South Mountain Recreation Complex facts for kids
The South Mountain Recreation Complex is a fun 36-acre park in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. It's part of the larger South Mountain Reservation in West Orange. This complex is managed by the Essex County Park System. You can find many cool activities here, like a zoo, ice skating rinks, a safari-themed mini-golf course, and an adventure park. There's also a restaurant, paddle boats, a nautical-themed playground, and a 1.75-mile walking path around the Orange Reservoir.
History of the Complex
Before the South Mountain Recreation Complex was fully built, this area already had some popular spots. The Turtle Back Zoo and the Richard J. Codey Arena were already here. There was also a place where people could park their cars and carpool.
In 2010, the county announced plans to make the area even better. They wanted to add a restaurant, a mini-golf course, and a place to launch paddle boats. This new project was called the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex.
The first part of the plan was finished in September 2010. That's when the new mini-golf course opened for everyone to enjoy.
The second part of the project was completed in 2011. This included building the Treetop Adventure course. The zoo also got bigger with a new "Big Cat Country Exhibit." A restaurant also opened during this time.
The final part of the plan was to build a place for boats on the Orange Reservoir. They also wanted to create a walking path around the reservoir. The county worked to get permission to use the reservoir for these new activities. Eventually, they reached an agreement to use the reservoir until 2032.
Fun Activities to Do
The South Mountain Recreation Complex has lots of exciting things to do:
- Turtle Back Zoo is a large zoo with animals from all over the world. You can see animals from Australia, South America, and Southeast Asia. There's also a Big Cat Country, a reptile center, a fun train ride, and a carousel.
- Richard J. Codey Arena is a big building with two ice rinks. It's a great place for ice hockey and ice skating. Many local teams and clubs use this arena for practice and competitions.
- Essex County Safari MiniGolf is a super fun miniature golf course. It has 19 holes and is decorated with life-sized animal statues. It's part of the zoo but has its own entrance.
- Essex County Treetop Adventure Course is an exciting forest adventure park. It has 22 different challenges like rope bridges, zip lines, and other obstacles. It usually takes about 90 minutes to complete the course.
- McLoone's Boathouse is a restaurant right by the Orange Reservoir. It's a nice place to eat and enjoy the view of the water.
- Paddle Boating and Picnic Pavilion lets you rent swan-shaped paddle boats. You can glide across the Orange Reservoir and have a great time on the water.
- Regatta Playground is a special playground for kids. It has a cool nautical theme, like a boat, which makes it extra fun to play on.
- Orange Reservoir Walkway is a 1.75-mile path around the Orange Reservoir. It's perfect for walking, jogging, or just enjoying nature.
