Van Saun County Park facts for kids
The Van Saun Park Entrance Sign
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| Date opened | 1960 |
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| Location | Paramus and River Edge, New Jersey, United States |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Website | [1] |
Welcome to Van Saun County Park! This awesome park is located in Paramus and River Edge, New Jersey. It's run by the Bergen County Parks Department.
The park is home to the amazing Bergen County Zoological Park, often called the Bergen County Zoo. But there's much more to explore! You can find fun picnic spots, fields for baseball, softball, soccer, and courts for basketball and tennis. There's also a cool playground, a classic carousel, and even pony rides!
The zoo is open all year, but you'll need to pay an entrance fee from May to October. Don't miss the "Safari Express," a fun miniature train that takes you on a ride around the park. Good news! The zoo was planning to get much bigger, almost doubling its size. This means even more animals and fun things to see in the future!
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Park History and Fun Rides
The Bergen County Zoo first opened its doors in 1960. It has been a favorite spot for families ever since!
The Safari Express Train
The park's train, called the Van Saun Park Railroad, started running in 1963. It has three special trains: train 388 (from 1963), train 389 (added in 1968), and train 520 (joined in 1971). These trains are cool "Iron Horse S-24" models. They run on a special narrow track.
You can ride the train from April to October, Tuesday through Sunday. It's closed on Mondays for maintenance, unless it's a holiday. The train takes you on a journey through the zoo, past different attractions, and even through a tunnel! It's also open during the "Bergen County's Winter Wonderland" event from November to January.
The Carousel Fun
The park's beautiful carousel was built in 2000. At the same time, the park also got a new train station, a new entrance, and a discovery center for animals. The carousel has lots of fun seats, including horses and other zoo animals.
The carousel is open every day from April to October, except for Tuesdays when it gets cleaned. It's also open during the "Bergen County's Winter Wonderland" event. This carousel is extra special because it's the last one still running in the whole area of Paramus!
Pony Rides and Playgrounds
If you love horses, you can enjoy pony rides from April to October. An employee will lead the pony around a small track while you ride.
The playground and all the sports fields are open all year round, so you can always find a place to play!
Dog Park for Furry Friends
In 2013, Van Saun Park added a special dog park. It has two separate areas: one for smaller dogs to play safely and another for larger dogs to run around.
Exciting Yearly Events
Van Saun Park hosts many fun events throughout the year. Make sure to check them out!
- Zoo Boo (or Boo at the Zoo): This spooky event happens every October around Halloween. You can go trick-or-treating in the park, listen to ghost stories, and watch magic shows. The train even offers evening rides with actors dressed up to give you a fun scare!
- Art in the Park: Also in October, artists show off their amazing artwork. Judges pick the best pieces, and winners get cash prizes. After the judging, there's a concert to enjoy!
- Metro Howl-O-Ween Bassett Bash: Every October since 1997, many Basset Hound dogs dress up in funny costumes for Halloween! They go trick-or-treating and compete in contests. It's hosted by the Metro Basset Hound Club.
- Santa Visits the Bergen County Zoo: In December, you can visit Santa Claus at the zoo! You can also watch the animals open presents from Santa and listen to holiday music. The train and carousel are usually open during this event too.
- Van Saun Park Easter Egg Hunt: The park has its own Easter Egg Hunt every year. After finding eggs, kids can enjoy storytelling and crafts.
- Bergen County's Winter Wonderland: This is a big holiday event from November to January. It has an outdoor ice rink, a special area for adults, Santa's North Pole Workshop, and lots of food and drink stands. The train and carousel are also open during this event, if the weather is good.
Getting to the Park
You can easily get to Van Saun Park using public transportation. New Jersey Transit bus lines 168 and 752 stop near the park. Just remember that the 752 bus does not run on Sundays.
Images for kids
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The Van Saun Park train. This is the 520 train, one of the three trains used in the park.
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Van Saun Park carousel
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The Van Saun Park Playground
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The front entrance to the Van Saun Park zoo.
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The ice rink at Van Saun Park during the Winter Wonderland event.
