Holmdel Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holmdel Park |
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| Holmdel Arboretum, Longstreet Farm | |
Steeplechase Trail in the Ramanessin Section of Holmdel Park in late April 2011
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| Type | Suburban park |
| Location | Monmouth County in New Jersey |
| Area | 618 acres (250 ha) |
| Created | 1962 |
| Operated by | Monmouth County Park System |
| Visitors | 830,643 (2018) |
| Status | Open all year |
| Website | Holmdel Park - Monmouth County Park System |
Holmdel Park is a super cool place in Holmdel Township, New Jersey. It's part of the Monmouth County Park System. This park first opened in 1962. It has grown quite a bit since then!
Today, Holmdel Park is home to the Holmdel Arboretum, also known as the David C. Shaw Arboretum. It also has the Longstreet Farm, which is like a living museum showing what farm life was like in the 1890s. The park is a favorite spot for elementary school field trips and cross-country runners.
The park has continued to grow over the years. In 2017, more land was added, and in 2018, another 52 acres joined the park.
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Fun Activities at Holmdel Park
Holmdel Park offers many fun things to do! You can go fishing if you have a permit. There are also picnic areas for families and groups. If you like sports, you'll find tennis courts and playgrounds. The park also has 10 miles of hiking trails for exploring.
When it's cold enough, you might even be able to go ice skating or sledding! Just make sure the conditions are safe first.
Park Areas to Explore
The park has four main areas, each with its own parking spot. Three of these areas are reached through the main park entrance. The fourth area is a bit further north on Longstreet Road.
- Pond View: This area lets you get to the arboretum and Longstreet Farm. You can also see the Upper and Lower ponds here. There's even a small snack stand open during certain seasons.
- Forest Ridge: This part of the park has picnic areas for groups and open fields for activities. It also has trails for hiking. The parking lot here can be used if the Pond View lot gets too full.
- Hill Top: As the name suggests, this area is at the top of a big hill. It has parking for the park's tennis courts. You can also find more trails to explore from here.
- Activity Center: This building offers indoor spaces for special events and programs organized by the county.
Historic Longstreet Farm: A Trip Back in Time
The Longstreet Farm is a special place where you can see what farm life was like in the 1890s. It's called a "living history" farm because people dressed in old-fashioned clothes show you how things were done back then. They do all the farm chores, like planting crops, harvesting, and taking care of animals, just like farmers did over a hundred years ago.
The farm was bought by the Monmouth County Park System in 1967. This was done to save a piece of the county's farming past. It first opened to the public in 1972. The farm is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Longstreet Farm is a great example of a typical farm from the 1800s. It was built by Dutch settlers in New Jersey. The farm has a big 14-room farmhouse and a Dutch barn. You can also see many other old farm buildings from the 1800s.
Historic Longstreet Farm is open every day of the year, and it's free to visit!
David C. Shaw Arboretum: A Garden of Trees
The David C. Shaw Arboretum is a beautiful 20-acre garden filled with different kinds of trees and plants. It was created in 1963. The arboretum is named after a former park superintendent. When it first started, it had 87 trees. Now, it has almost 3,000 different types of plants! It's a great place to learn about trees and enjoy nature.
Holmdel Park Trails
Holmdel Park has many trails for you to hike or run on. There are a dozen trails in total, and they vary in length and how difficult they are.
North Section Trails
Hilltop Trails
- Cross Country Trail: This trail is about 3.1 miles (5 km) long.
- High Point Trail: This is a shorter loop, about 0.6 miles (1 km) long.
Marsh Trails
- Marsh Trail: This trail is about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long. It has cool boardwalks that go over wet, marshy areas. It's a good spot for watching wildlife.
Hill Trails
- Beech Glen: This trail is about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long.
- Ridge Walk: This is a loop trail, about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long.
- Fitness trail: This trail is about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long.
Plain Trails
- Paved Trail: This trail is about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long. It goes around the field between Longstreet Farm, the ponds, and the picnic areas.
- Pond Walk: This trail is about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) long. It circles the Lower Pond.
Ramanessin Section Trails
- Ramanessin Trail: This trail is about 2.1 miles (3.3 km) long.
- Steeplechase Trail: This trail is about 1.4 miles (2.2 km) long.
- The Homestead and Fern trails are short paths (0.25 miles or 0.4 km) that connect the Ramanessin and Steeplechase trails.
