1970s Timeline

1970

• East Freehold Showgrounds established. First 61 acres assigned to the Park System in 1970 from Monmouth County (who had purchased it).
• Pottery/Ceramics Program begins. Classes were held in the former mash house behind the 40-stall barn, a building formerly used to cook grains for the racehorses. Today, the program is held in the Creative Arts Center.
  
  
  

1972

• Outdoor Recreation Division formally established. Park System began coordinating a variety of canoe, camping, biking and backpacking programs in the parks, as well as canoe/white-water rafting trips and ski trips in winter.
• Cultural Services/Performing Arts Division formally began with programs in theater, drama and the arts; as well as art/craft workshops .
• County's first Open Space Plan adopted. This document becomes the driving force behind the county's land acquisitions.

1973

• Hartshorne Woods Park established. The park opened almost immediately as existing, informal trails were used by public.
  
  
  
   
• Tatum Park established. Received gift of first 76 acres from Genevieve Hubbard Tatum in 1973 and purchased another 96 acres from Tatum family that same year.
• Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook established. The Park System preserved a portion of this site by purchasing 8 acres in 1973. Mount Mitchill was dedicated November 27, 1973.
• Shark River Golf Course established. The 176-acre Asbury Park Golf Course property was acquired. The course was dedicated on August 7, 1973.
• Annual Park System attendance over 800,000; Howell Park Golf Course hosted over 35,000 golfers (1973 Annual Report)

1974

• Huber Woods Park established. Received gift of first 119 acres from the Huber family in 1974; another 29 acres purchased that same year. Huber Woods Park opened in 1974 with guided nature programs . Received a second 48 acres, including the Huber home (now the Environmental Center), from the Huber family in 1985. Environmental Center opened in 1992.

1975

• First Monmouth County Fair operated by Park System and the 4-H held at East Freehold Showgrounds. (Monmouth County Fairs date back to the mid 19th century, and were originally sponsored by the Monmouth County Agricultural Society).
• Annual Park System attendance 1,132,325; 73,128 rounds of golf were played at Howell Park and Shark River Golf Courses (from 1975 Annual Report)

1976

• Sports & Fitness Division programs technically started in 1976 as One-Time Activities with square dances, movie nights, tennis lessons, archery, etc. These offerings grew progressively more sports-oriented in the following years and the division was formally renamed.
• Volunteers-in-Parks program launched.
• 3,569 preserved county park acres; 1,152,361 program participants (1976 Annual Report)

1977 

• Deep Cut Gardens established. Received gift of first 20 acres from Wihtol family estate in 1977; purchased another 20 acres with Green Acres Funds. Deep Cut Gardens opened in 1978.
• Hominy Hill Golf Course established. Hominy Hill Golf Course was dedicated April 25, 1977.
  
  
  
   
• Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park established. The Park System entered into a use agreement with Long Branch to begin operating the beach in 1977. The Activity Center opened in1988. The Pavilion opened in 1984; the Skateplex opened in 2005.
• Therapeutic Recreation Department established as Special Populations and began offering recreation programs to individuals with disabilities and seniors.
• First E. Murray Todd Half Marathon held.
• Monmouth Conservation Foundation established.

1979

• Weltz Conservation Area established. Purchased first 114 acres of farmland with Green Acres funding. Park is undeveloped.
• Clayton Park established. Purchased first 170 acres of farmland from Clayton family at below-market value with Green Acres funding. The Clayton family donated another parcel in 1982. Clayton Park opened over a period of time as some of the land was leased to local farmers. Formally opens in 1995.