IMPORTANT ALERT - All Middlesex County Parks and Open Spaces are open from sunrise to sunset with strict social distancing requirements. Pursuant to Executive Order 204, effective Monday, December 7, 2020 until further notice, the gathering limit for all outdoor activities is limited to 25 individuals. The Parks Administration Building is closed to the public until further notice. Park visitors are to practice social distancing and are strongly encouraged to wear a mask while enjoying our parks and open spaces.
***2021 PICNIC RESERVATIONS - UPDATE***
February 11, 2021
In light of the ongoing Covid-19 concerns and Executive Orders currently in place by Governor Murphy, the opening day of reservations is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 1, 2021. Information regarding our NEW ELECTRONIC RESERVATIONS PROCESS will be on our website in mid-March. If you have any questions, please visit the
picnic reservation page or call our reservation office at 732-745-3900.
The Helmetta Pond Paddling Trail is a self-guided, interpretive tour of Helmetta Pond, part of the
Jamesburg Park Conservation Area, located in Helmetta, NJ. Paddlers can put their canoes or kayaks into the pond at the boat launch located off Maple Street in Helmetta. Paddlers should look for a series of numbered signs, located clockwise around the pond. Those numbers correspond to the interpretive information found in the guide. Users will learn more about the plants and animals that live in the area, the special habitats found nearby and the historic past of the pond and nearby industry.
Click here to download the printable Trail Guide.
Portable restrooms, picnic tables, a fishing pier, and a children’s playground are also avail be near the boat launch.
Paddlers should plan for the weather conditions and wear appropriate clothing. They should bring safety gear and know how to use it. A Life Jacket (PFD--personal flotation device) only works when you are wearing it. Paddlers should carry waterproof emergency ID, contact information and a fully charged cell phone in a dry bag. Be sure to inform someone of your travel plans.
Paddlers should respect private property, fellow boaters and wildlife. Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation and
NJ Fish and Game rules and regulations are in effect.