Beautiful park with kids playgrounds, a nice lake, and we'll paved trails. You can get a nice little hike in, go fishing, and take your kids to the playground in the same visit. This park has the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a park. There's also free Wi-Fi in this park. Legendary stuff. I've been to hundreds of parks and never saw free Wi-Fi offered. This is now my favorite park. read more

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Located in Mountainside, New Jersey, this park is long and thin along with the three lakes it really encompasses, with a single road that follows and winds its way through the park alongside the three, long thin lakes. There are areas for lake paddle boating and a dog run, park areas to enjoy as grassy or snow covered depending on the season, and some parking, and there a few public bathrooms. It is just off the busy Route 22, on the eastbound side. Saw a few folks fishing, and some of the bikers slowly winding their way through the park. Not a bad local park to enjoy a nice day out. read more

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I usually begin a park review reluctantly... because inevitably I've only experienced a tiny portion of it, and probably just the part with the playground! But here's my two cents nonetheless, from a mom of two littles. I like this playground because it is basically at the edge of a forest. It's pleasant to watch your kids while also feeling pretty full-on in nature, with a nice lake view as well. This playground isn't necessarily designed for tiny kids, but all ages are able to make use of it, as it has slides of varying heights and twists. The equipment is sturdy and doesn't seem very worn, with some very cool rock climbing walls. Older kids climbed on top of the equipment while tiny kids pulled themselves up onto low platforms. Next to the playground is a row of swings, both baby and regular. Benches and picnic tables abut this area. On one side is a larger picnic area with grills that is completely shaded by trees. It is also across the street from a lake and boathouse/concession stand. For me, this open/unfenced playground is a tad too close to the street to feel comfortable, so I was on constant alert. A multi-kid game of chase/tag constantly brought children too close to that street and many a parent would yell or run after their kids every so often. We've also hung out in the part of the park next to the lake, observing a flock of Canadian Geese feasting on the grass, with various other birds around. There are several bird nests built all over the eaves of the boathouse; cool to observe. The bathrooms in the boathouse are clean, but completely without any windows or air circulation. There is a vent that perhaps has a/c during the day, but after 5pm, when we used it, it was dangerously hot like a sauna. read more

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I love the various parks in my parts of New Jersey. Warinanco, Nomahegan, Rahway River etc. are all on my rotation of parks I try to visit often. However, I had never heard of or visited Echo Lake Park until this weekend. Echo Lake Park is located in Mountainside, NJ and it lists not too far from Lenape Park. From my home in Elizabeth it was about a 20 minute drive. If there is one thing I can say about this park, it's that people seem to love it! I passed about three parking areas before I found a spot next to the Dog Park. I wound up walking from the Dog Park to a trail that wraps partially around a large body of water in the middle. I walked this path which takes you near a water wheel, picnic areas (with grills) and (thankfully) rest rooms. I could see a family easily spending an entire day here either having a picnic or playing sports at the nearby Soccer and Softball fields. The park is very well kept. I only saw one bit of garbage (a water cooler jug floating in the water) but I did not see other signs of human carelessness (such as food wrappers, cigarette butts etc.). The grass was also trimmed perfectly and broken branches and dead tree trunks were all moved out of the way of the walking paths. My only concern with the park is actually not so much with the park itself but rather the people in it. Most people I saw were respectful and kept to themselves. However there were a *lot* of people not wearing masks despite signs up on the walking path telling them to do so. Also, at least 8 bicyclists were riding on the walking path, and not at a leisurely pace but racing past people like they were in a rush. While I heard them coming, what if I was someone hard of hearing or even deaf? When the first two people who passed me like this flew past, I dismissed it as an aberration, but it *kept happening* throughout my two hours at the park and it was a tad scary. In heavy contrast, the Dog Park was a joy to watch. I love dogs and seeing them playing with each other and zooming around the Dog Park was an absolute joy. If you love critters and want some nice zen happy moments, check out the Dog Park. Echo Lake Park is fantastic and definitely worth a visit! read more

Echo Lake Park has just about everything you'd ever want in a park. It has a Dog Park, Fishing, Fitness Trail, Ice Skating, Pedal Boats, Picnic Areas, Playground, Restrooms, Sledding, Snack Bar, Soccer and Softball fields, a beautiful lake with a gazebo and a water wheel. It also houses the Union County 9/11 Memorial. We strolled around on Saturday and enjoyed the scenery, especially the very pretty views of the lake. read more

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Large local park in a valley surrounded by several hills. Echo Lake Park has several scenes appropriate for special occasion and everyday photography. My parents used to take us kids here to fly kites, enjoy picnics, and play. Nowadays, I take walks and hikes, ride the pedal boats, and sway on the adult swing set... wheeee! Echo Lake runs along the length of Park Drive. Going southwest on Park Drive from Springfield Avenue towards Mountain Avenue, Echo Lake has two parts to the left of the road on each side of an old gazebo and sometimes spinning waterwheel. A few times a year, the the county or town stocks the lake for freshwater fishing. The boathouse near the second part of the lake sells some basic snacks (burgers and hotdogs I have yet to try) and pedal boats that can seat up to 4 people for $10/hour (life jackets included). Like common pedal/paddle boats, the 2 seats in the front have pedals while the 2 in the back don't and ride backwards. There's a another lake further down the road on the right, past a dog park, with some surface water plants. Past that, on the same side of the street, is a good-sized field for flying kites, frisbee, and doing cartwheels. There are plenty of areas to go sledding in the winter. This park has a picnic area of 8 wooden tables and benches and a few BYO charcoal grills on the left before Echo Lake and another picnic area with 12 more tables down the road on the right. While usable, the tables are in a little bit of disrepair. I suggest bringing clippable or elastic table covers. A convenient park feature is that there are brick-and-mortar and portable restrooms throughout but not too obtrusive to the scenery. A recent addition is the Union County September 11 Memorial honoring 60 Union County residents killed in the 2001 attacks. This well-manicured area contains 2 girders that belonged to the World Trade Center and several park benches. In the summertime, Echo Lake Park and Clark's Oak Ridge Park host the Union County Summer Concert Series. I attended a couple of summer ago with lawn chairs and a blankie in tow, to see Jersey's best cover band, the NERDS. read more

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Nice relaxing park with great views of New York Plenty of parking (free) Hiking was pretty nice. We did the yellow trail. It connected to the blue trail and then looked back to yellow so we could return back. It wasn't a long hike nor was it difficult. But it was kind of cool... like taking a stroll through the woods. read more

Lots of parking. Dog park. Paddle boat rentals. Concession stand. My one gripe is that the side walk / walking path / bike lane don't continue the whole length of the road through the park. Can be a bit scary walking and cars being so close to you. read more

Great park to take a stroll or go on a paddle boat. Well kept, safe and clean. They have a doggie park area too.

Bbq area, playground for kids, boat house, beautiful park! Had so much fun last july 4th will be back next week for god daughter's bday! Highly recommended!! read more

pretty cool park. great size playground for the kiddos & a large track around a lake for bike riding & walking. Plus they have these cool little work out stations. read more

pretty good , dammed artificial pond allows for paddlewheeling and then downstream of that a long dammed stretch of whatever creek this is allows for fishing, the place seems to be very popular with fisherpeople. nice asphalt running/ walking along the length of this long narrow park which has thick forest on both sides of the water and around the pond. lots of attractive people running here ) so remember rubbernecking can be hazardous. someone might throw you in the pond to cool you down. read more

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Nice for family, fishing, dogs .... Just get there and have fun and have a long walk it's well maintained and is quite large I've only been there once I will report to you later about the rest of the stuff I like the river in it very soothing. read more

nice dog park here. good group of dogs & their owners, parking lot, 2 separate areas for large and small dogs, both areas of good size, and lots of beautiful park surrounding. definitely a great park overall whether you come with canine or just with family & friends. read more

My bf and I took our dog here today and we were very pleased with the dog park! She ran around with other dogs who were very friendly. The dog owners were very pleasant as well. My 2 complaints about the dog park would be people not cleaning up after their dogs and not enough shaded areas. Echo park has so many other activities to partake in. We will definitely be going back to check out everything and take our Maggie back to the dog park! read more