Black River County Park
Encyclopedia
The Black River County Park is a public park in Morris County, New Jersey
operated by the Morris County Park Commission.
The park covers an area of 560 acres (2.3 km²) along the eastern shore of the Black River
and is located between Long Valley
and Chester. Its land represents a glacial valley
carved by the Black River and some of its tributaries. The park is home to the Cooper Mill, the Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center, the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, and the Willowwood Arboretum.
The land was mined for iron ore during the 19th centuries, and within the park is an old iron mine. In 1883 the Hacklebarney Branch of the High Bridge Railroad
, later part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
(CNJ), was built to serve the local iron mines. The railway was abandoned in 1900. The railway trestle has in part become part of a hiking trail along the river. When Alfred and Elizabeth Kay moved from Pittsburgh to the area in 1924 they consolidated land to establish the Hidden River Farm; later some of their land was donated to the park system.
The park is used for hiking, fishing, bird watching as well as for activities through its educational centers. A list of its botanical offering has been collected.
Other parks in the Black River valley are the Black River Wildlife Management Area
and the Hacklebarney State Park
.
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
operated by the Morris County Park Commission.
The park covers an area of 560 acres (2.3 km²) along the eastern shore of the Black River
Black River (New Jersey)
The Black River, known as the Lamington River downstream of Pottersville, is a tributary of the North Branch Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States....
and is located between Long Valley
Long Valley, New Jersey
Long Valley is an unincorporated area located within Washington Township, in Morris County, New Jersey. Known as German Valley since its foundation during the colonial era, the community was renamed in response to anti-German sentiment during World War I...
and Chester. Its land represents a glacial valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
carved by the Black River and some of its tributaries. The park is home to the Cooper Mill, the Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center, the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, and the Willowwood Arboretum.
The land was mined for iron ore during the 19th centuries, and within the park is an old iron mine. In 1883 the Hacklebarney Branch of the High Bridge Railroad
High Bridge Branch
The High Bridge Branch was a branch line of the Central Railroad of New Jersey that started in High Bridge, New Jersey at a connection with the CNJ main line and continued north to iron-ore mines in Morris County...
, later part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
(CNJ), was built to serve the local iron mines. The railway was abandoned in 1900. The railway trestle has in part become part of a hiking trail along the river. When Alfred and Elizabeth Kay moved from Pittsburgh to the area in 1924 they consolidated land to establish the Hidden River Farm; later some of their land was donated to the park system.
The park is used for hiking, fishing, bird watching as well as for activities through its educational centers. A list of its botanical offering has been collected.
Other parks in the Black River valley are the Black River Wildlife Management Area
Black River Wildlife Management Area
The Black River Wildlife Management Area is located in Chester Township, New Jersey, United States. This WMA is over and includes diverse landscape with plentiful flora and fauna...
and the Hacklebarney State Park
Hacklebarney State Park
300px|right|thumb| One of the waterfalls at Hacklebarney State Park, New JerseyHacklebarney State Park is state park of the U.S. state of New Jersey, located between Long Valley and Chester in Morris County. The park contains of land in a glacial valley carved by the Black River and its...
.
External links
- Morris County Park Commission, official site that has separate sections for the four educational site of the park: Cooper Mill, Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center, Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, and Willowwood Arboretum
- List of plants in the Black River County Park
- Hacklebarney State Park Trail Details and Info
- NY-NJTC: Black River County Park Trail Details and Info