids and other specialty services. Patrons should check the website, www.skicampgaw.com, for details about group rates and the calendar of events.