SOMERSET COUNTY PARK COMMISSIONPO Box 5327, North Branch, NJ 08876

www.somersetcountyparks.org

ParksColonial Park Rangers 732 873-2695Duke Island Park Rangers 908 722-7779Environmental Education Center

at Lord Stirling Park 908 766-2489Lord Stirling Stable 908 766-5955North Branch/Headquarters 908 722-1200Ranger Headquarters 908 231-0802

Golf CoursesGreen Knoll 908 722-1301Green Knoll Pitch & Putt 908 722-1302Neshanic Valley 908 369-8200Quail Brook 732 560-9528Spooky Brook 732 873-2242Warrenbrook 908 754-8402Tee Time Reservation Service 908 231-1122

RecreationColonial Park Putting Course and Paddle Boats 732 873-8585Colonial Park Tennis 732 873-2695Green Knoll Tennis 908 722-1303Picnic & Athletic Field Permits 908 722-1200 ext. 225Therapeutic Recreation 908 526-5650Warrenbrook Pool 908 754-8404

GardensBuck Garden & Wedding Photos 908 234-2677Rose Garden & Wedding Photos 732 873-2459Perennial Garden/Arboretum 732 873-2459

Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may use theRelay Service at 711.

Welcome to theSomerset CountyPark Commission

MISSION STATEMENT

The Somerset County Park Commission

is committed to excellence in promoting

stewardship of land and resources,

providing outstanding recreation opportunities

and leisure services, and fostering

an environment which is service oriented

and responsive to public needs.

Colonial Park • Duke Island Park • North Branch ParkLord Stirling Park • Green Knoll Golf Course & Tennis Center

Quail Brook Golf Course • Spooky Brook Golf CourseWarrenbrook Golf Course & Park • Woodfern Farm

Sourland Mountain Preserve • Washington Valley ParkLeonard J. Buck Garden • Watchung Mountain Greenway

Little Brook Sanctuary • Natirar • Neshanic Valley Golf CourseNorth Branch Greenway Park • Raritan River Greenway

East County Reserve • Chipman TractRalph T. Reeve Cultural Center • Torpey Athletic Complex

SomersetCountyParkCommission

In1956thecitizensofSomersetCountyvotedtoprotectpreciousopenspaceandtocreatepublicparks,throughareferen-dumestablishingtheSomersetCountyParkCommission.Morethan

50yearslater,countyparklandtotalsover10,000acres,ofwhich6,500arecurrentlydevelopedforusebythemorethan2millionparkuserseachyear.Thelongtermgoalistocreatea20,500-acrenetworkofparkandopenspacefacilities.Creatinggreenways,whicharelinearparkcorridorsalongstreams,riversandmountainridgesisaparksystempriority,representingourresponsibilitytoprotectthecounty’scriticalenvironmentalresourcesandwildlife.Severalotherareasarecurrentlylandbankedintheirnaturalstateorareactivelyfarmeduntiltheirfutureroleisdetermined.

Nomatterwhattheinterest,fromactivetopassiveparticipation,teamsportstoindividualpassions,SomersetCountyparksofferaplacetoexplorenature,learnnewskillsandhobbies,enrichminds,andbecomehealthier.

ExploreParksandFacilities

FacilitiesnowoperatedbytheParkCommissionincludeawiderangeofopportunitiesforleisurepursuits.Athletics,picnics,hiking,mountainbiking,bouldering,andaroundofgolfarejustsomeoftheactivitiesavailable.Stopandsmelltherosesorenjoythebeautyofhawksastheymigrate.Playsoccer,softball,tennis,androllerhockey–orswim,ridehorses,andpaddleinacanoe.Whateverthepassion,itsfulfillmentcanbefoundinaSomersetCountypark.

Opportunitiesaboundforgolferswithfivegolfcourses,threedrivingranges,apitchandputtcourse,andarecreationalputtingcourse.Specializedfacilitiesincludearidingstable,anenvironmental

educationcenter,twotennisfacilities,aswimmingpool,andpaddleboating.Horticultureactivitiesincludearockformationandrareplantgarden,anawardwinningrosegarden,arboretum,andasensoryandfragrancegarden.Fourgeneraluseparksofferpicnicfacilities,bikepaths,athleticfields,andfishingopportunities.Twoadditionalparksofferspecializedathleticsincludingrollerhockeyandamulti-purposesyntheticturffieldandbaseballfield.Theparksystemalsoencompassesseveralnaturalareasthatoffermorepassivepursuits.

ParticipateinPrograms

Ifyouarelookingforsomethingtodo,youcanfinditinaSomersetCountypark.Year-roundthereareclasses,outdooractivepursuits,tournaments,andwellnessinitiatives.Lessonsrangefromthearts,athletics,craftwork-shops,watercraft,andyoga.

TheParkCommissionhasestablishedatraditionofprovidingqualityanduniqueprograms.EnvironmentalEducationoffersprogramsfocusingonoutdooreducation,history,archeology,andbringingnaturetochildrenofallages.AWESIMKidsandEco-Explorersaretwoaward-winningsummerscienceandtechnologyprogramsforbothteensandyoungeryouth.TherapeuticRecreationprovidesyear-roundactivitiesandeventsforchildrenandadultswithdevelopmentaldisabilities,aswellasasummercampforchildrenwhohavealearningorbehavioraldisability.Lessonsandclinics

areofferedatmanyofthefacilities,aimedatintroducingpeopletoavarietyofrecreationskills.IncludedaretheJr.GolfProgram,ridinglessonsandhorseshows,gardeningandcraftprograms,tennislessonsandtournaments,andswimlessons.Daytripstoski,canoe,exploregardens,andhistoricalsitesareoffered,asarelongertripstoexplorenaturearoundtheUnitedStates,CostaRica,andAfricansafaris.

BeDazzledatSpecialEvents

Specialeventsarecon-ductedyear-round.EachspringtheEarthDayPlantSalekicks-offtheseason,followedbyPROJECTEarthattheEnvironmentalEducationCenter,andFamilyFunDayattheStable.Duringthewarm

summermonths,theFreeSummerConcertSeries,theFourthofJulyFamilyFestival,Drive-inmovies,andFishingDerbybringfamiliesofallagestotheoutdoors.Inthefall,runnersraceforThanksgivingdinnerandmedalsinthe5KTurkeyTrot,revisitcolonialAmericaatthe1770sFestival,andcelebrateHalloweenattheEECduringtheNatureofHalloweenNightWalks,attheStablewithanequestrianthemedcelebration,andattheColonialParkPuttingCoursewithMischiefNightMadness.ParkvisitorsstaywarmduringthewintermonthsattheFestivalofTrees,theWinterHolidayFestivalattheStable,andtappingforMapleSugarattheEnvironmentalEducationCenter.Theparksbelongtoeveryone.Comejoinusanddis-coverwhatawaitsyou!

SomersetCountyParkCommissionwelcomeseveryonetoparticipateinitsprogramsandfacilitiesregardlessofrace,color,gender,disability,age,sexualorientation,nationalorigin,orreligiousorpoliticalaffiliation.

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SOMERSETCOUNTYPARKCOMMISSIONPOBox5327,NorthBranch,NJ08876

www.somersetcountyparks.org

ParksColonialParkRangers732873-2695DukeIslandParkRangers908722-7779EnvironmentalEducationCenter

atLordStirlingPark908766-2489LordStirlingStable908766-5955NorthBranch/Headquarters908722-1200RangerHeadquarters908231-0802

GolfCoursesGreenKnoll908722-1301GreenKnollPitch&Putt908722-1302NeshanicValley908369-8200QuailBrook732560-9528SpookyBrook732873-2242Warrenbrook908754-8402TeeTimeReservationService908231-1122

RecreationColonialParkPuttingCourseandPaddleBoats732873-8585ColonialParkTennis732873-2695GreenKnollTennis908722-1303Picnic&AthleticFieldPermits908722-1200ext.225TherapeuticRecreation908526-5650WarrenbrookPool908754-8404

GardensBuckGarden&WeddingPhotos908234-2677RoseGarden&WeddingPhotos732873-2459PerennialGarden/Arboretum732873-2459

IndividualswithspeechorhearingimpairmentsmayusetheRelayServiceat711.

WelcometotheSomersetCountyParkCommission

MISSIONSTATEMENT

TheSomersetCountyParkCommission

iscommittedtoexcellenceinpromoting

stewardshipoflandandresources,

providingoutstandingrecreationopportunities

andleisureservices,andfostering

anenvironmentwhichisserviceoriented

andresponsivetopublicneeds.

ColonialPark•DukeIslandPark•NorthBranchParkLordStirlingPark•GreenKnollGolfCourse&TennisCenter

QuailBrookGolfCourse•SpookyBrookGolfCourseWarrenbrookGolfCourse&Park•WoodfernFarm

SourlandMountainPreserve•WashingtonValleyParkLeonardJ.BuckGarden•WatchungMountainGreenway

LittleBrookSanctuary•Natirar•NeshanicValleyGolfCourseNorthBranchGreenwayPark•RaritanRiverGreenway

EastCountyReserve•ChipmanTractRalphT.ReeveCulturalCenter•TorpeyAthleticComplex

Somerset County Park Commission

In 1956 the citizens ofSomerset County votedto protect precious openspace and to create publicparks, through a referen-dum establishing theSomerset County ParkCommission. More than

50 years later, county parkland totals over 10,000 acres,of which 6,500 are currently developed for use by themore than 2 million park users each year. The longterm goal is to create a 20,500-acre network of parkand open space facilities. Creating greenways, whichare linear park corridors along streams, rivers andmountain ridges is a park system priority, representingour responsibility to protect the county’s criticalenvironmental resources and wildlife. Several otherareas are currently land banked in their natural state orare actively farmed until their future role is determined.

No matter what the interest, from active to passiveparticipation, team sports to individual passions,Somerset County parks offer a place to explore nature,learn new skills and hobbies, enrich minds, and becomehealthier.

Explore Parks and Facilities

Facilities now operatedby the Park Commissioninclude a wide range ofopportunities for leisurepursuits. Athletics, picnics,hiking, mountain biking,bouldering, and a roundof golf are just some of theactivities available. Stopand smell the roses or enjoy the beauty of hawks asthey migrate. Play soccer, softball, tennis, and rollerhockey–or swim, ride horses, and paddle in a canoe.Whatever the passion, its fulfillment can be found ina Somerset County park.

Opportunities aboundfor golfers with five golfcourses, three drivingranges, a pitch and puttcourse, and a recreationalputting course. Specializedfacilities include a ridingstable, an environmental

education center, two tennis facilities, a swimming pool,and paddle boating. Horticulture activities include arock formation and rare plant garden, an award winningrose garden, arboretum, and a sensory and fragrancegarden. Four general use parks offer picnic facilities,bike paths, athletic fields, and fishing opportunities.Two additional parks offer specialized athletics includingroller hockey and a multi-purpose synthetic turf fieldand baseball field. The park system also encompassesseveral natural areas that offer more passive pursuits.

Participate in Programs

If you are looking forsomething to do, you canfind it in a Somerset Countypark. Year-round thereare classes, outdoor activepursuits, tournaments,and wellness initiatives.Lessons range from thearts, athletics, craft work-shops, watercraft, and yoga.

The Park Commission has established a tradition ofproviding quality and unique programs. EnvironmentalEducation offers programs focusing on outdooreducation, history, archeology, and bringing nature tochildren of all ages. AWESIM Kids and Eco-Explorersare two award-winning summer science and technologyprograms for both teens and younger youth. TherapeuticRecreation provides year-round activities and eventsfor children and adults with developmental disabilities,as well as a summer camp for children who have alearning or behavioral disability. Lessons and clinics

are offered at many of the facilities, aimed at introducingpeople to a variety of recreation skills. Included arethe Jr. Golf Program, riding lessons and horse shows,gardening and craft programs, tennis lessons andtournaments, and swim lessons. Day trips to ski, canoe,explore gardens, and historical sites are offered, as arelonger trips to explore nature around the United States,Costa Rica, and African safaris.

Be Dazzled at Special Events

Special events are con-ducted year-round. Eachspring the Earth Day PlantSale kicks-off the season,followed by PROJECTEarth at the EnvironmentalEducation Center, andFamily Fun Day at theStable. During the warm

summer months, the Free Summer Concert Series, theFourth of July Family Festival, Drive-in movies, andFishing Derby bring families of all ages to the outdoors.In the fall, runners race for Thanksgiving dinner andmedals in the 5K Turkey Trot, revisit colonial Americaat the 1770s Festival, and celebrate Halloween at theEEC during the Nature of Halloween Night Walks, atthe Stable with an equestrian themed celebration, andat the Colonial Park Putting Course with Mischief NightMadness. Park visitors stay warm during the wintermonths at the Festival ofTrees, the Winter HolidayFestival at the Stable, andtapping for Maple Sugarat the EnvironmentalEducation Center. Theparks belong to everyone.Come join us and dis-cover what awaits you!

Somerset County Park Commission welcomes everyone toparticipate in its programs and facilities regardless of race,color, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, nationalorigin, or religious or political affiliation.

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