360 Monastery Lane, Aberdeen Township, NJ 07747    
732-264-7277  
Park Map | Tick Advisory   
Park opens at 7 a.m. daily, year round.   
Closing time is 9 p.m. May 4-24; 9:30 p.m. May 25-July 26; and 9 p.m. July 27-August 23.  

 

 
Located along the headwaters of Matawan Creek and Lake Lefferts, this 334-acre park is comprised mostly of woodland and protects critical wildlife habitat and bolsters water quality in the region. Both historically and environmentally significant, the park provides open space in a densely populated area of the county.

Trails may be accessed from the Monastery Lane and Greenwood Avenue entrances. Modern restrooms are available in the Visitor Center when programs are in session. Work is underway on expanding the trail system and making improvements to the buildings.

The park is named after a poet of the American Revolution, Philip Morin Freneau, whose family once partly owned the property. Known for his inspirational poetry and influential political articles in support of the American Revolution, Freneau played an important role shaping the country’s history. 

In accordance with New Jersey’s Smoke Free Air Act, all Monmouth County parks are tobacco free. The ban applies to cigarettes, pipes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and vaporize cigarettes, as well as smokeless tobacco such as snuff and chew.     

Nature Lecture - Fireflies of Monmouth County   
Thursday, June 11 from 7–8 p.m.   
Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen
Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are a magical sight during summer evenings. They are found in grassy areas in warm, damp, and secluded areas. Join a Park System Naturalist and learn how to decode a firefly’s signals and the mysteries behind the insect’s biology and ecology, including what they’re really doing when they light up our yards at night. We will also explain the threats facing the estimated 170 varieties in North America, as well as how to protect them.

Directions: