Thompson Park (Middlesex County, New Jersey)

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Thompson Park
Gazebo at Thompson Park.jpg
Gazebo on a hill overlooking Thompson Park
Thompson Park (Middlesex County, New Jersey)
TypeSuburban county park and nature reservation
Location Monroe Township, New Jersey
Operated by Middlesex County Park System
StatusOpen all year
Website https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/71/261
Thompson Park
Thompson Park Parking.jpg
Fields and forest near a parking lot in the park.
Thompson Park (Middlesex County, New Jersey)
Location Monroe Township, New Jersey, United States
Coordinates 40°20′30″N74°25′55″W / 40.341702°N 74.432028°W / 40.341702; -74.432028
Area678 acres (2.74 km2)
Created2011
Owned by Middlesex County
Operated byMiddlesex County Parks and Recreation
OpenDawn-Dusk
StatusOpen all year
Hiking trails7
Habitats Northeastern coastal forests, Pine Barrens
DesignationDeveloped Park
Website www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?ID=4747

Thompson Park is part of the Middlesex County Park System in Middlesex County, New Jersey, Largely in Monroe Township with a portion on Jamesburg, it is largest developed park in county, and includes playgrounds, sports facilities, animal enclosures, and hiking trails. [1] The park is connected to Thompson Park Conservation Area, an undeveloped 900 acre tract of heavily wooded forests and swamps along the Manalapan Brook. Combined with additional state lands, the park is part of some 2,000 acres of green space. [2] In 2023, efforts were launched to preserve an adjacent 34 acre farm. [3]

Contents

A major feature of the park is 30-acre Manalapan Lake, created from a dammed section of Manalapan Brook. The park includes mature secondary forest with trees such as tulip poplar, oak and hickory. An area of the park lies within the Spotswood outlier of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. [4] Wildlife is typical of the Northeastern coastal forests, including wild turkey and deer. The park is connected to sports fields operated by Monroe Township High School, and located in the municipalities of Monroe Township and Jamesburg in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It is the largest park in the Middlesex County Park System, and features Lake Manalapan at its center. [5]

History

The Manalapan Brook winds through the eastern part of the park, eventually emptying into the Manalapan Lake. Manalapan Brook Thompson Park.jpg
The Manalapan Brook winds through the eastern part of the park, eventually emptying into the Manalapan Lake.

The land around Thompson Park was settled in the late 17th century. Later, David Brainerd established an Indian mission "Bethel", on what is presently park lands. The mission boasted a population of 160 living in log cabins, with a school, church, and 80 acres of cultivated lands. [6] The county started acquiring land for the park in 1955 and 1956, and the park was expanded in the following years. [4]

In 2021, a woman was found deep in the woods after getting lost and missing for two days. [7] She was found off trail by a biker who called police and aided in her rescue. [8]

In 2023, a man's body was recovered from the lake in the park. [9]

The park has been used for cross country running races. [10] [11]

Activities and facilities

A domestic turkey in Thompson Park. Thompson Park Turkey.jpg
A domestic turkey in Thompson Park.

The park offers tennis, basketball, handball, baseball, softball, beach volleyball and soccer fields. In addition, it offers picnic areas, three playgrounds and a dog park. On Lake Manalapan, fishing and boating are allowed. [1] Unique features of the park include a natural spring, and a "animal haven" where both exotic and native wildlife are on display in enclosures.

Additionally, the park offers seven hiking trails: [4]

A boardwalk in a swampy region of Thompson Park. Thompson Park Boardwalk.jpg
A boardwalk in a swampy region of Thompson Park.

General information

The park has a wide array of amenities, making it popular for families. It includes a playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, a disc golf course, a dog park, and open fields for other forms of recreation. On the shores of Lake Manalapan is an artificial beach, with volleyball nets. There are also various picnic grounds and gazebos. [12]

Thompson Park Conservation Area

Birds eye view of Thompson Park Landscape at Thompson Park in Monroe Township.JPG
Birds eye view of Thompson Park

The nature reservation at Thompson Park totals about 925-acres and stretches from the main section of Thompson Park on Schoolhouse Road to the Gravel Hill. The heavily wooded reservation is located along the Manalapan Brook, with some of the land still being utilized by local farmers in cultivating crops. [13] The reservation features roughly 9 miles of easy-to-moderate trails. [14] [15] There are two main trails, the main 8-mile Hoffman Station trail connects to the rest of Thompson Park through open fields and is considered easier. The shorter Gravel Hill trail traverses through hills and forestland, but is considered harder. [15] Other activities such as walking, bird watching, and photography. [14] Hunting is also allowed along the heavily forested Gravel Hill trail, but not on the more open Hoffman Station trail.

Thompson Park Zoo

The park also features a small fenced in zoo. The zoo has various native and exotic animals on display. [16] Some of these animals include goats, pigs, emu, deer, turkeys, and peacocks.

Lake Manalapan

Located along the course of Manalapan Brook, Lake Manalapan is at the center of this park. Despite its name, the body of water is more akin to a pond rather than a traditional lake. [5] Lake Manalapan is a popular place for fishermen and fisherwomen for freshwater fishing. The pond features a diverse species of fish, such as bass, bluegill, yellow perch, and black crappie. [17] Other water activities such as kayaking and rowing are also popular, (although motorboats are not allowed on the lake).

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Thompson Park". Middlesex County. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Thompson Park Conservation Area". Middlesex County. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. ↑ https://www.monroetwp.com/index.php/news/1591-mayor-stephen-dalina-moves-to-preserve-nearly-44-acres-of-open-space-in-two-prime-locations-in-monroe-township
  4. 1 2 3 "Thompson Park". New Jersey Trails Association. D&R Greenway Land Trust. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 , NJ Kayaking. Accessed May 11, 2022
  6. ↑ "History of Jamesburg". Borough of Jamesburg. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  7. ↑ Alexander, Dan (May 4, 2021). "Missing NJ woman found 2 days later trapped in Monroe woods". New Jersey 101.5.
  8. ↑ Russell, Suzanne. "Woman missing in NJ for two days rescued from Monroe woods". Courier News.
  9. ↑ Rickman, Rick (June 12, 2023). "Body of NJ man recovered from Middlesex County lake". New Jersey 101.5.
  10. ↑ NJ.com, Corey Annan | NJ Advance Media for; NJ.com, Bakari Tice | NJ Advance Media for (October 21, 2024). "Key takeaways and under-the-radar cross country stories from Week 7". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ NJ.com, Corey Annan | NJ Advance Media for (October 17, 2024). "Boys & girls cross-country Fab 50s, Oct. 17: Championship season forces major shift". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ , Thompson Park. Accessed May 11, 2022
  13. ↑ , THOMPSON PARK CONSERVATION AREA. Accessed May 11, 2022
  14. 1 2 , Thompson Park Conservation Area, Map Created February 2020 by, Monroe Township. Accessed May 11, 2022
  15. 1 2 , njhiking: Thompson Park Conservation Area, July 14, 2020. Accessed May 11, 2022
  16. ↑ Middlesex County Parks. Thompson Park. Accessed December 19, 2020.
  17. ↑ , nj.gov, "Fishing at Manalapan Lake at Jamesburg". Accessed May 11, 2022

40°20′17″N74°25′59″W / 40.338°N 74.433°W / 40.338; -74.433

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