Clayton Park, a 450-acre Monmouth County Park System site in Upper Freehold Township, is expected to get a bit bigger.
During a meeting on Feb. 27 in Freehold Borough, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders authorized the acquisition of a 4-acre parcel at 273 Route 526, Upper Freehold, for a planned addition to Clayton Park.
The parcel is known as the Jenkin property and a formal offer of purchase in the amount of $400,000 has been accepted by the owners, according to a resolution. The offer is contingent upon a satisfactory title review and environmental review of the land.
The funds for the purchase are covered under the Monmouth County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, according to the resolution.
The purchase was recommended by the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners.
According to the Monmouth County Park System website, Clayton Park “is located amidst the rolling farmland of western Monmouth County … the property is known for stately stands of red and white oak, beech, ash and birch trees.
“In late 2015, the park system acquired the Imlaystown School on Davis Station Road. Once home to the offices of Drug Abuse Resistance Education New Jersey, the building is now called the Clayton Park Activity Center and allows the park system to offer a variety of programs in the park.
“The forested, hilly trails of Clayton Park have become a popular destination for hikers, equestrians and bicyclists. Enter from Emley’s Hill Road (6 miles of trails),” according to the website.
There is trail head parking at 161 Emley’s Hill Road. Parking for the Clayton Park Activity Center is at 202 Davis Station Road. The ranger station may be reached at 609-259-5794.
