Kings Pond Park
Encyclopedia
Kings Pond Park, including the associated Gypsy Pond Park, is a public, municipal park spanning close to the entire length of Goffle Brook
through the village of Ridgewood
in Bergen County, New Jersey
. It is the second largest wildscape in the village of Ridgewood and one of the larger wooded areas along the lower Bergen-Passaic border.
extending from just south of CR 87 Lake Ave at the Midland Park
border to just north of Rock Rd at the Hawthorne
/Passaic County border. Technically, Kings Pond Park is really two parks, Kings Pond Park, surrounding Kings Pond in north, and Gypsy Pond Park, encircling its namesake pond in the south. The main entrance to the park is on the east side of Lakeview Drive, but there are additional entrances, including a path running from the end of McKinley Place (off of nearby Mountain Ave). Another entrance is found along the Hawthorne border where an unmarked driveway enters the park from Rock Road, following the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
.
The main feature of the park is a nature trail which extends nearly a mile across the park’s length. Other recreational opportunities primarily involve the park’s two ponds and include ice skating in the winter and fishing and canoeing in the summer. Additionally, a grassy field covers much of the west bank of Kings Pond along Lakeview Drive.
(Rhododendron periclymenoides). Herbs such as wild garlic and mustard also grow throughout the park.
Goffle Brook
Goffle Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south through a section of Passaic County and Bergen County in New Jersey and drains the eastern side of the First Watchung Mountain...
through the village of Ridgewood
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
in Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
. It is the second largest wildscape in the village of Ridgewood and one of the larger wooded areas along the lower Bergen-Passaic border.
Description
Kings Pond Park forms a forested greenwayGreenway
-People:* Barney Greenway , British death metal vocalist* Brian Greenway , Canadian guitarist and vocalist* Chad Greenway , American football player* Francis Greenway , Australian architect...
extending from just south of CR 87 Lake Ave at the Midland Park
Midland Park, New Jersey
Midland Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 7,128....
border to just north of Rock Rd at the Hawthorne
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,218.Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park,...
/Passaic County border. Technically, Kings Pond Park is really two parks, Kings Pond Park, surrounding Kings Pond in north, and Gypsy Pond Park, encircling its namesake pond in the south. The main entrance to the park is on the east side of Lakeview Drive, but there are additional entrances, including a path running from the end of McKinley Place (off of nearby Mountain Ave). Another entrance is found along the Hawthorne border where an unmarked driveway enters the park from Rock Road, following the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
.
The main feature of the park is a nature trail which extends nearly a mile across the park’s length. Other recreational opportunities primarily involve the park’s two ponds and include ice skating in the winter and fishing and canoeing in the summer. Additionally, a grassy field covers much of the west bank of Kings Pond along Lakeview Drive.
Wildlife
Forty species of birds reside in Kings Pond Park, including many common species of ducks and Canada geese. In the forest, bracken fern is a prominent ground plant. Another plant commonly seen growing along the railroad bed is pinxter flower, or pink azaleaRhododendron periclymenoides
Rhododendron periclymenoides, is a deciduous shrub native to the eastern United States. Flowers appear before the leaves expand. It ranges from New Hampshire to Georgia and Alabama and are relatively frequent though widely scattered along streams, in deciduous forests and woodlands. The ranges of...
(Rhododendron periclymenoides). Herbs such as wild garlic and mustard also grow throughout the park.
See also
- Goffle Brook ParkGoffle Brook ParkGoffle Brook Park is a public, county park spanning much of the length of Goffle Brook through the borough of Hawthorne in Passaic County, New Jersey...
, which follows Goffle BrookGoffle BrookGoffle Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south through a section of Passaic County and Bergen County in New Jersey and drains the eastern side of the First Watchung Mountain...
through most of the neighboring borough of HawthorneHawthorne, New JerseyHawthorne is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,218.Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park,...