Parks & Recreation Month

Did you know July is Parks and Recreation Month? Started in 1985 by the National Recreation and Park Association, Park & Recreation Month celebrates the importance of parks and recreation for the world. The Monmouth County Park System is celebrating this July by doing what we do best – offering exciting recreation programs and providing outstanding facilities for our visitors to get out and have fun!

With a variety of parks and golf courses as well as a family campground, the Park System provides countless ways for visitors of all ages to keep active, happy and healthy throughout the summer. You can bring your children to one of our 10 playgrounds, take a walk through the beautiful gardens of Deep Cut, explore the nature of the Manasquan Reservoir with a Naturalist-led boat tour, or spend some quiet time together with a picnic in any one of our over 30 park areas.

Already open for the season, Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch, offers everything visitors need to enjoy a day at the beach during the summer: snack bar, sheltered eating areas, volleyball area, outdoor showers and changing areas, and areas for surfing. Lifeguards are on duty daily through Labor Day. Both daily and seasonal park access passes can be purchased. The site also offers Tony's Place, a universally accessible playground for children of all abilities.

Prefer teeing off instead of hitting the waves? Head to a county course! With eight Park System golf courses at six locations throughout the county, golfers are sure to find one to suit their level of play. Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck is perfect for golfers looking for a challenge while Bel-Aire’s executive style courses are great for a quick round. Other courses are Charleston Springs in Millstone, Howell Park in Howell, Pine Brook in Manalapan, and Shark River in Neptune.

While the Park System offers many golf courses, there is only one Sprayground and it can be found at in Colts Neck. This popular water-enhanced playground is open seven days a week through September 13 from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on weekends (weather permitting). Make a day of it by bringing a picnic and relaxing under a nearby tree and adding a visit to the popular Challenger Place playground for children of all abilities.

If one day isn't long enough, plan a family camping trip at beautiful Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold. With its playgrounds, trails, fishing and boating, Turkey Swamp Park’s campground is family-friendly and affordable. Rowboats, canoes and paddleboats are available for rent at the park’s lake. Most Saturday evenings throughout the summer, campers are invited to enjoy Campfire Programs that include stories, games and tasty treats. Call 732-462-7286 for more information or to make reservations.

Turkey Swamp Park isn’t the only park where you can rent a boat. The Manasquan Reservoir has rowboats and kayaks available for rent daily. Or check out the canoe rentals at Thompson Park's Marlu Lake, offered on select weekends and Wednesday evenings. For a schedule, click here.

Discover the nature of the bay with free Summer Seining at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, now through August 21. Park System Naturalists guide their seine net through the water to give families a chance view the variety of fish, crabs and other critters found in Sandy Hook Bay. Participants should wear closed-toed shoes and sunblock. Drinking water is recommended.

And of course there are always a wide variety of excellent programs to get you out in the parks as well. Check out our Calendar of Events for drop-in activities or sign up for any of our programs listed in our Program Directory.
Dorbrook Recreation Area

Show us how your having fun in the Monmouth County parks this July! Find us on Instagram at @MonCountyParks and share a photo of you and your family and/or friends enjoying one of the parks! Be sure to use the hashtags #MonmouthCountyParks and #JulyPRM30.