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Monmouth County Park System
Monmouth County
Friends of the Parks
PARKS
Baysholm Conservation Area
Bayshore Waterfront Park
Big Brook Park
Clayton Park
Crosswicks Creek Park
Deep Cut Gardens
Dorbrook Recreation Area
East Freehold Showgrounds
Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
Fort Monmouth Recreation Area
Freneau Woods Park
Hartshorne Woods Park
Henry Hudson Trail
Holmdel Park
Huber Woods Park
Historic Longstreet Farm
Manasquan Reservoir
Manasquan River Greenway
Metedeconk River Greenway
Monmouth Cove Marina
Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook
Perrineville Lake Park
Historic Portland Place
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
Shark River Park
Sunnyside Equestrian Center
Swimming River Park
Tatum Park
Thompson Park
Turkey Swamp Park
Union Transportation Trail
Historic Walnford
Weltz Conservation Area
Wickatunk Recreation Area
Wolf Hill Recreation Area
Map Gallery
Complete List of Parks
Summer Concerts at Thompson Park
FACILITIES
Athletic Field Rentals
Beaches
Boating Sites
Canoeing & Kayaking Sites
Campgrounds
Reserve Your Campsite
Coastal Activity Center
Disc Golf Course
Fishing Sites
Gardens
Historic Sites
Huber Woods Environmental Center & Reptile House
Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
Marina
9/11 Memorial
Off-Leash Dog Areas
Picnic Areas & Shelters
Playgrounds
Room Rentals
Skateplex
Sprayground
Sunnyside Equestrian Center
Tennis & Pickleball Courts
Thompson Park Creative Arts Center
The Gallery at Thompson Park
Trails
Wedding in the Parks
ACTIVITIES
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Calendar of Events
Community Recreation
Creative Arts Festival
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Earth Day Activities
Group Activity Information
Nature on the Move Van
Monmouth County Fair
Outdoor Adventures Program Policies/Guidelines
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Rockin' the Trails
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Summer Camps
Walnford Day
Therapeutic Recreation Special Needs Programs
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This Weekend in the Parks
Thompson Park Day
GOLF
Golf Home Page
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Golf Fees & Charges 2024
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Daily Tee Time Schedule
GHIN
Golf Tournaments
Golf Clinics & Programs
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Meet Our Golf Instructors
The First Tee of the Jersey Shore
Golf Outings
Hole-In-One Club
Bel-Aire Golf Course
Charleston Springs Golf Course
Hominy Hill Golf Course
Howell Park Golf Course
Pine Brook Golf Course
Shark River Golf Course
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Men’s 60+ Touring League
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NATURAL RESOURCES
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ABOUT US
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2021 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
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The 1980s
Park System History
|
Golden Moments
|
Then & Now
|
Favorite Parks, Programs & Memories
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The 1960s
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The 1970s
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The 1990s
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The 2000s
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The 2010s
 
1981
Pine Brook Golf Course
established. Received gift of 61 acre golf course from Arrow Properties (division of K. Hovnanian) in 1981.
Pine Brook Golf Course
was dedicated July 13, 1981.
Equestrian Therapeutic Riding Program formally established when
Special People United to Ride
(SPUR) becomes non-profit, partners with Park System, and begins offering programs at
Thompson Park
.
First Thompson Park Day
4,200 county park acres preserved (only 0.014% of county’s total 301,805 acres), there are now 20 parks (from 1981 Annual Report)
Memorial to the Iranian Hostage Crisis dedicated at
Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook
.
1982
Summer Theatre premiers in the Thompson Park Barn with three productions that season.
1983
Hominy Hill Golf Course
hosts USGA Men’s Amateur Public Links Golf Championship
1984
Crosswicks Creek Greenway
established
. The greenway protects the creek on most of its 6-mile route through Monmouth County, provides boating/fishing access and adjacent property for trails/wildlife habitat.
First Turkey Swamp Park Day held.
First Sprint Triathlon held.
1985
Historic Walnford
established
. Received gift of 36 acres along with historic buildings from Edward and Joanne Mullen in 1985. The Mullens first gave a partial donation in 1979 held in trust by the Monmouth Conservation Foundation until 1985.
Historic Walnford
was dedicated December 27, 1979. Full restoration was completed in 2001.
Dorbrook Recreation Area
established.
Purchased first 381 acres. Funds from Federal Land & Water Conservation Funds, a Green Acres Loan and a Green Acres Grant were used for the purchase. Another 140 acres acquired in the 1990s (where Activity Center is today). Dorbrook Recreation Area was dedicated August 8, 1985. Challenger Place and Sprayground open in 2003.
First community outreach programs mark the beginning of Urban and Community Recreation Division.
1986
Bayshore Waterfront Park
established
. Over time, Park System bought and rehabilitated over 90 local parcels along Raritan Bay.
First Sunrise Run-Bike-Run held.
First Holiday Happening. Held at
Thompson Park
, this holiday event featured crafts, plants from Deep Cut, nature gifts, gingerbread displays, local choirs, children’s activities, an appearance by Santa and tree-lighting ceremony. This event was last held in 2002.
1987
Voters approve first dedicated Open Space Preservation Tax of $4 million per year on November 3, 1987.
First African-American History Celebration held.
1988
Manasquan Reservoir
established. Negotiated a lease agreement for the first 1,051 acres of reservoir property for perpetual use as a park from the NJ Water Supply Authority. Remaining parcels acquired in the 1990s for the Bear Swamp Tract. The
Manasquan Reservoir
and perimeter trail opened in 1990. The Visitor Center opened in 1994. The
Environmental Center
opened in 2001.
Outdoor Recreation offers first Canoe Jamboree (with Jersey Paddler) at Turkey Swamp Park. After a few-year break, the event returns as the expanded Outdoor Adventure Expo in 1994, highlighting all the different outdoor activities available in the parks or led by park staff.
1989
Annual Park System attendance tops 2.5 million, 5,442 county park acres preserved, over 200,000 people participated in programs (from 1989 Annual Report)
About Us
2021 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
ADA Compliance & Inclusion Services
Benefits of Recreation
Board of Recreation Commissioners
Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes
CAPRA Accreditation
Contact Information
Fees & Charges
Green Heritage
Jobs in the Parks
Join Our Mailing List
Monmouth County Historic Sites Inventory HUB Site and Interactive Map
Monmouth County Open Space Program
Municipal Open Space Grant Programs
Newsroom
Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
Park Improvement Projects
Park Partners
Park System History
Park System History Book
Professional Photography
Rules & Regulations
Social Media Policy
Tell Us What You Think
Volunteers in Parks