Wow- good thing I have another good 30 years in me for this task. Did I mention I also want to hit all the Country's National Parks and all the Wonders of the World? Haha!
* Abram S. Hewitt State Forest
* Allaire State Park- I did bike to this when I had the shore house, summer 2007. I parked my bike and walked around some of the old time houses, mills, etc. So, for now it counts!
* Allamuchy Mountain State Park- did this details later
* Atsion Recreation Area
* Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
* Bass River State Forest
* Belleplain State Forest
* Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
* Bull's Island Recreation Area
* Cape May Point State Park
* Cheesequake State Park
* Corson's Inlet State Park
* Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park- August 21, 2010. I was driving to my house from Mike's, looking for a good park to hit on the way. I wanted a vigorous hike but none of the parks in central jersey really offer that. I would of settled with flat terrain if I had my bike, but I didn't. So, I found this park I could kayak at. I'm not sure I really experience the "State Parkness" of it by kayak but it was cool. This is a long (about 16 mile), narrow park along the Canal. I rented a kayak at a simple little place, about 2 miles north of the south tip of the park. When I hopped in the kayak, provided by two teenage boys, you could only go north because there was a bridge to the south that you couldn't even get under in a kayak. I paddle for 30 minutes north (there is no current in the canal so it's not like I was paddling upstream), then I paddled for a half hour south. I really have no idea how far I went. If I had to estimate I'd say 2 miles up, then 2 back. I was paddling pretty hard the whole time. All along the west side of the canal was a path that was busy with people biking, walking, jogging. It seemed like a great path to bike, jog, or walk in shapeups, but I prefer making loops when I do those activities. I'm not a huge fan of coming back down the same path I went up. In a kayak I don't mind because it is different and exciting enough to be on a boat, but on foot or bike I might not love that park. Although, it's nice to alongside the canal the whole time and the path looked nice. Maybe if there was another park nearby to bike to I'd go back. It might get more interesting on the northern part of the park.
* Double Trouble State Park
* Senator Frank S. Farley State Marina
* Farny State Park
* Forked River State Marina
* Fortescue State Marina
* Fort Mott State Park
* Hacklebarney State Park- I hiked this pretty thouroughly with Mike in the spring or summer, of.... I'm thinking 2008. I liked it- it's close to my north jersey residence and it has good elevation, some history, and a variety of marked trails.
* High Point State Park
* Hopatcong State Park- Okay, I live a mile from this park. I went there a lot as a kid for the free swimming and there was a huge fountain to play in (that is gone now). I really would never go back- it gets to crowded with "tourists" meaning people from the far East of Jersey looking for a free swim in the "Country." They flood my local 7-11 and DD every weekend! I did go there with my mom in the Spring of 2009 (it's only crazy in the summer) just for something random to do while she visited. She is actually from Hopatcong so we went all over the old stomping ground. What I found out then was that there are a few measly little trails on the side of the park up into some hills, so we hiked them. It does have history and is nice right on Lake Hopatcong, but just no real reason to go back.
* Island Beach State Park
* Jenny Jump State Forest- I hiked this with Mike one weekend in Fall of, maybe 2007. It had great elevations and views. I'd actually like to go back, but I have a lot of other parks to attend to!
* Kittatinny Valley State Park- Did it, details later (airport, bugs, scared bear)
* Leonardo State Marina
* Liberty Landing Marina
* Liberty State Park
* Long Pond Ironworks State Park
* Monmouth Battlefield State Park
* Norvin Green State Forest
* Parvin State Park
* Penn State Forest
* Princeton Battlefield State Park
* Ramapo Mountain State Forest
* Rancocas State Park
* Ringwood State Park
* Round Valley Recreation Area
* Spring Meadow Golf Course
* Spruce Run Recreation Area
* Stephens State Park
* Stokes State Forest
* Swartswood State Park
* Voorhees State Park
* Warren Grove Recreation Area
* Washington Crossing State Park
* Washington Rock State Park
* Wawayanda State Park
* Wharton State Forest
* Worthington State Forest
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Burlington County Parks
Here are the parks listed on their website:
Amico Island Park: Okay, so I went there on Aug 20, a Friday around 5pm. I walked almost every trail and I really loved it. There is a nice flat 1 mile loop (blue I think) that would be perfect for a run. There is also the red/yellow trails that go along side the delaware river. There are little paths off some of the marked trails that offer good views of the river, with the Philly skyline in the background, and also others offer views of the harbor. The park is actually a small island- it is bear free! Also, it is pretty well shaded by trees. It was similar to Palmyra Nature Cove but I actually liked the terrain a little better- it just seemed more lush. There was an option of walking on the "beach" of the delaware river, but it was not a marked trail and it was much more rocky than sandy.
Pennington Park
Crystal Lake Park
Historic Smithville Park
Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area
Long Bridge Park
These are listed on the county website as Trails and I have a feeling they might be part of Rancocas State Park- more on this later.
# Rancocas Creek Canoe Trail
# Rancocas Pointe Trail
Here are the parks that are "works in progress." I will check on their status and decide if they warrant a visit to complete my mission:
* Anderson Farm
* County Fairgrounds
* Linear Trails
* Overall Plan
* Master Plan
* Pennington Park Phase II
Amico Island Park: Okay, so I went there on Aug 20, a Friday around 5pm. I walked almost every trail and I really loved it. There is a nice flat 1 mile loop (blue I think) that would be perfect for a run. There is also the red/yellow trails that go along side the delaware river. There are little paths off some of the marked trails that offer good views of the river, with the Philly skyline in the background, and also others offer views of the harbor. The park is actually a small island- it is bear free! Also, it is pretty well shaded by trees. It was similar to Palmyra Nature Cove but I actually liked the terrain a little better- it just seemed more lush. There was an option of walking on the "beach" of the delaware river, but it was not a marked trail and it was much more rocky than sandy.
Pennington Park
Crystal Lake Park
Historic Smithville Park
Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area
Long Bridge Park
These are listed on the county website as Trails and I have a feeling they might be part of Rancocas State Park- more on this later.
# Rancocas Creek Canoe Trail
# Rancocas Pointe Trail
Here are the parks that are "works in progress." I will check on their status and decide if they warrant a visit to complete my mission:
* Anderson Farm
* County Fairgrounds
* Linear Trails
* Overall Plan
* Master Plan
* Pennington Park Phase II
Morris County Parks (2/23)
Whoa, I'm taking on a big mission. Well from Morris County's website I cut and pasted everything listed under, "parks and recreation," but then I deleted the ones that were named farm, marina, or golf course and what remains is below. I have to see if Education Centers, Environmental Centers, Reservations, or Arboretums count. I will do a little research and decide if they fit in the "Park" category, but I'm interested in exploring them non the less! They remain on my list for now.
# Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center
# Cooper Gristmill
# Craigmeur Recreation Complex
# Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
# Frelinghuysen Arboretum
# Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
# Hedden Park- Randolph- I'm counting this as visited. I can't say if it was in the last year or two but I've definately been there a few times. To kill time between swim lessons or classes at CCM I would hike around this park. Nice trails that go up but not too crazy and at the base it is really nice. Two playgrounds, a pond with peddle boats you can rent on weekends, some pavilions, a field, bathrooms, and a lot of benches & picnic tables.
# Historic Speedwell
# James Andrews Memorial Park
# Lewis Morris Park
# Loantaka Brook Reservation
# Mahlon Dickerson Reservation- I went for a hike here by myself (what's new) on July 31. It was a big park with a lot of trails. I was VERY afraid of bears, especially because they had bear warnings up. I had trouble enjoying myself and I did not hike the path I intended too. Instead, I took a shorter loop that led to an overlook of Lake Hopatcong. I really thought that trail would be more crowded, and more bear free, but I was wrong. Well, it was not crowded but I did not have a bear experience. I was singing aloud to myself the whole time because noise usually keeps bears away! I was also wearing Sketcher Shape Ups, and this place had a lot of elevation so it was not an ideal situation- the shape ups are for walking on nice flat, paved, ground. I did drive to another part of the park and enjoy a nice walk around a pond. There was not a real bear fear and it was a neat path. There were tons of trees that had fallen or would soon fall due to wood chucks! They were all chewed up on an angle- like tons of them, pretty cool. I would like to go back here one day and hike my initial intended path, either with a friend or after bear hunting in NJ takes place! I did invest in bear bells so I won't have to sing next time!
# Mount Hope Historical Park
# Mount Paul Memorial Park
# Old Troy Park
# Passaic River Park
# Patriots' Path
# Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area
# Schooley's Mountain Park
# Silas Condict Park
# Tourne Park: Boonton- visited several times dating back to when I was a teenager and would take my dog hiking up there! It's a cool park because on a clear day you can see the NYC skyline from the top. I went up recently for excercise and made it up so fast that I went back down and did it again because I didn't feel it was a good workout! I remembered it being so much longer! There are benches to stop at along the way up and at the top there are cool rocks or picnic tables to picnic on. At the base are a few parking lots and some fields- maybe designated for soccer/baseball. There are bathrooms down there too.
# Traction Line Recreation Trail
# Willowwood Arboretum
# Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center
# Cooper Gristmill
# Craigmeur Recreation Complex
# Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
# Frelinghuysen Arboretum
# Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
# Hedden Park- Randolph- I'm counting this as visited. I can't say if it was in the last year or two but I've definately been there a few times. To kill time between swim lessons or classes at CCM I would hike around this park. Nice trails that go up but not too crazy and at the base it is really nice. Two playgrounds, a pond with peddle boats you can rent on weekends, some pavilions, a field, bathrooms, and a lot of benches & picnic tables.
# Historic Speedwell
# James Andrews Memorial Park
# Lewis Morris Park
# Loantaka Brook Reservation
# Mahlon Dickerson Reservation- I went for a hike here by myself (what's new) on July 31. It was a big park with a lot of trails. I was VERY afraid of bears, especially because they had bear warnings up. I had trouble enjoying myself and I did not hike the path I intended too. Instead, I took a shorter loop that led to an overlook of Lake Hopatcong. I really thought that trail would be more crowded, and more bear free, but I was wrong. Well, it was not crowded but I did not have a bear experience. I was singing aloud to myself the whole time because noise usually keeps bears away! I was also wearing Sketcher Shape Ups, and this place had a lot of elevation so it was not an ideal situation- the shape ups are for walking on nice flat, paved, ground. I did drive to another part of the park and enjoy a nice walk around a pond. There was not a real bear fear and it was a neat path. There were tons of trees that had fallen or would soon fall due to wood chucks! They were all chewed up on an angle- like tons of them, pretty cool. I would like to go back here one day and hike my initial intended path, either with a friend or after bear hunting in NJ takes place! I did invest in bear bells so I won't have to sing next time!
# Mount Hope Historical Park
# Mount Paul Memorial Park
# Old Troy Park
# Passaic River Park
# Patriots' Path
# Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area
# Schooley's Mountain Park
# Silas Condict Park
# Tourne Park: Boonton- visited several times dating back to when I was a teenager and would take my dog hiking up there! It's a cool park because on a clear day you can see the NYC skyline from the top. I went up recently for excercise and made it up so fast that I went back down and did it again because I didn't feel it was a good workout! I remembered it being so much longer! There are benches to stop at along the way up and at the top there are cool rocks or picnic tables to picnic on. At the base are a few parking lots and some fields- maybe designated for soccer/baseball. There are bathrooms down there too.
# Traction Line Recreation Trail
# Willowwood Arboretum
Local Parks: Roxbury Township (2/13)
Here is the list, I will just add info as I visit each park
Berkshire Valley Park- Location: 79 Mill Rd, Wharton
Dell Avenue Park -Location: 56 N. Dell Avenue, Kenvil
Emmans Park - Location: 75 Emmans Road, Ledgewood.
Horseshoe Lake Recreation Complex - Location: 72 Eyland Avenue, Succasunna.
---Already visited several times in the passed few years. It has a big playground area (imagination station), several soccer and baseball fields, a war memorial, a big gazebo, a lake with a beach, volleyball and basketball. I've walked and jogged around it a lot because it has markings every quarter of a mile. I think the whole perimeter is 1.5 miles. Bathrooms that are always unlocked when park is open. Benches all around, the nice ones are on the lake but opposite of the beach area. There is also a little bridge that goes out to an island- the lake is literally shaped like a horseshoe!
Kiwanis Park - Location: 9 Makin Lane, Succasunna
Ledgewood Park/Morris Canal Park - Location: Emmans Road, Ledgewood
Midland Park - Location: 9 Midland Road, Succasunna.
Mooney Mountain Park/Conkling Pond - Location: Intersection of Conkling Road and Kennedy Drive on Mooney Mountain in Flanders.
Nalron Park - Location: 67 Emmans Road, Ledgewood
Port Morris Park -Location: 23 Washington Street, Landing.
---Already visited several times, or I should say "rested at". This park is right around the corner from my house (it should be listed as Port Morris, not Landing!) so I've jogged/walked/biked by it several times. It has a big parking lot that leads to an area on Lake MuscaNetcong where I take jogging breaks. Inside the park is a decent baseball field, and a pretty crummy playground. I also rest on the swing sets sometimes though! No bathrooms.
Shore Hills Park - Location: 83 Vale Road, Landing.
Righter Road Fields (Succasunna Fields) - Location: 175 Righter Road, Succasunna.
Veteran's Park -Location: 45 Patricia Drive, Flanders.
--Visited Monday, Aug 30 around 4pm. Wow- I got totally lost! This is an interesting "park" although it is more like one marked trail and a bunch of unmarked trails through the woods on Mooney Mountain! You park right near this scary tower where the road ends with a bunch of Do Not Enter signs leading up to a lot by the creepy tower. There is a park map posted in the side of the road/field parking lot. It shows one blue trail that is .6 miles long going straight through the woods. I figured I'd just follow the trail to the end, then take it back for a nice quick 1.2 mile hike. But the park is full of unmarked trails! And of course I get a phone call so I'm hiking and talking and next thing you know I'm not on the blue trail- I'm who knows where?! I had bear bells on my feet to protect me, but I needed to find my way out. It was pretty heavily wooded, but I roamed on the trail hoping I would see something familiar or something that was marked as the blue trail again. I think I walked down Mooney Mt because I could see houses backyards with what I think was 206 in front of them. I knew worse case scenario I could walk through a yard to 206, but in the meantime I walked back up the mountain on the trails and started retracing my steps. I couldn't find the blue trail! I saw a field with Do Not Trespass signs posted but I went just a little ways and saw the tower. I knew my car was parked near so I crept around and finally came out to the road that I parked off of. It was about a 2 hour process, much longer than I planned to hike, but it was a cool place to explore, maybe just not alone so late in the afternoon!
Berkshire Valley Park- Location: 79 Mill Rd, Wharton
Dell Avenue Park -Location: 56 N. Dell Avenue, Kenvil
Emmans Park - Location: 75 Emmans Road, Ledgewood.
Horseshoe Lake Recreation Complex - Location: 72 Eyland Avenue, Succasunna.
---Already visited several times in the passed few years. It has a big playground area (imagination station), several soccer and baseball fields, a war memorial, a big gazebo, a lake with a beach, volleyball and basketball. I've walked and jogged around it a lot because it has markings every quarter of a mile. I think the whole perimeter is 1.5 miles. Bathrooms that are always unlocked when park is open. Benches all around, the nice ones are on the lake but opposite of the beach area. There is also a little bridge that goes out to an island- the lake is literally shaped like a horseshoe!
Kiwanis Park - Location: 9 Makin Lane, Succasunna
Ledgewood Park/Morris Canal Park - Location: Emmans Road, Ledgewood
Midland Park - Location: 9 Midland Road, Succasunna.
Mooney Mountain Park/Conkling Pond - Location: Intersection of Conkling Road and Kennedy Drive on Mooney Mountain in Flanders.
Nalron Park - Location: 67 Emmans Road, Ledgewood
Port Morris Park -Location: 23 Washington Street, Landing.
---Already visited several times, or I should say "rested at". This park is right around the corner from my house (it should be listed as Port Morris, not Landing!) so I've jogged/walked/biked by it several times. It has a big parking lot that leads to an area on Lake MuscaNetcong where I take jogging breaks. Inside the park is a decent baseball field, and a pretty crummy playground. I also rest on the swing sets sometimes though! No bathrooms.
Shore Hills Park - Location: 83 Vale Road, Landing.
Righter Road Fields (Succasunna Fields) - Location: 175 Righter Road, Succasunna.
Veteran's Park -Location: 45 Patricia Drive, Flanders.
--Visited Monday, Aug 30 around 4pm. Wow- I got totally lost! This is an interesting "park" although it is more like one marked trail and a bunch of unmarked trails through the woods on Mooney Mountain! You park right near this scary tower where the road ends with a bunch of Do Not Enter signs leading up to a lot by the creepy tower. There is a park map posted in the side of the road/field parking lot. It shows one blue trail that is .6 miles long going straight through the woods. I figured I'd just follow the trail to the end, then take it back for a nice quick 1.2 mile hike. But the park is full of unmarked trails! And of course I get a phone call so I'm hiking and talking and next thing you know I'm not on the blue trail- I'm who knows where?! I had bear bells on my feet to protect me, but I needed to find my way out. It was pretty heavily wooded, but I roamed on the trail hoping I would see something familiar or something that was marked as the blue trail again. I think I walked down Mooney Mt because I could see houses backyards with what I think was 206 in front of them. I knew worse case scenario I could walk through a yard to 206, but in the meantime I walked back up the mountain on the trails and started retracing my steps. I couldn't find the blue trail! I saw a field with Do Not Trespass signs posted but I went just a little ways and saw the tower. I knew my car was parked near so I crept around and finally came out to the road that I parked off of. It was about a 2 hour process, much longer than I planned to hike, but it was a cool place to explore, maybe just not alone so late in the afternoon!
Chronological List
Friday, July 16, 2010: Garfield Park & Memorial Park, Cinnaminson Local
Thursday, July 22, 2010: Wood Park & Riverton Park, Cinnaminson Local
Saturday, July 31, 2010: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, Morris County Park
Friday, August 20, 2010: Amico Island Park, Burlington County Park
Saturday, August 21, 2010: Delawaare & Raritan Canal State Park
Monday, August 30, 2010: Veteran's Park, Roxbury Local
Thursday, July 22, 2010: Wood Park & Riverton Park, Cinnaminson Local
Saturday, July 31, 2010: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, Morris County Park
Friday, August 20, 2010: Amico Island Park, Burlington County Park
Saturday, August 21, 2010: Delawaare & Raritan Canal State Park
Monday, August 30, 2010: Veteran's Park, Roxbury Local
Local Parks: Cinnaminson Township (2/14)
Here is the list of parks I must visit in Cinnaminson. I left the location and acreage because that's how it came (cut and pasted) and I also left it organized how they had it, separated into two groups- Active and Passive. Interesting! As I visit them, I will just update this list with the date visited and any comments I have on the experience.
Active:
Memorial Park, 68.52 acres, Cinnaminson Road/Lenola Road
---Visited: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2pm. Very large, 3 separate parking lots, several (8?) baseball fields well groomed, bocci ball court!, hockey (roller?) rink, batting cages, small playground area, locked bathrooms, a nice paved path that went around the entire perimeter (estimate between 1-2 miles). I walked the entire path, stopping to sit on a bench that overlooked a marsh/pond and read for about 45 minutes. I continued walking around, veered off the paved path onto a beaten path that went over a little bridge over the marsh and eventually winding back to the main path. Decided I want my sons to fish as a hobby! It beats loitering and vandalism!
Wood Park, 20.38 acres, Branch Pike and Moorestown-Riverton Road
--- Visited July 22, 2010 in the afternoon. Nice complex- borders Pomona Swim Club. No walking path, but I just walked the perimeter. Lots of tennis courts, basketball, baseball, kids play sets. There are not a lot of places to sit, except for benches facing the basketball courts- awkward if you're not trying to stare at people playing b-ball. There was a cute gazebo with seating but it was occupied. So, I just walked the perimeter, taking in the sights and activity.
Garfield Park, 3.92 acres, Garfield Ave
---Visited: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 1:15pm. Barely a parking lot, small playground area, 2 basketball courts, 1 tennis court, 1 overgrown baseball field, very large grass field in the middle of those four things, no walking path. I walked the perimeter anyway, maybe 1/4 mile or slightly more. I sat to read on one of the few benches near the playground part but there was no shade and I felt a little creepy. I remember once hearing a law that said no adults were allowed on playgrounds unless they were with children! So, I barely made the 20 minute mark, but I got the gist of this park!
Fountain Farms Park, 3.32 acres, Willow Drive
Ravenswood Park, 3.49 acres, Chestnut Hill Drive
Extension Park, 1.76 acres, Cuthbert Road & Lejune Road
East Riverton Park, 8.78 acres, Rowland Street
---Visited July 22, 2010 after Wood Park (and driving looking for Fountain Farms Park) This was really sad- it was in the more ghetto part of Cinnaminson and everything was really unkempt. The playsets were all graffiti'd and falling apart. The basketball courts were in decent shape and then there was just open space, like a field but not a nice one. It was nice and shaded and totally empty so I sat and read for a while, then just walked the perimeter- there was no walking path. It was an awkward walk because two sides of the park bordered streets with regular (ghetto) houses, one street bordered like some sort of small business building, and the fourth side was a fence with some type of industrial happenings on the other side of it. It was a lot smaller than Wood Park.
"Passive:"
Bird Preserve, 1.44 acres, Broadwood Ave
Pompeston Creek 4, 5.52 acres, Via Bd. of Ed. Property
Pocket Park, 2.51 acres, Shenandoah Road and Valley Forge Road
Pocket Park, 2.44 acres, Yellowstone Road & Acadia Drive
Pompeston Creek 1, 3.10 acres, Fountain Ave
Pompeston Creek 2, 4.66 acres, Willow Drive
Poets Walk Park, 2.8 acres, Branch Pike
Active:
Memorial Park, 68.52 acres, Cinnaminson Road/Lenola Road
---Visited: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2pm. Very large, 3 separate parking lots, several (8?) baseball fields well groomed, bocci ball court!, hockey (roller?) rink, batting cages, small playground area, locked bathrooms, a nice paved path that went around the entire perimeter (estimate between 1-2 miles). I walked the entire path, stopping to sit on a bench that overlooked a marsh/pond and read for about 45 minutes. I continued walking around, veered off the paved path onto a beaten path that went over a little bridge over the marsh and eventually winding back to the main path. Decided I want my sons to fish as a hobby! It beats loitering and vandalism!
Wood Park, 20.38 acres, Branch Pike and Moorestown-Riverton Road
--- Visited July 22, 2010 in the afternoon. Nice complex- borders Pomona Swim Club. No walking path, but I just walked the perimeter. Lots of tennis courts, basketball, baseball, kids play sets. There are not a lot of places to sit, except for benches facing the basketball courts- awkward if you're not trying to stare at people playing b-ball. There was a cute gazebo with seating but it was occupied. So, I just walked the perimeter, taking in the sights and activity.
Garfield Park, 3.92 acres, Garfield Ave
---Visited: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 1:15pm. Barely a parking lot, small playground area, 2 basketball courts, 1 tennis court, 1 overgrown baseball field, very large grass field in the middle of those four things, no walking path. I walked the perimeter anyway, maybe 1/4 mile or slightly more. I sat to read on one of the few benches near the playground part but there was no shade and I felt a little creepy. I remember once hearing a law that said no adults were allowed on playgrounds unless they were with children! So, I barely made the 20 minute mark, but I got the gist of this park!
Fountain Farms Park, 3.32 acres, Willow Drive
Ravenswood Park, 3.49 acres, Chestnut Hill Drive
Extension Park, 1.76 acres, Cuthbert Road & Lejune Road
East Riverton Park, 8.78 acres, Rowland Street
---Visited July 22, 2010 after Wood Park (and driving looking for Fountain Farms Park) This was really sad- it was in the more ghetto part of Cinnaminson and everything was really unkempt. The playsets were all graffiti'd and falling apart. The basketball courts were in decent shape and then there was just open space, like a field but not a nice one. It was nice and shaded and totally empty so I sat and read for a while, then just walked the perimeter- there was no walking path. It was an awkward walk because two sides of the park bordered streets with regular (ghetto) houses, one street bordered like some sort of small business building, and the fourth side was a fence with some type of industrial happenings on the other side of it. It was a lot smaller than Wood Park.
"Passive:"
Bird Preserve, 1.44 acres, Broadwood Ave
Pompeston Creek 4, 5.52 acres, Via Bd. of Ed. Property
Pocket Park, 2.51 acres, Shenandoah Road and Valley Forge Road
Pocket Park, 2.44 acres, Yellowstone Road & Acadia Drive
Pompeston Creek 1, 3.10 acres, Fountain Ave
Pompeston Creek 2, 4.66 acres, Willow Drive
Poets Walk Park, 2.8 acres, Branch Pike
My mission!
Hello- I've always wanted to take on a mission to visit every state park in NJ. I don't know why or when this came upon me but it was several years ago because I think it was tied into my quest to be on the show, Survivor. I was brainstorming videos I could send in to land my spot and I wanted something that would represent the typical "Jersey Girl" (pre-Snookie) and I thought I could video tape my self riding a bike from High Point State Park to Cape May (Jersey from top to bottome). Eventually the Survivor dream faded but I still thought it sounded fun to bike Jersey from top to bottom. Well, that dream is slowly fading as I realize I may never find the companionship to embark on that adventure with me. I mean, I love my own company- but in small doses! So, I've revived and revamped the dream into just visiting each state park in my fine state. This way, I can do it in small doses so being alone will be fine, and I can probably find some companionship for a few of my adventures, since they would only require a few hours- not a few days!
Well, as I started the research necessary for this mission, I realized that there are such things as county parks and municipal parks. Well, as a very proud Morris County girl, I couldn't put all the effort into the state park system without acknowledging my county's parks. And at that point, I might as well put the effort into visiting my municipality's parks (that would be Roxbury Township). However, I'm faced with another dilema- I'm "in the process" of moving to Cinnaminson Township, of Burlington County. Am I to ignore this? No, I must embrace my future home- and it will be a good way to get a better feel for the area. So, in sum, my mission- loosely in the following order- is to visit the following:
All of Cinnaminson Township and Roxbury Township local parks
All of Morris County and Burlington County county run parks
All of New Jersey's State Parks
All of USA's National Parks
Haha, I threw that last goal in there because it is actually what reminded me of my original state park mission. I was watching a documentary on my flight home from Spain called, "The National Park System: America's Greatest Idea." It was really well done and got me thinking about how many things I've visited in foreign countries and how much more I still have to see in my very own nation. My guilt was amplified by my over zealous sense of patriotism (and the fact that I was in Spain for America's Bday this year)- and it all tied in nicely to my fiance's gentle pleadings for us to have a "USA Roadtrip" honeymoon instead of the traditional, all-inclusive, ass on the beach, drink in your hand, type of honeymoon. You see, he travels to foreign countries for a living and would really like to see more of the homeland as well. I've taken four road trips across this great nations, but I've only truly visited Yosemite National park and scratched the surface of the Badlands, and The Grand Canyon. I might come to find out I've been to more national parks than that, we'll see. But here are the rules of what constitutes a "visit":
Local Parks: Need to spend at least 20 minutes there (10 of which can be sitting, 10 walking around). If I've been there in the last two years, I can count that without a revisit.
County Parks: Need to spend at least 40 minutes there (!0 sitting, 30 walking around). If it has trails, I must explore about 75% of them. If I've been there in the last year, I can count that without a revisit.
State Parks: Need to spend at least 1.5 hours there (1 hour walking, 30 minutes sitting). It will have trails and I will explore at least 50% of them. If I've been there in the last year, I can count that without a revisit.
National Parks: Need to spend a full day there and do and see all the trademark things of the park. Although Yosemite was 5 years ago (wow..) I'm counting it because we spent 2 days and 2 nights there and did a 12 hour hike to the highest point you can go without equipment. We done did that park. I would go back if the opportunity arose, but for the sake of this mission I'm checking it off.
Time to research and outline my plan of attack!
Well, as I started the research necessary for this mission, I realized that there are such things as county parks and municipal parks. Well, as a very proud Morris County girl, I couldn't put all the effort into the state park system without acknowledging my county's parks. And at that point, I might as well put the effort into visiting my municipality's parks (that would be Roxbury Township). However, I'm faced with another dilema- I'm "in the process" of moving to Cinnaminson Township, of Burlington County. Am I to ignore this? No, I must embrace my future home- and it will be a good way to get a better feel for the area. So, in sum, my mission- loosely in the following order- is to visit the following:
All of Cinnaminson Township and Roxbury Township local parks
All of Morris County and Burlington County county run parks
All of New Jersey's State Parks
All of USA's National Parks
Haha, I threw that last goal in there because it is actually what reminded me of my original state park mission. I was watching a documentary on my flight home from Spain called, "The National Park System: America's Greatest Idea." It was really well done and got me thinking about how many things I've visited in foreign countries and how much more I still have to see in my very own nation. My guilt was amplified by my over zealous sense of patriotism (and the fact that I was in Spain for America's Bday this year)- and it all tied in nicely to my fiance's gentle pleadings for us to have a "USA Roadtrip" honeymoon instead of the traditional, all-inclusive, ass on the beach, drink in your hand, type of honeymoon. You see, he travels to foreign countries for a living and would really like to see more of the homeland as well. I've taken four road trips across this great nations, but I've only truly visited Yosemite National park and scratched the surface of the Badlands, and The Grand Canyon. I might come to find out I've been to more national parks than that, we'll see. But here are the rules of what constitutes a "visit":
Local Parks: Need to spend at least 20 minutes there (10 of which can be sitting, 10 walking around). If I've been there in the last two years, I can count that without a revisit.
County Parks: Need to spend at least 40 minutes there (!0 sitting, 30 walking around). If it has trails, I must explore about 75% of them. If I've been there in the last year, I can count that without a revisit.
State Parks: Need to spend at least 1.5 hours there (1 hour walking, 30 minutes sitting). It will have trails and I will explore at least 50% of them. If I've been there in the last year, I can count that without a revisit.
National Parks: Need to spend a full day there and do and see all the trademark things of the park. Although Yosemite was 5 years ago (wow..) I'm counting it because we spent 2 days and 2 nights there and did a 12 hour hike to the highest point you can go without equipment. We done did that park. I would go back if the opportunity arose, but for the sake of this mission I'm checking it off.
Time to research and outline my plan of attack!
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