Parks

The following is from the Morris County Park Commission website: Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, located on 670.88 acres, was once known as Merchiston Farm and was the home of William and Martha Brookes Hutcheson from 1911 to 1959. Bamboo Brook’s original 100 acres was donated by the daughter of Mrs. Hutcheson. Ms. Hutcheson one [...]

This park is located on Route 513 (North Road) 1 mile east of Route 24. It abuts the Chester Area Pool complex and the Black River Wildlife Management Area. It is across North Road from Highlands Ridge Park . Chester Trails installed an informational kiosk just north of the parking area. A permanent concession building [...]

This area consists of 3,020 acres in the northern portion of the Township. It was purchased under the Green Acres Acquisition Program for passive recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, canoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking along the abandoned right of way of the former Chester Branch of the DL&W Railroad. Morris County’s Patriot’s Path hiking trail [...]

Chubb Park is a municipal park featuring ball fields, tennis courts, a playground, pond with a fountain, ice skating and sledding in winter, and portable restrooms. A pond with a fountain is surrounded by a paved path--the Taylor Walking Path--which measures 0.25 mile and is fully accessible. At two points on the paved path, there [...]

Facilities:  None Features:   This is a hunting area, dates posted at entrances. The Evans Family Forest Preserve was purchased in 1999 with funds from a New Jersey State Green Acres Grant, Morris County Open Space Trust Fund, and Chester Township Open Space Trust Fund.   The Preserve features 100 acres of woods, is traversed [...]

Grove Street Park is Chester Borough’s multi-activity park.  For Chester Trails, its most important feature is a paved trail suitable for not only joggers and walkers, but folks with baby carriages and in wheelchairs.   It is centrally located only 0.2 miles from Main St. and Patriots’ Path.  Grove Street Park contains an extensive children’s [...]

Hacklebarney State Park was established in 1924 when 32 acres of land were donated to the State by Adolph E. Borie. In 1967, the eastern portion (113 acres) of the original natural area of the park was donated by Anita Morle-Smith Knight. Through Green Acres acquisition, an additional 380 acres were acquired from 1964 to [...]

The 113-acre Highlands Ridge Park (formerly Bell Labs’ Telcordia Tract) was purchased in July 2004. The property was purchased for $6 million which was paid for with a combination of Township funds, a grant from the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund and a State of New Jersey Green Acres grant. Directly adjacent to the [...]

Elizabeth and Alfred Kay bequested their Hidden River Farm to Chester Township for public use.  The Kay Center consists of 858 acres, of which 80 acres are meadow habitat maintained by mowing and prescribed burning. The fields feature goldenrods, little bluestem and other native species.  The Kay Center is home to the New Jersey Office [...]

The following is from the Morris County Park Commission website: Mount Paul Memorial Park is a 285-acre tract of land that contains the headwaters for Gladstone Brook (a trout stream). It is undeveloped but directly adjacent to Mt Paul Road, where a Schiff trail and Burnett Brook is located.   In 19th century, the Thompson family [...]

The Parker Road Preserve consists of Open Space with open fields and forest. It has a loop trail that was created for use by mountain bikers, though it is also suitable for hiking. Facilities:  None [...]

The following is from the Morris County Park Commission website: If you enjoy recreational activities, such as biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, jogging, walking your canine companion, and hiking, Patriots' Path is the place to visit. Comprised of 55 miles of main trails and 35 miles of spur trail located on 291.9 acres, Patriots’ Path is [...]

The 101-acre Tanners Brook Preserve was purchased by Chester Township and Washington Township in December 2008. The property is located adjacent to Black River Wildlife Management Area.. The southern portion of the property contains an old “hunting cabin” along Tanners Brook Road as well as the ruins of an old farmhouse.  A maintained power line [...]

The following is from the Morris County Park Commission website: Cooper Gristmill, located on 14 acres, was built in 1826 and is one of the remaining restored water-powered mills in New Jersey. It is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. It is a living example of the state’s transition from an [...]

Tiger Brook Park was purchased with the assistance of the New Jersey Green Acres Program in 1980. This 270-acre preserve contains a ten acre reservoir. The Park is located on Cooper Lane, 1/4 mile east of Route 206. A parking lot is located immediately adjacent to Cooper Lane, and provides access to the preserve’s service [...]