SEE WHAT THE PARK SYSTEM HAS PLANNED THIS JULY!
MIDDLETOWN -  July is Parks & Recreation month and a great time to head out to your county parks!  Even better, the Monmouth County Park System fills the month with family-fun offerings.  Here’s what is planned:

Historic Battery Lewis Tours
Saturdays & Sundays, July 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23 and 29 & 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands
Tour the restored Historic Battery Lewis and learn about the history of this important former coastal defense site. FREE!

Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir

Saturdays & Sundays, July 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23 and 29 & 30 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Friday, July 7 at 6 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Wednesdays, July 12, 19 & 26 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell 
These 45-minute tours are narrated by Park System Naturalists and include opportunities to view local wildlife. The cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child, age 12 and under. Please call to confirm schedule as tours are both weather and water level dependent. All tours leave from the Visitor Center. Life-jackets required. Tickets can be purchased on day of tour only.

Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, July 3-31 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth - Meet on the beach near the parking lot.
Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures as we pull a long seine net along the edge of Sandy Hook Bay. Closed-toe shoes are required. Parents or guardians are required to stay with and supervise their children. No swimming during the event. This program is designed for individuals and families. Weather permitting. FREE! 

Independence Day Celebration

Tuesday, July 4 from 12-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Celebrate the holiday with games and contests. FREE!

Historic Portland Place Tours

Wednesdays-Sundays, July 5-9, 12-16, 19-23 and 26-30 at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Portland Place, Hartshorne Woods Park, Locust
Tour this beautifully restored 18th century house and view exhibits that tell the story of the region's history and the Hartshorne family legacy in Monmouth County. Tours are limited to 10 persons and may be suspended during inclement weather. Register on site at the Portland Place Visitor Center day of tour. FREE!    

Fishing 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to Fishing 

Thursdays, July 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Manasquan Reservoir, Howell 

Learn how to rig, bait, cast and, hopefully, catch your first fish during this program. Come and go at any time. Bait and tackle provided. Open to all ages; under 14 with adult. Fishing license required for ages 16-69. Stop by the Bait Shop to register. No groups please. FREE!   

Enviro-Quest

Thursday, July 6 at 11 a.m. 
Perrineville Lake Park, Millstone - Meet in the Agress Road parking lot.
Thursday, July 13 at 11 a.m.  
Clayton Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in the Emley’s Hill Road parking lot.
Thursday, July 20 at 11 a.m. 
Crosswicks Creek Park - Meet in the Province Line Road parking lot in Allentown.
Thursday, July 27 at 11 a.m.  
Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where the Park System Naturalist is waiting. Once you are there you can join a mini nature lesson, activity, or walk for 30–60 minutes of nature-based fun. Activities may include meeting a live animal, finding hidden treasures, or discovering animal knickknacks. FREE!   

Life in a Freshwater Pond

Thursdays, July 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet outside the Visitor Center.
Join Park System Naturalists to explore a freshwater pond. We’ll look for basking turtles, hopping frogs, hunting herons, splashing fish and anything else that catches our eye. We will also discover the unique life that lies underneath the water in a freshwater pond. Wear closed-toe shoes. Open to all ages, under 18 with adult. Weather permitting. FREE!

Spinning, Knitting & Weaving Demonstration

Saturday, July 8 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Watch the art of spinning fleece and learn various methods of knitting and weaving. FREE!

Cookstove Demonstration

Saturdays, July 8 & 22 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.  
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See what's cooking on the woodstove and discover how recipes, cooking techniques and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. FREE!

Story Time at Walnford

Sunday, July 9 from 11-11:45 a.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
Join us as we read a story beside the picturesque Crosswicks Creek. Feel free to bring a snack and a blanket or towel. Open to ages 2-7, with adult. FREE!

Thompson Park Canoe Rentals

Saturday & Sunday, July 8 & 9 and 22 & 23 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 
Thompson Park, Lincroft 
Canoes will be available for rent on Marlu Lake. All equipment provided; limited number of canoes available. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. All rentals must be returned by 3 p.m. Fee is $15 per boat for 1-3 people for two hours. Cash or check only.

Drop-In & Sail

Sunday, July 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell
See if sailing is for you during this offering where we provide the captain, and you provide the crew. We’ll head out on the water together on a 15’ American sailboat. Limited number of boats available; 1-3 people per boat. Open to ages 5 and up; under 18 with adult. The cost is $45 per boat for 30 minutes, $75 for 1 hour; cash or check only.   

Wheat Harvest Demonstration

Sunday, July 9 from 12-2 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See the draft animals in action as the farm staff harvests wheat as it was done in the 1890s. FREE!

Early Bird Beach Walk

Tuesday, July 11 from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Stroll down the beach with a Park System Naturalist and look for coastal treasures like seashells while also learning about the natural history of the area. Bring a container for collecting beach finds. Open all ages; under 18 with adult. FREE!

Casual Birder 

Tuesday, July 11 at 9 a.m.  
Crosswicks Creek Park - Meet in the Province Line Road parking lot in Allentown.
Join a Park System Naturalist for a laid-back morning bird walk and meander through the park for about an hour and a half to see what birds we can find. Participants should expect to be walking a few miles (2-4) on sometimes uneven or muddy terrain. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. FREE!

Tidal Tuesdays - Seine the Cove

Tuesdays, July 11, 18 & 25 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan
Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures that may be found along the cove during this Park System Naturalist-led seining program. Closed-toe shoes are required. Parents or guardians are required to stay with and supervise their children. No swimming during the event. Weather permitting. FREE! 

Open Shoot Archery

Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft 
All equipment is provided for this open shoot. No outside equipment permitted. This is not an instructional clinic and NOT designed for beginners. If you are new to archery, register for one of our instructional classes prior to attending. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. The cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.

Climb Time

Sunday, July 16 from 12-3 p.m.
Shark River Park, Wall
Try the Park System's 25’ portable climbing wall. You must be 42” or taller to climb. Open to ages 8 and up; under 18 with adult. FREE!

Bluegrass and Old-Time Music

Sunday, July 16 from 12-5 p.m.
Thompson Park, Lincroft – Outside of the Theater Barn
The Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association will meet for a jam session under the trees. Bring your own bass, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or guitar to join in, or just stop by and enjoy an afternoon of music. FREE!

Threshing Demonstration

Sunday, July 16 from 12-2 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See the farm staff thresh their wheat crop using old-fashioned equipment. FREE! 

Old-Fashioned Fun & Games

Sunday, July 16 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
Play a variety of historically-themed games to delight and challenge the whole family. FREE!

Nature Lecture: More to Mollusks Than You Think You Know

Thursday, July 20 from 7-8 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Join a Park System Naturalist for a talk about these soft-bodied invertebrates. With over 100,000 (possibly as many as 150,000) described species, there will be lots to talk about and learn. FREE!

Concert in the Park: Tribute to the 70s with The Discoteks

Friday, July 21 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft - Held outdoors, but will move inside if weather is inclement.
Dance to the hits of the 70s and Motown during this high-energy performance.  FREE!  

Woodworking at Walnford

Sunday, July 23 from 12-3 p.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
Watch a local woodworker demonstrate this craft using 19th century techniques.  FREE!  

Monmouth County Fair

Wednesday-Friday, July 26-28 from 4-11 p.m.
Saturday, July 29 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, July 30 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
East Freehold Showgrounds, Freehold
This annual tradition includes 4-H shows and exhibits, amusement rides, entertainment, home and garden competitions, opening night fireworks (weather permitting), and more. Admission is $8 per person; children 12 and under are free.  Veterans and active military with ID also enter for free.  On Sunday, seniors 65 and older and students with ID are free.  

To learn more about these Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the Park System TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks and Recreation agency.