Turkey Swamp Park

Turkey Swamp Park is a 1,180-acre (4.78 km²) park located in Freehold Township, New Jersey on the northern fringes of the Pine Barrens. The Turkey Swamp area is located on a ridge within the geographic heartland of New Jersey. The region includes the headwaters of the extensive Manasquan, Metedeconk, and Toms River systems to the east, the Millstone River system to the north, and the Assunpink Creek, Crosswicks Creek, and Manalapan Brook systems to the west.[1][2] The chief recreational attraction of this park is the 17-acre (69,000 m2) lake suitable for bass, bluegill and catfish fishing, as well as canoeing and paddle boating.

The 17 acre lake at Turkey Swamp Park during the autumn months

The core of the park was purchased in 1963. Additional land was purchased in the 1970s and in May 1993 (acquisition of Camp Nomoco) to bring the park to its current configuration.[3]

Nomenclature

The title of the park may be considered a bit of a misnomer considering the park does not bear a swamp, nor does it act as a habitat for turkeys. Although considering that the soil is rather sandy and the water table lies slightly beneath the surface, this thus gives rise to swampy conditions at times when the surface topography dips to the water line; hence the 'swamp' title. The 'turkey' prefix, however, was adapted from the town's previous name, Turkey. The town once known as Turkey is now known as the unincorporated area of Adelphia.[4]

Park information

The park features 8 miles (13 km) of trails, an archery range, an array of playgrounds, two soccer fields, and various picnic grounds. During the appropriate season, canoes, paddleboats, kayaks, and rowboats may be rented. During the winter season, as the massive lake freezes over, ice-skating is available for park visitors. A significant section of the park is dedicated as a seasonal campground, complete with laundry facilities, hot-water bathrooms, and RV electric & water hook-ups. It consists of 64 pull-through campsites that can accommodate both tent campers and travel trailers. Two wood "forest view" cabins are also available.[5]

Nomoco Activity Area

A more secluded area in the park, called the Nomoco Activity Area, is also available for use by groups interested in group activities. It consists of six sites each capable of accommodating groups of up to 40 people. One of the sites, called "the Outpost" is more secluded yet, requiring a hike through the woods of 1/4 mile to reach. This area is good for groups seeking wilderness camping. In the Outpost, drinking water, for example, must be carried in, although ground water from hand pump-driven wells are available in the general area. Also, a pit toilet is available as there are no other relief facilities at the Outpost.[6]

In May 1993, the Park System acquired the 56-acre Camp Nomoco from the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts to add it to Turkey Swamp Park. The Council had operated the 303-acre camp since 1947. The Council trustees were determined to sell the camp, as a Wall Herald reporter noted, to “a buyer who cares more about nature and a pristine environment than about developing the land.” The Nomoco acquisition also helped protect the Metedeconk River watershed while converting a private camping facility into a public one.[7]

Flora

The flora of Turkey Swamp Park includes pitch pine, scrub oak, white oak, sweet gum, pepperbush, huckleberry, blueberry, etc.

Trails
  • The orange-blazed trail, a 1-mile-long (1.6 km) trail circumventing the lake.
  • The red-blazed trail, a 1.75-mile-long (2.82 km) trail which leads into the woodsy camping area.
  • The green-blazed, a 1-mile (1.6 km) trail leading to the lakefront area and bordering the red-blazed trail.
  • The blue-blazed, a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) trail which guides hikers to the boathouse.

References
  1. Freehold Township Master Plan (2010), p.7-1
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map
  3. Monmouth County Park System (2009). The Directory: Volume 3. Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. p. 3.
  4. Turkey Swamp hiking information, accessed 3 October 2006
  5. Campgrounds at Turkey Swamp Park. Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Publication #A7485. March 2008.
  6. Nomoco Activity Area at Turkey Swamp Park. Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Publication #A6142. April 2006.
  7. 1990s: A Clear Vision

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