Sea Girt Beach - Trenton Ave.
Sea Girt, NJ

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Featured Park:
Tatum Park
Middletown, NJ
Monmouth County Park System

Tatum Park
151 Red Hill Road 
144 Holland Road
Middletown, NJ 07748
732-671-6050 or 1987 - Ranger Station     
Park Brochure & Map 

Park opens at 7 a.m. 365 days a year.
Closing time is 5:30 p.m. through January 13; 6 p.m. January 14-February 8; and 6:30 p.m February 9-March 7.

Tatum Park has 366 acres of rolling hills, open fields and bird-filled woods, as well as two Activity Centers, a playground and miles of scenic trails, for area residents to enjoy. The park is named for the Tatum family, who donated 73 acres of property to the county in 1973.  Additional land was purchased with Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds and assistance from the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

Holland Activity Center

Located off Holland Road, this site is used for sports and fitness classes and other public programs. A meeting room (holds up to 50 people) is available for rental.

Red Hill Activity Center

Located off Red Hill Road, this building is often filled with the sound of voices. This center is a hub of activity for people of all ages and hosts numerous programs throughout the year. Near the Red Hill Activity Center, you'll find a playground at the edge of the woods. Youngsters can exercise and let off steam while parents watch them play in a natural setting. Picnic tables offer a relaxing place to lunch.

Heath Wing

In 1981, a special wing funded by the Heath family of Middletown was built to honor Mary and Clinton Heath. In 1885, Clinton Heath, a freed slave from North Carolina, became the first black farmer to settle in Middletown. The wing features a permanent display of memorabilia from the county’s early black community and hosts the annual African American History Celebration.
(pictured - Bertha Heath)

 History

In 1905, glass manufacturer Charles Tatum of New York City purchased land in Middletown as a summer home for his family, close to factories in nearby Keyport and Millville.  His company made laboratory glassware, bottles, decanters, paperweights and glass insulators. Some of these pieces are on display in the park’s Holland Activity Center, which used to be the family home.  It was Tatum’s daughter-in-law Genevieve who donated a portion of the family’s property to the county.

Trails
Walkers, runners, bicyclists and equestrians can watch the colors change each season on winding paths through stands of tulip trees, and red and chestnut oaks. Or, enjoy the quiet landscape on trails through beautiful fields and meadows. Cyclists and equestrians are restricted to the west side of the service road.  Old farm roads at the southwest end of the park are great for mountain bicycles.  Enter from Red Hill Road or Holland Road.  (6.3 miles of trails) 

Park Map with Trails (pdf) 

Directions

• RED HILL ACTIVITY CENTER
  Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Southbound, turn left onto Red Hill Rd.; Northbound, turn right onto Red Hill Rd. Take Red Hill Road to right at light onto Dwight Road. Dwight Road to left back onto Red Hill Road and follow Red Hill Road (1.5 miles) to Park entrance on left side.
• Southbound State Hwy 35 to Kings Hwy turn right. Follow Kings Hwy. to 1st traffic light (Red Hill Road). Turn right and follow up hill to Park entrance on right.
• Northbound State Hwy 35 to right at New Monmouth Road jughandle. New Monmouth Road and cross back over Hwy 35 to stop sign. Right at stop sign onto Kings Highway to 1st traffic light (Red Hill Road). Turn left and follow up hill to Park entrance on right.

• HOLLAND ACTIVITY CENTER
  Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Southbound, turn left onto Red Hill Road.; northbound, turn right onto Red Hill Road. Follow Red Hill Road thru light and name changes to Van Schoick Road.  Follow Van Schoick Rd. to Holland Rd., turn right. Follow to Park on right.
• State Hwy. 35 to South Laurel Ave. Southbound, turn right; northbound, use jughandle to make left turn. Follow South Laurel Ave. To Holland Rd., turn left. Follow to Park on right.