LAKEWOOD: is such an interesting town. It is congested like NYC, but you still get the feel of…read moresuburbia. We have been very curious about Lake Carasaljo and decided to take a ride and see what we could find at this park. We parked in one of the lots off of South Lake Drive and found an opening into the woods. There is a very narrow, but easy dirt path that winds through the woods, with the bustle of Lakewood not too far away. It was very pretty and peaceful. We didn't go too far and turned around to head back to walk around the path near the road.

This is my family's favorite spot for a leisure stroll. We'd almost always come for a walk when the…read moreweather is nice, especially after a big meal. It allows for all sorts of activities in a compact 71 acre space. This is also a great spot to view the fall foliage. There are 2 entrances. The main entrance is off Pond Rd. There is a side entrance off Robertsville Rd but that parking lot can accommodate only about half a dozen cars. A typical walk is a round trip from between the 2 entrances and you'll rack up about 2 miles. There is an excursion trail around the outside boundaries of the park beginning at the Robertsville entrance. With that you can make up 3 miles which was what I used to do when I was training for the varsity cross-country team. The pond is good for boating and fishing and is stocked with trout every year. The playground is right by the pond and is a great photo spot for your kids. There is a stage and a nice-sized pavilion in front of it. Perfect for a summer concert or play. There are benches and picnic tables throughout. In my most recent visit (Oct'21) I was pleasantly surprised to find that they've added a large number of brand new benches and picnic tables made with recycled material. Also, the parking lot at the main entrance has been redone and doubled the capacity. For these surprises I'm bumping the rating up to 5 stars. PS. If you're into mountain biking, I'll let you in on a local secret. There is a technical course adjacent to the southeast side of the park and you can access it at the end of Brookwood Dr.

Definitely not the best maintained park in the area but still a hidden gem. Tucked away just behind…read morethe hustle and bustle on route 9 lies this picturesque little park. There is something for everyone to enjoy here. Bring your canoes or kayaks. There is a boat launch near the entrance. You can fish here, the lake is stocked with fish. We have yet to catch anything but plants and a snapping turtle. There is a nice trail along the lake to walk or bike. There is a little playground too but this is probably the worst maintained area of the park. There are no bathrooms here but there are porta potties. Every time I've been here when it's warm the ice cream truck has come in here. Other than that there are no concession stands. Just pack a lunch and enjoy at one of the picnic tables.

I wish there were longer trails to walk along the water and the lake, but it's nice for a short…read morewalk to get out with the dogs

Love, Love Love this pretty little lake. The park is located on the edge of Lake Horicon in…read moreLakehurst. A primo spot for a picnic, laying out, or watching the sunset. There are benches for two around the lake area to have a conversation, fish, or share some ice cream. The views of the lake and the ducks & geese provide wonderful scenery. The sand and cool water make for a refreshing respite. A previous review has outlined all the things you can do here so I won't repeat them. Except for on holidays, when it is quite busy, it is a tranquil place if you want some relaxation from a busy world

My family and I had a wonderful weekend camping at Turkey Swamp. This park offers well maintained…read morehiking trails, an archery area, playgrounds, and affordable boat rentals. The campground is quiet and also well maintained. The bathrooms are spacious and clean. There is no camp store, but they do sell firewood and ice at the office. There is a Walmart in town about 10 minutes away if you need any supplies. This may become one of our regular getaways.

This is a very cute place to go fishing!…read more They have a very large dock area for fishing with tons of benches. Even if a good amount of people are here to fish there is still plenty of space to spread out. I also love that there is a large playground area and very clean bathrooms. The park ranger was extremely friendly and had bandaids for us when my 3 year old clipped her finger with a fish hook (ooof). Plenty of parking and overall a fun and easy way to take my little kids fishing for the first time.

LAKEWOOD: a beautiful park, Lake Shenandoh County Park is part of the Ocean County Parks &…read moreRecreation system. There is a dog friendly walking path/bike trail that goes around the lake with some truly stunning lookout points. Some parts of the trail have vehicles, so be careful. Zoey the maltichon was a good sport to join us for a walk on a very steamy day, and we ended up taking a short route to see a man-made waterfall and some wooded areas. If you walk around the whole lake, there is a section where you have to walk on the road (Clover St.) since the trail seems to end, but picks up again a short ways down. FYI, as of 6/10/20, "Due to construction the main bathrooms at Lake Shenandoah County Park in Lakewood will be closed for the remainder of 2020. Bathrooms are available at the Soccer Complex in the park. "Go Before You Go...""

Lake Riviera Park and the lake are well taken care of, but my complaint is by the shoreline on the…read moreadjacent lake behind the retention pond. It is littered with beer cans, empty cases, litter and broken glass. I am an avid fisherman and an environmentalist and conservationist, and I have picked up over ten Home Depot buckets worth of garbage. Would be fantastic if attention would be given to this matter by the Parks and Recreation Department. Thank you

Came here because I wanted to eat my breakfast! Such a beautiful relaxing park!…read more It has two playgrounds which look very new and in Greta condition! It has benches , picnic tables and a nice little path around the park. It also has a basketball court with 4 basketball hoops! Along with a nice lake with plenty of space to play in the sand ! Definitely a nice hidden park !

BRICK: not only does the Brick Reservoir provide a water supply to over 100,000 Ocean County…read moreresidents, it is also a popular park all-year-round with a paved and flat walking 1.6 mile path around the reservoir. Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed to take a walk, enjoy a view from a bench or gazebo, and have lunch in a picnic area. There are doggie baggie stations dotted throughout the park. Due to weather conditions, the park may close without notice. The Brick Reservoir will be open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The hours of operation will be as follows: Reservoir Summer Hours Effective March 1st Tuesday through Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reservoir Winter Hours Effective November 1st Tuesday through Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Reservoir will not be open on any Federal or State holidays. Due to inclement weather, the reservoir will be subject to intermittent periods of closure during the winter seas.

One of the best passive recreation spots in the area. In nice weather, it is a great place to get…read moresome air and exercise while walking around the reservoir on the pathway. Long enough to say you are getting your steps in but also short enough that you shouldn't run out of steam before doing a full lap.

Live coming here. It is peaceful, calm, such great way to be in nature. There is a little zoo,…read morelake, playground, fields, courts and picnic areas. You can reserve picnic areas for your events like birthday parties, baby showers or any other small gatherings. You can get food trucks with permissions.

Nice trails both for hiking and mountain biking. The best sledding hill in the area during the…read morewinter.