Turkey Swamp Park
| Turkey Swamp County Park | |
|---|---|
| Turkey Swamp Park | |
 The lake at Turkey Swamp Park during the autumn months | |
 | |
| Type | Nature reservation |
| Location | Freehold Township,Monmouth County,New Jersey |
| Nearest city | Freehold Borough |
| Operated by | Monmouth County Park System |
| Status | Open all year |
| Website | https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2540 |
Turkey Swamp Parkis a 2,388-acre (966 ha) countyparkandnature preserveinFreehold Township,New Jersey.Within the northernmost fringes of thePine Barrens,[1]the Turkey Swamp area is located on aridge,being a majordrainage dividewithinCentral New Jersey.It includes the headwaters of theManasquanthat flows intoManasquan Inlet,and theMetedeconkandToms Riversystems that flow intoBarnegat Bay,to the east; theManalapan Brooksystem that is part of theRaritan Riverbasin, to the north; and theAssunpinkandCrosswickssystems that flow into theDelaware River,and theMillstone Riversystem that also flows to the Raritan, to the west.[2][3]The chief recreational attraction of this park is the 17-acre (6.9 ha)lakesuitable forbass,bluegillandcatfishfishing, as well ascanoeingandpaddle boating.
It is adjacent to the over 4,000-acre (1,600 ha) Turkey SwampWildlife Management Area.[4]
History
[edit]The core of the park was purchased in 1963. Additional land was purchased in the 1970s.[5]In May 1993, the Park System acquired 303-acre (123 ha) Camp Nomoco including a 56-acre (23 ha) campground from theMonmouth Council of Girl Scoutsto add it to Turkey Swamp Park. The Council had operated the camp since 1947. The Council trustees were determined to sell the camp, as a Wall Herald reporter noted, to “a buyer who cares more about nature and a pristine environment than about developing the land.” The Nomoco acquisition also helped protect the Metedeconk River watershed while converting a private camping facility into a public one.[6]
Nomenclature
[edit]The title of the park may be considered a bit of amisnomerconsidering the park does not bear aswamp,nor does it act as ahabitatforturkeys.Although considering that the soil is rather sandy and thewater tablelies slightly beneath the surface, this thus gives rise to swampy conditions at times when the surfacetopographydips to the water line; hence the 'swamp' title. The 'turkey' prefix, however, was adapted from the town's previous name, Turkey. The town once known as Turkey is now known as theunincorporated areaofAdelphia.[7]
Park information
[edit]The park features 9 miles (14 km) of trails, anarcheryrange, an array ofplaygrounds,twosoccerfields, and various picnic grounds. During the appropriate season,canoes,paddleboats,kayaks,androwboatsmay be rented. During the winter season, if the lake freezes sufficiently,ice-skatingis available for park visitors. A significant section of the park is dedicated as a seasonalcampground,complete with laundry facilities, hot-water bathrooms, andRVelectric & water hook-ups. It consists of 64 pull-through campsites that can accommodate both tent campers and travel trailers. Two wood "forest view" cabins are also available.[8]
Nomoco Activity Area
[edit]A more secluded area in the park, called the Nomoco Activity Area, is also available for use by groups interested in group activities. It consists of six sites each capable of accommodating groups of up to 40 people. One of the sites, called "the Outpost" is more secluded yet, requiring a hike through the woods of 1/4 mile to reach. This area is good for groups seekingwildernesscamping.In the Outpost, drinking water, for example, must be carried in, althoughground waterfromhand pump-drivenwellsare available in the general area. Also, a pit toilet is available as there are no other relief facilities at the Outpost.[9]
Flora
[edit]Thefloraof Turkey Swamp Park includespitch pine,scrub oak,white oak,sweet gum,pepperbush,huckleberry,blueberry,etc.
Trails
[edit]- The orange-blazed trail,a 1-mile-long (1.6 km) trail circumventing the lake.
- The red-blazed trail,a 1.75-mile-long (2.82 km) trail which leads into the woodsycampingarea.
- The green-blazed,a 1-mile (1.6 km) trail leading to the lakefront area and bordering the red-blazed trail.
- The blue-blazed,a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) trail which guides hikers to theboathouse.
References
[edit]- ^"Turkey Swamp Park".Monmouth County Park System Parks.Retrieved27 September2022.
- ^Freehold Township Master Plan (2010), p.7-1
- ^U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data.The National Map
- ^"Wildlife Management Areas".dep.nj.gov.New Jersey Fish & Wildlife.Retrieved29 October2023.
- ^Monmouth County Park System (2009).The Directory: Volume 3.Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. p. 3.
- ^The 1990s: A Clear Vision(PDF).Monmouth Park System.
- ^Turkey Swamp hiking information,accessed 3 October 2006
- ^Campgrounds at Turkey Swamp Park. Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Publication #A7485. March 2008.
- ^Nomoco Activity Area at Turkey Swamp Park. Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Publication #A6142. April 2006.
External links
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