The Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation is governed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Parks Department Advisory Board, which is comprised of volunteer citizens appointed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Advisory Board consults the Freeholders on all matters regarding county park lands, public recreation and environmental education opportunities. Over 5,400 acres of land has been purchased for purposes of environmental preservation, and for the public's recreational enjoyment. The 20 full time staff members of the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation serve to carry out the mission of the County implementing hundreds of recreational activities, environmental education programs, and special events annually. In 1999, over 300,000 citizens enjoyed the parks and programs Hunterdon County has to offer.
Parks are open dawn to dusk, every day.
Picnic pavilions, lodge, meeting rooms, and ballfield can be secured for your special event. A gift of land, now known as Wescott Nature Preserve was donated to the County by Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Wescott in 1966, thus a foundation for the Hunterdon County Park System. To protect and maintain this gift of land, the County's Board of Chosen Freeholders appointed a Board of Recreation Commissioners in 1973. Today, the Park System contains over 4,700 acres of park land in 18 areas throughout the County. The diverse natural features of our parks include rocky cliffs, fields, forests, streams, rivers, marshes, and ponds.