Park & Recreation Month: A Lifetime of Discovery

Make every day an adventure in Monmouth County’s beautiful parks this month! This July, the Monmouth County Park System is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Since 1985, America has celebrated Park and Recreation Month during the month of July to acknowledge the influential impact the parks and recreation services has in organizing and preserving the quality of life for, and contributing to the physical, economic and environmental well-being towards our local parks. 

In this annual monthly celebration the Monmouth County Park System encourages residents to get out and experience the benefits of parks and recreation. From health and wellness to conservation efforts and everything in between! Playgrounds, recreation centers, programs and summer camps are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of parks and rec. But, parks and recreation are so much more than that. It’s a time for visitors to explore the undiscovered roles of our local parks as we showcase all the exciting things you can experience in your parks. Whichever activity you choose to do, don’t experience it alone. 

Here are some free activities to help you begin your outdoor adventures in the parks this July:

• Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay - Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures as we pull a long seine net along the edge of Sandy Hook Bay at Bayshore Waterfront Park located in Port Monmouth. It will be a fun time for everyone as we find out what lives and swims in the Sandy Hook Bay. This program runs every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. this summer through August 24.
• Tidal Tuesdays - Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan, take part in activities such as meeting creatures living in the water that we find in our seine net or creating crafts from natural materials found along the shore. Meet at the Activity Center.
• Independence Day Celebration - Independence Day was a festive time in the 1890s. Patriotism was celebrated with music and games. Join the staff at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel as they celebrate the holiday with games and contests from 12-3 p.m.!
• Enviro-Quest - Every Thursday of July offers nature fun at a different park. When you arrive at the scheduled park, follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where our Park System Naturalist awaits. Once there, you'll join in activities, crafts or games for approximately 30-60 minutes of fun. For upcoming dates and locations, click here. 
• Roving Naturalist -
  
  Join our Roving Naturalist on Saturday, July 7 at 9 a.m. and explore Dorbrook Recreation Area in Colts Neck, as we discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife and identify a bird or two. This is a 1.5-2 hour program, however feel free to join in or drop out at any point during the walk. Dress for the weather as light rain is not a deterrent. 
• Climb Time - Head to Clayton Park Activity Center in Upper Freehold on Saturday, July 14 from 12-4 p.m. to try our 25' rock climbing wall. It’s the perfect way to see if rock climbing is for you! Climbers must be 42” or taller and age 8 or older (under 18 with adult). 
• The Casual Birder - Join this laid back morning bird walk at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen on Thursday, July 19 at 9 a.m. We will meander through the park for about an hour and a half to see what birds we can find. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy these walks. A limited number of free binoculars will be available on a first come, first served basis. 

These are just some of the excellent options available to visitors this month. For a full listing of what's happening in the parks, view our Calendar of Events. For all upcoming programs this summer, check the current issue of our Parks & Programs Guide. 

We want to see how you're having fun in your Monmouth County parks this July! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@MonCountyParks) and share a photo of you and your family and/or friends enjoying the parks! Be sure to use the hashtags #MonmouthCountyParks and #DiscoverJuly to encourage others to support local parks and recreation and to share why they think it's important to explore and discover all the Monmouth County Park System has to offer!

Volunteers assist in keeping the parks well-maintained for our visitors to enjoy.

Even More History in Your Parks!

Those looking to get outside and enjoy the weather will find an extra dose of history this spring in the Rocky Point section of Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands. The WWII era Battery Lewis has a new permanent walk-through exhibit inside the subterranean installment, which once housed two 16-inch guns that helped protect New York Harbor.

Battery Lewis will have an Open House on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Dedication Ceremony originally scheduled for this date has been postponed due to inclement weather until Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. The exhibit will remain open Thursday-Sunday, May 24 through October from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The exhibit features interpretive panels, replica shells, and an impressive a 16-inch gun barrel mounted on a concrete pedestal to give visitors a sense of size and space. The barrel on display at the park was mounted on the USS New Jersey during WWII.

The Army constructed the Navesink Military Reservation in 1942 as part of the Modernization Program for the Harbor Defenses of the Continental U.S. While Battery Lewis is the only 16-inch gun battery in the state of New Jersey, similar batteries can be found, in varying conditions, in many coastal areas throughout the United States; from Battery Townsley in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco to Battery Harris at Fort Tilton, New York. The Navesink Military Reservation was listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

For more information about military history in the park visit the Hartshorne Woods Park page.

Bicycling is Fun & Great for Your Health

Increasing physical activity can do so much for our health. According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, “Physical activity of the type that improves cardiovascular

Thompson Park, Lincroft

endurance reduces the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes and improves mental health.” There is no better time then right now for you to improve your health and your life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intense aerobic activity per week for adults, and 60 minutes per day for children. Many of us don't come close to those numbers.

With May being National Bike Month, this is a perfect time to start having fun while getting fit. No matter what your age or weight, recreational biking is a safe, low-impact aerobic activity for all ages. Consider this: a 200 lb. cyclist can burn 546 calories while riding 12 miles per hour. That's a lot of calories, almost the equivalent of a McDonald's Big Mac.

Here are some interesting facts that may give you that extra push to get out and start cycling:

• Cyclists, on average, live two years longer than non-cyclists and take 15% fewer days off work for illness.
• Women who walk or bike 30+ minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer.
• Adolescents who participate in bicycling, in-line skating or skateboarding more than four times a week are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults.
• In 1964, 50% of children rode bikes to school and the obesity rate was only 12%. In 2004, 3% rode to school and the obesity rate had risen to 45%.
• The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling by 1% to 1.5% of all trips.

Clayton Park, Upper Freehold

With so many places to go bike riding within your Monmouth County parks, why not give it a shot this month? Popular parks for bike riding include: Clayton Park, Upper Freehold; Henry Hudson Trail; Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands; Manasquan Reservoir, Howell; and Thompson Park, Lincroft. For a full list of the Park System's trails, click here. Don't own a bike? Rentals are available at the Manasquan Reservoir during the warmer months. Details are available here.

In the long run, buying a bicycle is more economical than buying exercise equipment for your home or signing a contract for a gym membership. And it's a great way to get into shape with the whole family, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and reduce your stress level.

Bicycle rentals will once again be available at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, this summer. Details will be posted to our website as they become available. Be sure to also keep an eye on our Parks & Programs Guide for upcoming bicycling programs in the parks. 

We'll see you on the trails!

Volunteers in the Parks

Did you know that this week is National Volunteer Week?

At the Monmouth County Park System we pride ourselves on the great number of local individuals who help to enrich the parks through their dedication as "Volunteers in Parks". Every year over 1,000 residents of varying age groups and backgrounds help to make your county parks something special.

The Volunteers in Parks program is ever expanding. Currently, volunteers can be found doing a number of notable jobs, including the following:

• Gardening and pruning at various parks such as Deep Cut Gardens, Historic Longstreet Farm, and Thompson Park
• Trails maintenance to assist with over 140 miles of trails throughout the Park System
• Docents/Welcome Desk Greeters at locations like the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center and Deep Cut Gardens
• Equestrian and horse care at Sunnyside Equestrian Center and for Special People United to Ride (SPUR)
• Beach Nesting Bird Monitors at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
• Environmental cleanups and beach sweeps - don't miss the upcoming environmental clean-up taking place at Freneau Woods Park in Aberdeen this Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and up are welcome; new volunteers will be asked to fill out a volunteer form when they arrive. Please bring work gloves, wear sturdy shoes, and dress for the weather.
• Assisting at special events like the Monmouth County Fair, Thompson Park Day, and various races
• Lending their talents during park programs and summer camps

Each year, hundreds of volunteers give over 20,000 hours of assistance to your Monmouth County Park System. Though you may not always spot a volunteer, their hard work can be seen in every park you visit. 

And we're always happy to meet new volunteers who are interested in helping their county parks. 

For more information on how you can become a volunteer with the Monmouth County Park System, email us at volunteer@monmouthcountyparks.com or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4283.

Spring Break in Your Parks

Spring break is here! If you're looking for ways to get out of the house with your children to get some exercise or learn something new, we have plenty of possibilities to choose from. Just take a look at all the fun you can add to your spring break plans:

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

• Take a step back in time with one of the Park System's historic sites. At Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel you can experience life as it was in rural Monmouth County during the 1890s. Open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors can walk through the farm and view costumed interpreters showing both daily and seasonal agricultural and domestic activities. Or head into western Monmouth County for a visit to Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold. Here you can learn about the Waln family and the evolution of Walnford over two centuries - from an 18th century industrial village and family farm to en elegant country estate. Currently the Waln house is closed for interior painting, but all other buildings remain open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Explore the the world around you with TWO environmental centers. The Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, located on Georgia Tavern Road in Howell, offers a variety of

  

  A turtle in the Reptile & Amphibian Display at the
  Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center

  interactive exhibits to learn about wetlands ecology and wildlife and habitat protection. Tucked within the hills of the Locust section of Middletown, the Huber Woods Environmental Center features hands-on exhibits on Native Americans as well as about our environment. Also available at both environmental centers are our Safari Backpacks which include everything you need to take a self-guided nature walk filled with adventure and exploration. Use of the Safari Backpacks is free, but you must leave a valid NJ drivers license with the docent.
• Playgrounds offer a terrific place for children to run, jump, climb and play! Your Monmouth County Park System offers nine parks with beautiful playground equipment that will keep your children active for hours. Find the playground closest to you by clicking here.
• Whether your geared up for a walk, hike or bike ride, you won't find a better place than your

  

  Bike riding on the trails

  Monmouth County parks! With over 130 miles of trails throughout 21 park locations, you can visit the park closest to you, or explore an area you've never been to. Some favorites include Thompson Park in Lincroft or the Union Transportation Trail in Freehold. Be sure to pick up a brochure when you arrive that will offer a map of the park and the trails. A full list of our parks with trails can be found here.
• If you're looking to get out some energy indoors, the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center in Tinton Falls has Open Gym times scheduled on various days. During these times you'll find various play equipment available as well as the table games in the lobby. Cost to attend an Open Gym session is $5 per person per day. Check out the Calendar for a full listing of Open Gym times and other upcoming drop-in programs available at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center.

For more ideas on how you can include the parks in your spring break plans, visit our website at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. We look forward to seeing you!