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.

Great park for kids and adults alike. Great walking trails so many people also bring their furry…read morebabies for a walk. Note: please bring a plastic bag because this doesn't provide one for you. Kids can play in the playgrounds and it's mostly open space. Perfect for team sports to be played. Manalapan Day is held here, where there's fire crackers and a live brass band playing for everyone's entertainment. Easter egg hunts are also held here for little ones. I only minused a star because it could be maintained better but it's not the fault of the park. People walk their dogs but they need to please pick it up. Especially if it's on a trail. Currently as of March 2020, due to COVID-19, the park will be closed indefinitely.

Nice expansive complex but lacking in upkeep. Some of the backstops need to be repaired and there…read morearen't enough bathroom facilities. There is also no concessions unless there is a football game and no food trucks are permitted...only the diesel spewing ice cream truck which stinks up the place, idling in the parking lots. Nice walking/biking, jogging tracks, basketball, 9 baseball fields, and multiple soccer fields.

The park is the site of a major battle between George Washington s Continental army and the British…read moreforces under General Clinton. The park is well laid out and it was filled with enthusiasm as volunteers acted out the battle on its anniversary. Staff here were unusually pleasant and helpful. Highly recommended.

What a gorgeous little activity we did today. Such a detailed museum with lots of information about…read morethe battle. There's a lovely man who knows everything about the battle and a movie. You unfortunately can't take photos inside. I definitely recommend it if you come here! 10/10

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.

My girls had a blast here. The splash pad facility is so impressive. There are two huge play areas…read morewith tons of sprinklers, buckets and water tables. One area is a little bit better for smaller kids so it's nice that they have two different options. The best part about the splash pad is the reservation system. You must make a reservation online, and you have a 1.5 hour time slot. Splash pads can get packed on a hot day, so this was a great way to control the crowd. Once your time is up there's an enormous playground right next door. There is so much to see and do that you could easily spend hours here without getting bored. Overall this is a fantastic township recreation area. It's clean and well-maintained, and there are endless play options for kids.

This is one of the cleanest parks I have walked through in Monmouth County. There are trash bins…read moreeverywhere and 2.3 miles of paved trails for you and your family to enjoy. The trails are perfect for walking your furry dogs, in-line skating, cycling, easy walking and pushing strollers. There is also a repair station with a tire pump and tools found near the basketball courts. The Challenger Place has finally finished and is a designed playground for kids who are blind or visually impaired. Their sport courts include tennis and basketball courts, as well as an in-line skating rink. The athletic field is available for rental and may be used for baseball games but not for practices. I have heard they have swimming pools but I personally did not see it. Instead, I saw a spray ground (water-enhanced playground) which was to open in mid-May but given our current situation with the COVID-19 outbreak, this is doubtful for mid-May 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions. Normally, it would open mid-May through early September. I would imagine the busiest time to be there with kids is during the height of summer because summer camps are held there by the Monmouth County Park System and Challenged Youth Sports from Middletown.

This park is filled with wonderful treasures! They have held so much within this park, I don't know…read morewhere to begin but I will say, there is something for everyone! They have a great field for baseball. Please note, Freehold Little League is held here so if there is a game, parking will be hard. They also have many playgrounds for kids. They seem to have themed playgrounds so that if you are meeting other parents, just say, "we'll convene at the blue or pirate ship playground" and everyone will find it. They have a fenced in skateboard ramps for tweens and up which I personally think is a fabulous idea. The ramps are spaced and curved only for skateboards. Longboards should definitely stay only on the paved paths where they belong. Speaking of trails, their trails are mixed between paved and dirt. You can safely go on a light walking trail here either solo or as you are walking your dogs. They also provide a few stations with plastic bags for the owners to clean up after their dogs. They also have basketball courts, dog runs, picnic areas, a spray ground on hot summer's days and my favorite, a sports field with obstacle courses. Perfect for the bigger kids with lots of energy and to build coordination. I went in March where things are just somewhat starting to bloom. I can only imagine the splendor in late June where everything will be fully bloomed and the grass will be lush. I look forward to revisiting this park, especially when it's Freehold Township Day where there will be plenty of fireworks, rides and the Vets car show!

FREEHOLD: Take your dog for a walk on the fitness trail that loops around the park for about 3…read moremiles and alternates between pavement and dirt with views of baseball and soccer fields and plenty of greenery. The path is mostly flat with a mix of sunny and shady areas with water fountains to cool down. Also, check out the baseball field on the east side of the park that is popular for some off-leash play in a fenced area (be sure to make sure all gates are shut).

Excellent park for all ages I so recommend me, my cousin, my friends, my sister we all go there. It…read moreis the best park in the town. The spray park is a little boring but they did add a volleyball court. There is a lacrosse court in the field. they recently added a large bathroom/storage room for coaches and maintenance workers This park is the best.

This ground is amazing ! One of the best cricket grounds in NJ .. love the outfield .. superbly…read moregrassed ... ground also has a small water play area. Perfect for kids ! Play area is also good . Well maintained .... Well done.. overall , it's an awesome ground !!

Love this park and it's hiking trails. One of the trails has fitness stations which provide a great…read moreworkout. Plenty of bbq areas with grills and benches. If you want to have a gathering, they have a spot that you can reserve. Bathrooms are very clean and orderly. Playground has been updated with newer equipment.

This is my favorite park in the area, I absolutely love it. There are legitimate hiking trails, an…read moreexercise trail, several playgrounds, tennis courts, clean bathrooms and best of all, farm animals :). You can catch some wildlife as well. When I discovered it I was shocked I didn't find this gem sooner.

This park is a great little local gem. It's definitely not one of the most popular Monmouth county…read moreparks, so it never feels overcrowded, but it is also never deserted. At one time this park was a local ski spot and there are still some remnants of the ski buildings remaining. Part of it was also used by the Marlboro psychiatric hospital, that was located across the street before being demolished. There are some remnants from the pig farm remaining. You can also get to the psychiatric hospital cemetery from the trails. Currently the park is home to a portion of the Henry Hudson trail. There is a climbing wall that is used maybe once a year by the parks department, follow their page for the free event. There is a pool used by local camps. There is also basketball courts and a playground here. The county has recently been removing invasive plants and adding bird houses. In the winter this is a semi-popular local spot to sled (although there is a lot more brush beneath the snow and at the top of the hill than the sledding hill at Holmdel park). If you're in the area this is a great spot to wander around.

Very kid friendly and quiet despite being so close to town…read more If you're looking for a flat, kid/jogging stroller friendly place to walk and enjoy the woods, this would be it.

As someone who has lived in New Jersey my whole life and visited many parks and gardens, I can…read morehonestly say Deep Cut Gardens was one of the most beautiful places I've experienced in the state. We visited on a sunny day in early May around 11:30 AM. Not everything was fully in bloom yet, but the greenery, trees, shrubs, and gardens were absolutely beautiful and created such a peaceful, serene atmosphere. Parking is a bit limited, but we were able to find a spot fairly quickly. The grounds were easy to walk, beautifully maintained, and full of great photo spots. I also loved the maze garden area and the small reading/sunroom space, which added such a charming touch. I even saw people having picnics, and it immediately made me want to come back and do the same. Only small thing to note: we did notice some poison ivy in certain areas, so just be mindful. Overall, easy to get to, peaceful, and absolutely worth visiting. Already looking forward to coming back in June when everything is in full bloom.

You'll like this spot whether you're a plant expert or a casual observer like me who may need to…read moreuse "Shazam for plants" to identify garden croton. There's plenty to see outdoors, including a twisty tree and a koi pond, but when open, the showstopper is the greenhouse, with cacti and much more. And it's free!