Kings Pond Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings Pond Park |
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Kings Pond in Kings Pond Park, Ridgewood
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| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Ridgewood, New Jersey, United States |
| Area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Operated by | Village of Ridgewood Division of Parks, Shade Tree, and School Grounds |
| Status | Open all year |
Kings Pond Park, which includes Gypsy Pond Park, is a large public park in Ridgewood, New Jersey. It stretches almost the entire length of Goffle Brook through the village. This park is the second largest natural area in Ridgewood. It is also one of the biggest wooded spots along the border of Bergen and Passaic counties.
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Exploring Kings Pond Park
Kings Pond Park is like a long, green pathway filled with trees. It starts near Midland Park, New Jersey and goes all the way to the Hawthorne border. Even though it's called Kings Pond Park, it's actually two parks joined together. There's Kings Pond Park in the north, which surrounds Kings Pond. Then there's Gypsy Pond Park in the south, which has Gypsy Pond.
Park Entrances and Trails
The main way to enter the park is from Lakeview Drive. But there are other ways to get in too. You can find a path at the end of McKinley Place. Another entrance is near the Hawthorne border, where a driveway leads into the park from Rock Road. This path follows the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway tracks.
The park's best feature is a nature trail. This trail runs for almost a mile through the park. It's a great place to walk and explore nature.
Fun Activities at the Ponds
The two ponds in the park offer lots of fun things to do. In the winter, when it's cold enough, you can go ice skating. During the warmer months, you can enjoy fishing or canoeing on the water. Near Kings Pond, there's also a big grassy field. It's a perfect spot for playing games or just relaxing outdoors.
Animals and Plants You Might See
Kings Pond Park is home to many different kinds of wildlife. It's a great place to observe nature.
Birds of the Park
About 40 different types of birds live in Kings Pond Park. You'll often see common birds like various kinds of ducks. Large Canada geese are also frequent visitors to the ponds. Keep an eye out for other forest birds too!
Plants and Flowers
The forest floor in the park has many interesting plants. One common plant you'll notice is the bracken fern. This fern grows widely throughout the wooded areas. Along the old railroad bed, you might spot a beautiful flower called pinxter flower. It's also known as pink azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides). You can also find herbs like wild garlic and mustard growing all over the park.
