Turkey Swamp Park
Encyclopedia
Turkey Swamp Park is a 1,180-acre
(4.78 km²) park
located in Freehold Township, New Jersey
on the northern fringe of the Pine Barrens
. The chief attraction of this park is the 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) lake
suitable for bass
, bluegill
and catfish
fishing, as well as recreational canoeing
and paddle boat
ing.
The core of the park was purchased in 1963. Additional land was purchased in the 1970s and more recently to bring the park to its current configuration.
considering the park does not bear a swamp
, nor does it act as a habitat
for turkey
s. Although considering that the soil is rather sandy and the water table
lies slightly beneath the surface, this thus gives rise to swampy conditions at times when the surface topography
dips to the water line; hence the 'swamp' title. The 'turkey' prefix, however, was adapted from the town's previous name, Turkey. The town once known as Turkey is now known as the unincorporated area
of Adelphia
.
range, an array of playground
s, two soccer fields, and various picnic grounds. During the appropriate season, canoe
s, paddleboats, kayak
s, and rowboats may be rented. During the winter season, as the massive lake freezes over, ice-skating is available for park visitors. A significant section of the park is dedicated as a seasonal campground, complete with laundry facilities, hot-water bathrooms, and RV
electric & water hook-ups. It consists of 64 pull-through campsites that can accommodate both tent campers and travel trailers. Two wood "forest view" cabins are also available.
camping
. In the Outpost, drinking water, for example, must be carried in, although ground water from hand pump
-driven well
s are available in the general area.
Also, a pit toilet is available as there are no other relief facilities at the Outpost.
of Turkey Swamp Park includes pitch pine
, scrub oak
, white oak
, sweet gum, pepperbush, huckleberry
, blueberry
, etc.
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
(4.78 km²) park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
located in Freehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,...
on the northern fringe of the Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
. The chief attraction of this park is the 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
suitable for bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
and catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
fishing, as well as recreational canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and paddle boat
Pedalo
A paddle boat or "pedalo" is a form of waterborne transport, primarily for recreational use, powered through the use of pedals....
ing.
The core of the park was purchased in 1963. Additional land was purchased in the 1970s and more recently to bring the park to its current configuration.
Nomenclature
The title of the park may be considered a bit of a misnomerMisnomer
A misnomer is a term which suggests an interpretation that is known to be untrue. Such incorrect terms sometimes derive their names because of the form, action, or origin of the subject becoming named popularly or widely referenced—long before their true natures were known.- Sources of misnomers...
considering the park does not bear a swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
, nor does it act as a habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
for turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
s. Although considering that the soil is rather sandy and the water table
Water table
The water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
lies slightly beneath the surface, this thus gives rise to swampy conditions at times when the surface topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
dips to the water line; hence the 'swamp' title. The 'turkey' prefix, however, was adapted from the town's previous name, Turkey. The town once known as Turkey is now known as the unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of Adelphia
Adelphia, New Jersey
Adelphia is an unincorporated area located within Howell Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 07710.-Nomenclature:...
.
Park information
The park features 8 miles (12.9 km) of trails, an archeryArchery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
range, an array of playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
s, two soccer fields, and various picnic grounds. During the appropriate season, canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s, paddleboats, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s, and rowboats may be rented. During the winter season, as the massive lake freezes over, ice-skating is available for park visitors. A significant section of the park is dedicated as a seasonal campground, complete with laundry facilities, hot-water bathrooms, and RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
electric & water hook-ups. It consists of 64 pull-through campsites that can accommodate both tent campers and travel trailers. Two wood "forest view" cabins are also available.
Nomoco Activity Area
A more secluded area in the park, called the Nomoco Activity Area, is also available for use by groups interested in group activities. It consists of six sites each capable of accommodating groups of up to 40 people. One of the sites, called "the Outpost" is more secluded yet, requiring a hike through the woods of 1/4 mile to reach. This area is good for groups seeking wildernessWilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
. In the Outpost, drinking water, for example, must be carried in, although ground water from hand pump
Hand pump
Hand pumps are manually operated pumps; they use human power and mechanical advantage to move fluids or air from one place to another. They are widely used in every country in the world for a variety of industrial, marine, irrigation and leisure activities...
-driven well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s are available in the general area.
Also, a pit toilet is available as there are no other relief facilities at the Outpost.
Flora
The floraFlora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
of Turkey Swamp Park includes pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
, scrub oak
Scrub Oak
Scrub Oak is a general name for several species of small, shrubby oaks, including the following species:*California Scrub Oak *Leather Oak *Coastal Scrub Oak...
, white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
, sweet gum, pepperbush, huckleberry
Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a common name used in North America for several species of plants in two closely related genera in the family Ericaceae:* Vaccinium* GaylussaciaHuckleberry may also refer to:-Plants:...
, blueberry
Blueberry
Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
, etc.
Trails
- The orange-blazed trail, a 1 miles (1.6 km) long trail circumventing the lake.
- The red-blazed trail, a 1.75 miles (2.8 km) long trail which leads into the woodsy campingCampingCamping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
area. - The green-blazed, a 1 miles (1.6 km) trail leading to the lakefront area and bordering the red-blazed trail.
- The blue-blazed, a 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) trail which guides hikers to the boathouseBoathouseA boathouse is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats stored are rowing boats...
.