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 8 p.m. through March 29; 8:30 p.m. March 30-May 3; and 9 p.m. May 4-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.
FREE PROGRAMS
Brook Trout: The State Fish of New Jersey - CANCELLED
Sunday, January 25
This offering has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Salamanders of Monmouth County
Friday, March 20 from 7-8 p.m.
Join a Park System Naturalist to discover the several species of salamanders that call the Jersey Shore home. Find out about their life, love, and just how important they are to our environment. Hint: If you see a salamander in your backyard, it can be a sign of a healthy environment. Find out more about these ambiguous amphibians that are active in spring.
Directions:
FROM ROUTE 79 Take Route 79 (also called Freneau Road) north or south to Wilson Avenue. Go west on Wilson Avenue. Turn right onto Monastery Lane. Continue to the end of the road. Parking area is on the right.
FROM ROUTE 34 Take Route 34 north or south to Mill Road. Go west on Mill Road. Turn right onto Route 79 North (also called Freneau Road). Turn left onto Wilson Avenue. Turn right onto Monastery Lane. Continue to the end of the road. Parking area is on the right next to the Visitor Center.