LAKEWOOD: a beautiful park, Lake Shenandoh County Park is part of the Ocean County Parks &…read moreRecreation system. There is a dog friendly walking path/bike trail that goes around the lake with some truly stunning lookout points. Some parts of the trail have vehicles, so be careful. Zoey the maltichon was a good sport to join us for a walk on a very steamy day, and we ended up taking a short route to see a man-made waterfall and some wooded areas. If you walk around the whole lake, there is a section where you have to walk on the road (Clover St.) since the trail seems to end, but picks up again a short ways down. FYI, as of 6/10/20, "Due to construction the main bathrooms at Lake Shenandoah County Park in Lakewood will be closed for the remainder of 2020. Bathrooms are available at the Soccer Complex in the park. "Go Before You Go...""

LAKEWOOD: is such an interesting town. It is congested like NYC, but you still get the feel of…read moresuburbia. We have been very curious about Lake Carasaljo and decided to take a ride and see what we could find at this park. We parked in one of the lots off of South Lake Drive and found an opening into the woods. There is a very narrow, but easy dirt path that winds through the woods, with the bustle of Lakewood not too far away. It was very pretty and peaceful. We didn't go too far and turned around to head back to walk around the path near the road.

I am a local of this area and went to Allaire for the Duck Derby this past weekend. I must say: I…read moreloved it!!! The blacksmith shop was so interesting and the employee was super knowledgeable when I asked question. I felt really welcomed and I learned a lot. The event itself was fun and well organized. I enjoyed bringing my dog, the free glitter tattoos, and the atmosphere. I loved watching the ducks race down the creek, it was so fun!

Such a beautiful trail for hiking and biking we just so happened to pass it and go back to venture!…read moreThe beautiful little bridges and such are so pretty! The pathways are nice and clear and it's not very buggy! I can't wait to go back to do the whole trail!

Lake Riviera Park and the lake are well taken care of, but my complaint is by the shoreline on the…read moreadjacent lake behind the retention pond. It is littered with beer cans, empty cases, litter and broken glass. I am an avid fisherman and an environmentalist and conservationist, and I have picked up over ten Home Depot buckets worth of garbage. Would be fantastic if attention would be given to this matter by the Parks and Recreation Department. Thank you

Came here because I wanted to eat my breakfast! Such a beautiful relaxing park!…read more It has two playgrounds which look very new and in Greta condition! It has benches , picnic tables and a nice little path around the park. It also has a basketball court with 4 basketball hoops! Along with a nice lake with plenty of space to play in the sand ! Definitely a nice hidden park !

POINT PLEASANT: Beaver Dam Creek County Park is a beautiful outdoor recreation area with a self…read moreguided nature trail on a boardwalk path that converts to a dirt path and meanders through wetlands and around an open play area (which is used as an on-leash dog park), soccer and baseball fields, tennis/pickleball courts, basketball courts, and a picnic area. Dogs must be leashed and there are baggie stations around the park. Be sure pick up after your pet.

I like it here, but a lot of people don't follow the leash laws. I also had a guy by the name of…read moreBill Scott, owner of the BJJ Academy in point pleasant, threaten me and my dogs lives because I was trying in a field 100 yards away from him and he insisted on getting within three feet of me. He insisted I follow him to the woods to teach me and my dogs a lesson. Bill Scott Shore Academy BJJ, point pleasant. Watch out for him.

POINT PLEASANT: Riverfront Park has a beautiful view of the Manasquan River and is a great spot to…read moretake your dog for a short walk along the pier. There is also a pavilion with a picnic area and charcoal grills, bocce court, playground, and open field area with benches to enjoy the view.

My dogs love it here. Again, many don't respect leash laws or personal space. Generally old rich…read morewhite boomers with no manners or who are miserable. Beautiful sunsets. Beautiful mornings. Space for everyone if they could just use their heads. And pick up after your dogs guys. Kids play and run there.

JACKSON: The Silver Stream & Steve Kitay trails are part of the Metedeconk Preserve, a special…read moresection of nature that is forever preserved by New Jersey Conservation Foundation. It is a really beautiful and peaceful park where at some points it is so quiet that it is wonderfully eerie. Leashed dogs can go on a nature walk with you! In the summer, the park is very rooty, muddy, and overgrown with green leaves from the many trees. In the winter, the conditions are pretty much the same, but with a lot less green! Turns out this park's purpose is to hold flood waters, so that explains the mud! It is a fun place to walk with many bridges and boardwalks to cross over and nice views of the Metedeconk River and little streams. I recommend wearing hiking boots as there are many roots and your feet might get stuck in mud! The 2-mile trail is well-marked and you can find your way back out! (I get lost easily, so good signs are important to me)! There is a bonus 1-mile "Steve Kitay" trail that goes even deeper into nature with more views of the river. It is interesting comparing the park between the winter and summer. With less leaves on the trees, you can see more nature and better views of the river! The entrance is located near 255 Frank Applegate Road, Jackson, NJ 08527

BRICK: Herbertsville Park is a great spot to take a walk with your leashed and friendly pup!…read more There is a nature trail that starts on a paved path and then goes into the woods for a nice walk under the trees. We estimate it's about 1 mile out and back. The park's amenities includes a softball field, basketball courts, two playgrounds, benches, and a parking area.

This park is a really nice place for all kids of age to play with. You have many fun activities to…read moreplay with like, the slide, swings, basketball court, and many many more. There is even a trail in the woods that can leave to a nice healthy cabin, the cabin was even human made. You can ride your bike to there and your car.

This is my family's favorite spot for a leisure stroll. We'd almost always come for a walk when the…read moreweather is nice, especially after a big meal. It allows for all sorts of activities in a compact 71 acre space. This is also a great spot to view the fall foliage. There are 2 entrances. The main entrance is off Pond Rd. There is a side entrance off Robertsville Rd but that parking lot can accommodate only about half a dozen cars. A typical walk is a round trip from between the 2 entrances and you'll rack up about 2 miles. There is an excursion trail around the outside boundaries of the park beginning at the Robertsville entrance. With that you can make up 3 miles which was what I used to do when I was training for the varsity cross-country team. The pond is good for boating and fishing and is stocked with trout every year. The playground is right by the pond and is a great photo spot for your kids. There is a stage and a nice-sized pavilion in front of it. Perfect for a summer concert or play. There are benches and picnic tables throughout. In my most recent visit (Oct'21) I was pleasantly surprised to find that they've added a large number of brand new benches and picnic tables made with recycled material. Also, the parking lot at the main entrance has been redone and doubled the capacity. For these surprises I'm bumping the rating up to 5 stars. PS. If you're into mountain biking, I'll let you in on a local secret. There is a technical course adjacent to the southeast side of the park and you can access it at the end of Brookwood Dr.

Definitely not the best maintained park in the area but still a hidden gem. Tucked away just behind…read morethe hustle and bustle on route 9 lies this picturesque little park. There is something for everyone to enjoy here. Bring your canoes or kayaks. There is a boat launch near the entrance. You can fish here, the lake is stocked with fish. We have yet to catch anything but plants and a snapping turtle. There is a nice trail along the lake to walk or bike. There is a little playground too but this is probably the worst maintained area of the park. There are no bathrooms here but there are porta potties. Every time I've been here when it's warm the ice cream truck has come in here. Other than that there are no concession stands. Just pack a lunch and enjoy at one of the picnic tables.