First time visiting. I was looking for somewhere near my house that had an affordable pool/lake to hang out and take my mom who is handicapped. We arrived on Sunday morning around 1030 and were stunned by the traffic going in not only from the main road but also the secondary road we needed to go down and make a U-turn to enter the park. No exaggeration, it took us the same 25 minutes to enter that I did to get there. The chaotic payment at the booth needs to be changed as this was what was the hold up. People should pre-pay online and show proof to get in. $10 Bergen residents and $2 for seniors. Once we got through we parked in one of the few handicap spots they have which is right next to the trailer bathrooms and just a few steps to the sand. This was absolutely perfect for what my mom needed to go in with a walker. The trailer bathrooms are great however at the end of the day ,they were a nasty mess with the toilets overflowed, no toilet paper, garbage, diapers, etc. tossed in the corners of the stalls. There are absolutely no concession stands, the only thing there was an ice cream truck. The sand and lake area were nicely maintained. There are ramps going down into the clean water which made it very easy from my mom or anyone else that has issues with stairs or ladders. Once we were leaving we drove around and saw what a massive space this is. The other lake is where they have the splash park but it looks that you can't swim there like the main lake. Tons of green space and areas to spread out and have barbecues, etc. We will definitely head back when we just wanna hang out nearby for a few hours. Overall a nice place to go for the day especially if you don't want the hassle of going to the shore. read more

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They need better crowd control and communication regarding the park closing. It's awful how congested the entire area becomes on the weekends. Online "park full" and electric signage on major highways People need to understand Closed is Closed and move on - you're not special, no accommodations, go home. Try next weekend and get there earlier. SMH - as I just drove by area after sitting in traffic for 10 mins. read more

Today I had one of the worst experiences at Darlington Lake with my 9-year-old son. He wanted to try the splash area, so I bought the tickets. As soon as we got there, he went into the water and sat down--without a life vest. I calmly tried to explain to him that it was against the rules and he needed to wear a vest because it could be dangerous. Suddenly, a lifeguard started yelling at us to get out of the water. I told him my son has autism and asked for some patience, but he kept yelling. Then a second lifeguard began screaming even louder. People around us started staring while the shouting continued, and my son began to get very agitated. I couldn't hold it together--I broke down crying. Thankfully, an angel came over to help. He spoke gently to my son, and my son told him it was our first time there. This kind man helped calm him down and encouraged him to get out of the water--and he did. (I later found out that he works with children with special needs at the Special Olympics, and I'm incredibly grateful for his help.) I told my son, "Let's just go," and promised him we'd try again another day--but honestly, I don't plan to go back. I cried the whole way home. My son just wanted to enjoy the splash pad, but I couldn't handle another situation like that. I absolutely do not recommend this place. This should never have happened. My son has severe anxiety, and two years ago he went into catatonia. Only in the last few months have we started going out again. Today was supposed to be a small, brave step forward--but it turned into a deeply traumatic experience instead. read more

I'm usually not a fan of lakes but this was very clean. There is a separate lake where they have inflatables. It's a kids paradise. So much fun! $10 per hour. You can also bring grills and they have picnic areas. read more

Darlington Park - Parks Near Me - Mahwah, New Jersey

This place was great. It was our first time there and the kids had a blast. The water was clean and although there were a lot of people it was not nearly as crowded as the shore. Great for little ones because they have a designated space to swim safely. The only down side is that there is nowhere to grab a snack. read more

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I went there with some friends and family for the man made lake. We got in fairly easily. We arrived at 7:15 am. After 8 :30 am it becomes almost impossible to get in as there is no more parking. We parked got our picnic tables near the basketball courts that rest on the far right of the man made lake. Good spot. This is where things went downhill. They will not allow anyone in the water until 10 am. Its was over 90 degrees out. We were burning up for about 3 hours while we were told to wait till 10 am. Finally we went into the lake and immediately one of the toddlers in our group had a period pad in his hands he found in the lake and next to him in the water was a plastic bag and and some more garbage. It was terrible and dirty. That was in the children's area of the man made lake. How sad. I then went to the adult area of the lake and everything was fine until a group of guys in their 20's and 30's were speaking loudly saying they were about to take a piss in the water. Which they did. I got out faster than The Flash after that. Sure there is a water filter that filters the lake, but it takes hours for it to truly clean out the lake. It was game over for me. The Crowd. The crowd it attracts was of low level class. Rowdy, loud, careless, ghetto and destructive. Everyone had a large concert speaker to compete with others music volume. This gave you a true and pure headache. You could barely hear the person talking next to you unless you yelled over the music which was all around us from every side. I love loud music and this just sucked. I am Hispanic and the mostly Hispanic crowd there made us look real bad. They seem to all have been from Paterson, Newark, Passaic and north east New Jersey. Classless is the best word. I do not believe there was anyone from Mahwah who visited Darlington Lake which happens to be in Mahwah. I quickly realized why that is. It's a dump. The Restroom. There were no restrooms. What they had was mobile restrooms which is the same as having a porta-potty. No air filtration in there and awful smelling. They also had porta-potty's which were already filled with poop and urine and mess by 7am when we arrived. Which means they did not clean those out the night before. They know the crowd that shows up and they couldn't care less about impressing that crowd. I will never go back there ever again. Do yourself a favor and travel down to the shore. Sure it has its flaws, but nothing close to this. read more

I've been to this park a few times and think it's a great spot! You can go have a BBQ and swim in the lake. The first time I went I'm pretty sure a couple was having sex in the water. That's not cool, I'm not gonna fault the spot, but some people have to ruin everything. There's a trail around the park if you want to go for a little stroll. There's a beach volleyball court, a basketball court, plenty of picnic tables and public bathrooms. I just rode my bike around while they were closed so I can't tell you how good their snacks are. I had no idea they had a splash park and I can't wait to go back when they open. Check out their website for prices and more information read more

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I am so disappointed in this lake! Years ago it use to be 5 stars and worth every penny. It went downhill first Took out the concession stand with food, then completely removed the nice kids park I'm assuming during Covid so it's just a gated space with nothing, removed the diving board which was great for the older kids and now NO Bathrooms it's been a few years the bathrooms are STILL not in order they have porta potty which are disgusting. Where is the money going to??? A new inflatable obstacle course which to be honest I'm sure everyone would choose to have those things back first. The water does look like they actually cleaned it or replaced this year it's blue somewhat clear and not murky brown. The only good thing is it's a local place to cool off in summer, cheap admission and place to BBQ. I hope they eventually put the money to better use and bring it back to life! read more

We used to go here often 20 years ago. For those coming for the 1st time w kids under 14 there is a kids section at other end of lake (drive farther in to be closer to it.) In order for children to be in 1st section that goes over 5 ft they must take a swim test w a lifeguard. I believe 1st lake is manmade. 2nd lake is natural. 3rd lake is for fishing? I was so impressed going here today 7-11-23. Everything is clean. Not sure what procedure or dye they use to make the water in 1st lake Caribbean blue but it makes your mind feel like you're not in a lake. When you cup the water in your hands and bring it up out of the water the water is clear. Walking on lake floor is comfortable lined w sand & pebbles. Not sure their filtration system but it's not a slimy lake. We weren't grossed out or sorry we forgot our water shoes. Water from recent rain probably contributed to welcoming coolness and clarity. If you go behind the previous bathroom building you'll find a raised air conditioned clean new modern trailer bathroom with 5 private stalls with full doors. The food snack bar is no longer open for the last 10 yrs but the prices would probably have be really high to cover overhead or an outside vendor. Many places in town or Ramsey to pickup food or bring charcoal & food to grill there. Radios were kept at a decent decibels. Things to improve on: Big clear signs should be placed on the back of each lifeguard chair saying children under 14 must be tested to go in this section. This would save clueless parents/children from being whistled & lifeguards time & concentration to focus on area. When u enter into 1st lake water through ramp there is a faded barely readable crooked black marker writing on ledge saying "step down" this should be a clear sign placed on railing right b4 drop to avoid any accidents. Years ago their was a sheriff or Bergen County police who would patrol on horse/foot now he rides in a car. You can't control concealed alcohol in thermos but clear party cups on ledge of lake with "ginger ale" colored liquid & louder patrons who don't seem like they should be swimming in water or watching kids should be questioned & it probably shouldn't be done by a 16 yr old lifeguard. Lifeguards were wonderful - there was a missing child they were quick to get everyone out of the water and perform a human linked walk through. Heard 2nd hand that the child was in front of the parents the whole time but the parents were impaired by "ginger ale" read more

Darlington Park - 1st lake - Parks Near Me - Mahwah, New Jersey

Come here as a last resort. I came here once years ago, had a great time then. My how things have changed. Reading a prior review, it seems like the bathrooms have been out for years now, leaving only port-a-potties. I can tell you from my recent visit, they are DISGUSTING. That leaves the question of where is the money this place generates going? It's certainly not being used for the upkeep. My guess, and knowing how corrupt NJ is, that money flowing into the pockets of your politicians. Too bad. read more

Horrible, we got there 4:15 then later at 4:30 a sounding alarm for lightning went off. We wanted to ask for a refund and was told to we can't have one after being there for less than half an hour. It's very wrong after not being able to enjoy the lake almost at all. Poor customer service, the blond haired girl was giving absolutely not sympathy for this. No refund. Very wrong. read more

The lack of maintenance is evident everywhere; litter and trash scattered across the ground, even reaching the swimming pools, road potholes resembling moon craters, fallen branches, and trees. Did I mention loud music nds?! read more

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Love the area I like to go with my kids there you can bring your own barbecue your own food

Clean park. White sand. Easy to get to and affordable. I recommend this as a beach alternative to anyone looking to cool off without the long travel. read more

My review is for the lake in this park. Im aware of other activities in this park but I've only gone swimming in the lake. This is a great alternative to going to the beach in North jersey. Its only 4$ for Bergen county residents and the water is clean and very refreshing. This is a lake and doesn't get too crowded on the weekdays. There is a deep end and a shallow end for kids. They Also have a diving board in the deep end. I think this lake is a gem in Bergen county and I suggest you come here instead of your local community pool. read more

Darlington Park - Parks Near Me - Mahwah, New Jersey

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As a place to go for a walk, this place totally sucked. I found this place on AllTrails. The 1-1/2 mile walk around the lake was just along the road. Even on a late October Saturday afternoon there was enough traffic to be annoying and made me fear for my safety. The 2 man made ponds were drained so they were not very pretty to look at. I won't bother coming back. read more

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Review for the swimming lake: Nicely sized man made lake with a children's section for those that cannot swim. Appears to be a pool filled with sand; there is a diving board deep end as well for those who like to do tricks. The lake has lost it's luster over the years. They no longer turn on the fountain jets and the water appears stale and filled with bugs. Personally, I don't wade in the water above waist high as I find it to be pretty disgusting; not something I'd go underwater in. As far as the atmosphere is concerned I can do without it. The people are subtly obnoxious and while you enjoy your time hunting for a shady spot and table you'll find people drinking, smoking weed, tending to their babies in cribs, being unnecessarily loud, and playing genre specific music that doesn't appeal to the masses loudly. It's like a block party in a mountainous region lake environment. I say subtly because people mind their own business here, and you can sit idle tending to your grill trouble free. It costs $10 to get in which is a rip off if you're a Bergen county resident on weekends. I don't come often and probably won't return often either. Come early so you can get a table in the shade if that's your thing. People tend to show up in masses and take more than one table to their centralized location. Three stars because my wife doesn't mind the lake, but if it were me alone I'd give it a two. read more

Large park. . One lake for Bathers and two lakes for fishing . You can bbq , sit at the beach , fish , relax . Very good for families . Lots of parking , great attentive life guards . Beautiful nature trail around the lakes . Save money by filling the Bergen county parks card ..then your price is 5 bucks.. Tips for fishermen : Lots of vegetation on top of lake find clear areas by going around the lake . Put a heavier sinker to break through the vegetation . read more

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They charge you $10 per person to get in if you live in Bergen County. The water looks like sewage in the sand feels like a litter box. I will pass. I'd rather buy a kiddie pool and a bag of sand from Home Depot and go in my backyard. read more

I was really excited to find this lake as I could get a Bergen County Pass and it was relatively inexpensive to swim. However I cannot go there anymore due to the really loud and obnoxious patrons. People will set up early in the morning and blast their music so loudly from their cars it is impossible to enjoy the surroundings with the family. It is like being in a night club, without the fun. Especially with a baby/toddler. The rules of the park say the loud thumping music is not allowed but the staff will not enforce the rules. Why are people so inconsiderate? We do not want to listen to YOUR music. That being said, if you are an inconsiderate individual that likes to party 24/7 without caring about anyone else around you then this is the place for you. The lake is clean, in a nice setting and is a good temperate. Too bad I personally will never be able to enjoy. read more

I went to this place for the first time on July 5th. I am giving this place 3 stars cause, although the swimming lakes and surroundings looked very nice and looked clean, the bathroom trailers that they installed while their bathrooms are under renovation became a disgrace during the few hours that I was there with my sis and niece. I had to use them three times, and each time my experience got worst. The first time I went to the bathroom that day it wasn't too terrible (for a poolside public bathroom), but as the day went on, they became a disgusting mess. All toilets bowls were filled to capacity, and they couldn't be flushed anymore, as the water would just raise up and not go anywhere. There was toilet paper everywhere, feces stains around the seats. A little kid with stomach issues couldn't make it far enough and there was a trail of loose feces along the steps to go into one of the trailers, and feces all over the floor in the trailer. There should be ppl hired to keep up with the cleaning if those bathrooms throughout the day, specially in busy days. Would hiring additional ppl to keep the bathrooms clean raise the admission price? Sure! However, it would be totally worth it, for a pleasant experience all around. I called the information desk to alert them of the situation. The person I spoke to seemed receptive to the issue. Hopefully they have done something to prevent that situation from happening again, as I would like to go back, but hesitant to find myself not being able to use the bathrooms, as my bladder has gotten small in the last few years. Lol read more

Dope experience for a park. You can grill in designated areas. You can pay to run the floating obstacle course. Or you can go to the regular lake and swim and lounge out. Plenty of parking, the park has multiple lots/spaces to park. Get there early for better placement/close to the lake etc. Recommend taking everything you need BBQ wise, they have stationary grills (first come first serve.) I've been twice this summer, the only downfall to this is the $15 per person price NOT PER CAR, PER PERSON. If you're a Bergen County resident you pay $10. Otherwise, place is amazing, clean and safe. read more

I see some people left bad reviews, but I personally love this place. I have the luxury of being able to go here during the week so there is literally almost no one there in the mornings on weekdays in the summer. I have only seen like a few kids day camps, which doesn't even bother me because they all go to the shallow end of the lake on the other side of where i usually set up. I'm posting a few pics of how the lake beach looks during the few times that I have been there.. read more

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I am usually extremely disgusted by lakes, especially man made lakes. Theyre just not my thing. On one of my boyfriend's days off, we wanted to go enjoy the warm weather but not drive far, so he finally convinced me to go to Darlington Lake. Its like $8 for bergen county residents and $2 for military members. Nj residents like $10, outof staters was somethjng crazy, dont remember. I like that this lake had a beach area with sand that was clean. The water seemed fairly clean, except it was a murky lake color which I think is just reflective of the lake, not thr cleanliness. They also have picnic areas and you can bring grills. You cannot bring alcohol, and my bf told me that on weekends they check coolers. Of course the last time he was here was in the early 2000s so what does he know. Lol If im really in need of some fun in the sun and im by myself without a desire to drive down to Asbury, ill come here for a few hours. It was a nice 20 mins from home get away. read more

Very disappointed with our visit to Darlington today. The water of the main lake was filled with bird feathers. You couldn't swim without being surrounded and covered with feathers. In addition, after getting out of the water, I felt a film all over my body. Felt like the water was really dirty, despite the "chlorinators" located in the pools. I came home with a "film" all over and after showering, felt like it was still there. C'mon -- we paid $12 (one senior / one adult) to get in; the least you can do is ensure the conditions are amenable to swimming. Complete lack of water maintenance. Not sure we will return. read more

Best lake so far. Very clean and parking is spacious. You can set up tables and BBQ, but you must bring your grill. Way better than 7 lakes....7 lakes had dirty water and old dirty than man made sand. read more

I was at the lake on Monday and thought that it was very nice. The sand was very clean and raked. I guess that during the week it is very quiet which is nice. I have no idea about weekends. I said A-OK because the water was really cold and not very inviting at all. the feathers from the geese or ducks were not too bad. Darlington Park is a very pretty setting and one can have a nice time there. read more

The space is great but the water, although treated, has a lot of duck poop and small feathers on the shoreline. The smell isn't the most pleasant but, we still had fun there. We let the kids play in the sand and close to the water's edge. The life guards are constantly rotating, some were very nice, others very serious especially when talking to the children. There is a security car making rounds every so often. There is a place to do some grilling and there is a playground for kids. There are bathrooms and an outdoor shower to rinse off. Nice place. They offer military discount to active duty members. read more

Really great place to swim and get sun. Nice lake, sandy beach. I came here multiple times. Very relaxing, quiet specially early morning, during the week read more

Review for swimming lake.:.So disappointed! Two years ago we loved this lake so much I bought a membership discount card. Last year we only went once as we were away most of the summer. Today we went for the first time and it was very gross. There was duck poop and feathers everywhere-on the beach, in the sand, on the path walkways and in the water. Literally feathers everywhere! Lifeguards were scooping out on e or twice but it was way to much. I was so grossed out I didn't even want to go in or allow my 4 yo to but since we drove all the way there and were already on the beach-I couldn't say no. We stayed for maybe two hours- and even she was making comments on the feathers and poop everywhere. So disappointing as it used to be so nice two years ago. The water is filtrated and chlorinated per the lifeguard but I couldn't get passed all the feathers and cloudy, murky water. read more

I wanted to find a lake somewhere in Bergen county where I can swim. After many google searchs, Darlington Park came up to be the only choice in Bergen . So I paid $10 per person at the Park entrance just to get in on last weekend. It was quite a dissapointment - the lake was about the size of a pond and the water was so shallow and it had the chemical smell- you could hardly see what's on the bottom. The bottom line is: If you are looking for somewhere to swim - forget it, don't waste your time and money. They did't even have any shower head - just to get ride of the chemical smells even if someone didn't mind how dirty the water color was. read more

Have read many reviews both negative and positive online and not sure where the negatives come from. Visited the late for the first time today with my 2.5 year old twin girls and my brother and we had a great time. Lake was clean, other patrons were very pleasant and so was the staff. Affordable and very close to home, glad I discovered it this summer, will be back next summer. read more

I went with my aunt and cousin and I did not like the lake. The water was like a yellow-greenish type of color and I could not see the bottom of the water which really scared me. I'm the type of person who does not like to go in water that I cannot see the bottom of. The lifeguards did not look like they were on top of things either. The bathrooms are also disgusting and they did not have indoor showers for privacy, which I did not like. read more

This is the worst lake I have ever been to. The surrounding was nice for example sand and pick nick tables. The water was full of birds poop and feathers. My child began to cry when the life guard told him he could not go to the clear side for good swimmers. We did not last there n left. read more

My daughter went to this lake with my 3 year old granddaughter, the pictures she sent of my granddaughter were terrible, water was so green and dirty looking. This was on a Wendsday, by Friday my granddaugher had a temp of 104, was taken to doctor and confirmed she had coxsackie virus. Which we are sure she probably got it at this dirty lake. This lake was dredged, but cannot find out why. I would not recommend this lake to anyone. read more