| Holmdel Park | |
| Alt Name: | Holmdel Arboretum, Longstreet Farm |
| Photo Width: | 250 |
| Type: | Suburban park |
| Location: | Monmouth County in New Jersey |
| Area: | 664acres |
| Created: | 1962 |
| Operator: | Monmouth County Park System |
| Visitation Num: | 1,096,379 (2021) |
| Status: | Open |
| Open: | Open daily from 7am until dusk |
| Website: | Holmdel Park - Monmouth County Park System |
Holmdel Park is located in Holmdel Township, New Jersey and is part of the Monmouth County Park System. The initial park land was established in 1962, with an additional 227acressection added in 2001.[1] Holmdel Park is also the home of the Holmdel Arboretum; aka David C.Shaw Arboretum and the Longstreet Farm, a living history farm set in the 1890s.[2] [3] The park is a popular destination for local elementary school trips and cross-country runners.
In August 2017 it was announced that a further 71acres was being donated.[4] In 2018, it obtained an additional 52 acres of land.[5]
The park's recreational offerings include fishing (with permit),[1] individual and grouppicnic areas, tennis courts, playgrounds and 10 miles of hiking trails. Ice skatingand sledding are permitted when conditions are deemed safe.[2]
The park contains four distinct visitor areas, each with its own parking; three are accessedvia the main park entrance while the fourth is located at the activity center further northon Longstreet Road.
The Pond View area provides access to the arboretum,Historic Longstreet Farm, Upper and Lower ponds and the shelter building; the shelter building also housesa seasonal concession. The Forest Ridge area provides access to group picnic areas, trailsand activity fields; the Forest Ridge parking lot also acts as an overflow lotfor the Pond View area. The Hill Top area as the name implies is located at thetop of a fairly steep hill; this area provides parking for the parks tennis courts as wellas access to additional trails. The Activity Center provides indoor facilities for scheduled county sponsored activities.[6]
See also: Longstreet Farm. Historic Longstreet Farm is a living history farm that recreates agricultural life of the 1890s. Interpreters dress in period clothing and perform typical year round farming and domestic activities, including seasonal planting and harvesting of crops and raising livestock. The farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Holmes-Hendrickson House located on the farm.[7] The farm was purchased by the Monmouth County Park System in 1967 to preserve the county's rural past. The farm opened to the public in 1972 as Historic Longstreet Farm.[2]
Historic Longstreet Farm is a fairly complete example of a typical nineteenth-century farm created by Dutch settlers in New Jersey. The farmstead consists of a 14-room Federal-style farmhouse, a Dutch barn, and a collection of nineteenth-century farm outbuildings.[8]
Historic Longstreet Farm is open daily year round, free of charge.
The David C. Shaw Arboretum is a 20acres horticultural display created by the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission.[1] The arboretum was created in 1963 and is named for a former superintendent.[2] The arboretum initially started with 87 trees but now boasts nearly 3000 specimens.[9]
The park hosts a dozen trails of varying lengths and difficulties.
The Homestead and Fern trails provide short (0.25 mile (0.4 km)) connections between the above two trails