Poricy Park facts for kids
Poricy Park is a 250-acre nature preserve. It's located in Middletown Township, New Jersey. This park is famous for its fossil shell beds. These beds are found along the Poricy Brook streambed. They contain fossils from the Cretaceous period. Visitors can even look for fossils in certain areas. The park also has a Nature Center. Plus, there's the historic Murray Farmhouse and Barn. This farm is a New Jersey Historic Site.
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How Poricy Park Started
Poricy Park began in 1969. Local residents were worried about a plan to build a sewer. This project would have affected Poricy Brook. So, they created a non-profit group. This group worked with Middletown Township. They also partnered with the Nature Conservancy. And they worked with New Jersey Green Acres. Together, they started buying land. This happened between 1970 and 1973. The town then made the land a nature preserve. They let the Conservancy manage it. In 2004, the group officially became the Poricy Park Conservancy.
The Earth's Story at Poricy Park
Poricy Brook cuts through several layers of the Earth. These layers are slowly rising. The top layer is reddish sand. It's called the Red Bank Formation. Deeper down is a greenish, clay-like rock. This is the Navesink Formation. Both of these rock layers formed a long time ago. They are from the Late Cretaceous period. This was about 72 million years ago. The fossil shell beds were likely an ancient ocean floor. They are very thick in this area. They can be 45 to 65 feet deep.
Discovering Ancient Life: Fossils!
The Nature Center has a cool display of fossils. These fossils were found right in the park. You can also rent screens and trowels there. These tools help you look for fossils. The best place to find fossils is in the streambed. This area is easy to reach from the parking lot. There's a sign that shows pictures of common fossils. The park asks visitors to collect only from the streambed. Please do not dig into the banks. Digging can cause the banks to wear away. They also ask you to collect only a few fossils. If you find something very unusual, please show it to the Nature Center.
Common fossils include different types of ancient oysters. You might find Pyncnodonte mutabilis or Exogyra cancellata. Ancient clams are also common. You might also discover parts of ancient squid. These are called Belemnitella americana. And, of course, you can find shark teeth! Most of these are extinct versions of animals we know today.
Wildlife in Poricy Park
Poricy Park is home to many animals. You might see rabbits, skunks, and snakes. Bats, opossums, and groundhogs live here too. White-tailed deer are often seen. American eels swim in the water. Many kinds of birds fly overhead. These include owls, hawks, and Turkey Vultures. Red foxes have also been spotted. Murray Pond supports frogs and turtles. Sometimes, people have even seen Koi fish in the pond.
