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 5:30 p.m. through January 15; 6 p.m. January 16-February 12; and 6:30 p.m. February 13-March 10.
Portions of this site will be open for deer hunting during the 2023/2024 season.
Located along the headwaters of Matawan Creek and Lake Lefferts, this 313-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 recently amended Smoke Free Air Act, all Monmouth County parks are now tobacco free. The new ban applies to cigarettes, pipes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and vaporize cigarettes, as well as smokeless tobacco such as snuff and chew.
Upcoming free offerings:
NATURE LECTURE - Snowy Owls of Monmouth County
Saturday, December 16 from 3-4 p.m.
Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen
This largest (by weight) North American owl shows up irregularly in winter in New Jersey to hunt in windswept fields or sandy dunes. Get ready for the snowy owl season as a Park System Naturalist will share general information about Snowy Owls, including their behavior and movements- such as why they may travel down from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to more southern latitudes, and what makes these birds so fascinating to so many people.
NATURE LECTURE - Philip Freneau: Monmouth County Poet and Patriot
Saturday, January 27 from 3-4 p.m.
Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen
Join local historian Barry Orr as he discusses the life of poet, journalist, patriot and sea captain, Philip Freneau (1752-1832), who is best known as the “Poet of the American Revolution.” This talk briefly describes Freneau’s important contributions to American history and literature and explores how his strong connections to the people and natural places of Monmouth County influenced his life and work. This talk is not to be missed.
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.