Category: Trails

Trails that can be found in and around Jackson Township

Metedeconk Island Spur Trail is Open

The seasonal trail (Metedeconk Island Spur) at Silver Stream Trail is now open.  The Pathfinders have done some more clearing and feel it is in good shape for hikers of all ages and abilities to explore.  This trail is located at the North-East corner of the Silver Stream trail (located off Frank Applegate Road at the Metedeconk Preservation).  Much of it meanders along the South Branch of the Metedeconk River and is quite pretty and dry this time of the year.  Enjoy the slideshow!

Purple Heart Digital Nature Trail Grand Opening May 21 2PM

Come join the Jackson Pathfinders, ANJEC, Jackson Environmental Commission and the local community at a ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new Digital Nature Trail and Informational Kiosk on Sunday May 21 at 2PM at the main entrance of Purple Heart Trail.  Refreshments will be served.

Also, here is a link to a recent Tri-Town News article about the Pathfinders and the new nature trail.

Mega Montage

A mix of both new and old photos…

Volunteer to Help

If you are interested in volunteering or just wish to make a comment or suggestion use one of the following means of communication:

There are many opportunities to assist individually or as a group such as with the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.  Some ideas follow.

Get Involved by Participating

You or your organization can participate in any of our activities.

  • Join any of our trail work days throughout the year
  • Sign up for our “Adopt a Trail” or “Keep It Nice” programs
  • Approach the Pathfinders with a scouting project such as Eagle Scout project or to simply take your den or pack on a hike and bring some bags to do some cleanup.  Or the younger scouts can play “stick in the mud” where they can gather and throw sticks in the mud to help soak up water on some of the wetter trails.
  • Join us in our hiking or other group activities

Become an Active Member

We have a lot of committees (see About the Pathfinders for a complete list) where you can volunteer to be elected as a formal member of Pathfinders. Use your skills and/or learn some new ones.

  • Mapping (using Global Positioning System or GPS)
  • Grants, Land Acquisition
  • Trail Management
  • Bicycling, Hiking, Fishing
  • Membership, Publicity, Event Planning

Contact the Membership Committee for more information.

ANJEC Project @ Purple Heart

The Jackson Pathfinders in cooperation with the Jackson Environmental Commission have been awarded an Open Space Stewardship Funding grant from Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) in the amount of $1300 for an environmental awareness project at the Purple Heart trail.

The project includes constructing an informational kiosk at a midway point along the Purple Heart trail and a self-guided digital nature walk (interpretive trail) having numerous informational signs along the way to educate the public on local natural resources.  In addition to the informational signs themselves, there will be QR codes that you can scan using your mobile device to immediately obtain more details online for the given subject.  Links are expected to be hosted on the Pathfinders website.

The project is expected to be completed by Summer 2017.  As always we welcome any volunteers to assist with the project.  As an example, Ocean County Vocational Technical School in Brick is graciously constructing the kiosk off-site for us.

More details

Past Eagle Scout Project Photos

Shown are some photos taken from previous projects along the Silver Stream and Steve Kitay Living Trails.

How Trails Benefit Our Community

  1. They increase our property values.
  2. They increase community pride.
  3. They improve our quality of life.
  4. They provide a cleaner environment.
  5. They reduce traffic by providing paths for alternative transport.
  6. They promote health and fitness.
  7. They help reduce crime.
  8. They provide Eco-tourism.
  9. They conserve linked native ecosystems and landscapes.
  10. They provides low cost opportunities for family activities.
  11. They provide a safer and quieter way to get to community focal points.
  12. They provide opportunities for children to be directly involved in creating or protecting a trail with significant environmental impact.
  13. They provide citizenship training for students by involving them in developing a permanent community project.
  14. Provide opportunities for trail improvement projects of all kind.
  15. Helping to build a trail will instill a sense of ownership.
  16. The pride that students gain from stewardship will be passed down to their children, helping to preserve these Greenways for generations to come.
  17. Greenways provide comprehensive trail and linear park systems that provide bikeways, pedestrian paths, horse trails and recreation for residents, families, and children.

Parks in Jackson Township

The Jackson Township offers several parks for athletic activities and recreation. It has 5 athletic fields, several playgrounds, and quiet areas for hiking, riding and biking. Except for Patriot’s Park at Bowman Road which is an Ocean County Parks and Recreation facility, all these parks are maintained by the Township’s Recreation Department.

Parks open at regular hours except when there are programs being held by the Township’s Recreation Department.

For more information, please contact Park, Playground and Athletic Field Maintenance at (732) 928-1200.

 

Athletic Fields(open 6 am – 9 pm)

Name

Location

Size

Facilities

John F. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Park

Cooks Bridge Road and Manhattan Street

95 acres

soccer, baseball, tennis, fitness trail, picnic area with grills, playground

Patriot’s Park

Bowman Road

88.23 acres

soccer, softball, basketball, playground

Camp Joy

New Prospect Road

26 acres

baseball, basketball, sand volleyball

Woodlane Park

Woodlane and Forest Drives

11.5 acres

soccer

Jackson Township Justice Complex

West Veteran’s Highway

soccer, baseball, playground (The Jackson Jungle)

 

Neighborhood Parks (open 9 am – 6 pm; 9 am – 8 pm Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Name

Location

Size

Facilities

Harfield Park

Andover Drive

3 acres

basketball, playground

Flair Ridge Park

Buckingham Drive

1.8 acres

softball, basketball, playground

 

Other Parks for Recreation (open 6 am – 9 pm)

Name

Location

Size

Facilities

Gil Putnam Memorial Park

West Veterans Highway (Route 528)

2+ acres

basketball, playground, picnic

Lake Enno Recreation Facility

Lakeview Drive

2.5 acres

fishing, boating, nature trail, picnic area with grills

NJ State Parks (in our area)

  • Island Beach State Park

    Ten miles of pure white sand beach attracts swimmers, sunbathers, anglers and surfers. Modern bathhouses, beach access ramps, a mile of beach with lifeguards, historic buildings, trails, naturalist programs, bike paths, wild foxes and facilities for people with disabilities combine to make Island Beach a popular place.

    The state’s largest osprey colony, as well as peregrine falcons, wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl and migrating songbirds, are found here. Island Beach is nationally known as a unique resource with over 300 plants identified, including the largest expanses of beach heather in New Jersey.

  • Allaire State Park

    Allaire State Park consists of 3,035 acres located in Monmouth County. 25 miles of multi-use trails in Monmouth County: 21.5 miles are suitable for day hikes, 17 for mountain biking, 17 for horseback riding and five for canoeing. Info: (732) 938-2371. Within the park, there are facilities for picnicking and camping. The park has a nature center that is staffed by a naturalist in the summer.

    Allaire Village, which is inside the park, is a 19th Century village listed on the NJ and National Registers of Historic Places. It is named after James P. Allaire, who owned Howell Iron Works Company in the 1830s. Located within the village are a museum and gift shop, a carpenter shop and working blacksmith, a general store, a bakery, a carriage house, a church and row houses

  • Monmouth Battlefield State Park

    Located north of Jackson in Manalapan, the Monmouth Battlefield offers year-round activities. There are interpretive and visitor centers, as well as picnic tables, a playground, and food concessions. There are trails for horseback riding and hiking; winter sports include sledding and cross-country skiing.

Information/links on other parks