Please be sure to pick up your child promptly at the end of the workshop each day. Plan to arrive a few minutes before the workshop lets out.

The workshop is 3 hours long each day of the program. If you want the specifics, Kids-in-the-Park goes from 9 am to 12 pm for a duration of two weeks, and Teens-in-the-Park goes from 1 pm to 4 pm for a duration of three weeks.

Yes! Please send your child in with a bottle of water and a snack each day. It will be hot outside, so it’s important to stay hydrated and energized!

You can order extra t-shirts while you are registering your child for the program. On the registration page, simply select the appropriate t-shirt size, and then enter the number of t-shirts you would like to purchase.

Comfortable clothes and sneakers are the perfect attire for this workshop. For safety reasons, no open-toed shoes such as flip-flops or sandals are to be worn.

We are only accepting payment by credit card at this time.

T-shirts will be handed out on the first day of each session.

Registration opens on April 22, and will remain open until July 1, or until the session is full.

All Kids and Teens-in-the-Park sessions take place at Warren Park Amphitheatre on Florida Grove Road in Woodbridge. 

At the end of each session, the musical will be performed onstage at Warren Park Amphitheatre.

Parks are open year-round sunrise to sunset unless otherwise posted.

Yes, At least one comfort station is open in each park at all times.

Yes, for more detailed information on locations and information, please visit the Fishing page.

The Middlesex County Youth Conservation Corps offers volunteer events throughout the year. They have also set up special projects for groups such as girl and boy scouts. Past projects have included trail work, tree planting, beach sweeps, and help with conservation and recreation efforts on Earth Day and National Trails Day. Get more information on the Conservation Corps on their webpage.

Yes, we welcome well-behaved dogs but please obey leash laws and clean up after your canine friends. You can also visit one of our two leash-free Dog Parks.

Only beer and wine are allowed in reserved picnic areas, by permit only. Beer/Wine permits must be purchased at the time of completing your picnic permit. Bottles and cans only. No alcohol is allowed to be consumed in any other park areas including sports fields.

County Parks and Open Space Areas are not suited for quads or other motorized vehicles.

Yes, Donaldson Park, in Highland Park, has a boat ramp and seasonal dock available to be used by permit. Davidson Mill Road Park, in South Brunswick, has a small ramp for use with canoes, kayaks, and electric motors. Thompson Park, in Monroe/Jamesburg, has a small ramp for use with canoes, kayaks, and electric motors.

Yes, there are many lovely sites in our parks that are suitable for a marriage ceremony. We reserve most gazebos in two-hour blocks for your wedding ceremony. Please visit the wedding page for more information.

Yes, we do allow rc boats in some of our lakes and ponds. Please review our policy.

To obtain a pass you will need to apply here

You will need: 

• Type of boat, length, and make of the craft
• The trailer, or transport number (T Number)
• Boat Registration Number (NJ Number)
• Payment and identification
• Upload proof of residency- can be a copy of a driver's license or a bill with your address

You need to purchase one pass per trailer, regardless of the number of watercrafts you own.

Payment can be made by credit card when applying here

To obtain a tennis pass you must apply online here

• Payment
• Upload proof of residency for each applicant
  • Proof of residency can be a copy of a driver's license or a bill with your address
• Proof of age for students or seniors ages 60+
  • Proof of age for a student can be a government ID or a school ID

Yes, but they will also need to have a pass if playing on lighted courts after 7 pm. Every person playing on a court after 7 pm must have a tennis pass.

No, loan or transfer of the pass will result in the loss of evening tennis/pickleball privileges.

Yes, your pass must be visible on you or your belongings while playing on any court after 7 pm.

No, court time is obtained on a first come, first served basis. When others are waiting, court times are limited: singles 1 hour, doubles 2 hours. Private instruction is prohibited. 

The tennis/pickleball season runs from January to the end of December, lights go on at sunset and go off at 10 pm.

You can search the availability of our picnic groves and make a request by visiting our Picnic Reservation page.

You can have picnics in the following parks. Follow the links for more detailed information on each park including facilities, a map, and directions: Donaldson in Highland Park, Fords in Woodbridge, Johnson in Piscataway, Medwick in Carteret, Merrill in Woodbridge, Roosevelt in Edison, Thompson in Monroe/Jamesburg, Warren in Woodbridge, and Alvin P. Williams in Sewaren.

Weekend and holiday reservations are from sunrise to sunset, but at least one person needs to be at the picnic area with the picnic permit by 10:30 am and remain there until the conclusion of your picnic. Weekday reservations are also from sunrise to sunset, but you state what time you would like the picnic to start.

Each standard size picnic tables holds approximately 8-10 people.

The use of personal grills is prohibited

April 12, 2025, through October 12, 2025.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Money Orders, and Checks. Checks and Money Orders can be mailed to Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation 1030 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Cash will not be accepted. Checks will not be accepted less than 2 weeks before your reservation.

Only beer and wine are allowed in reserved picnic areas, by permit only. Beer/Wine permits must be purchased at the time of completing your picnic permit. Bottles and cans only. No alcohol is allowed to be consumed in any other park areas including sports fields.

No, propane use is prohibited in all parks unless used by a certified Caterer with a permit. Please visit the Picnic page for specific insurance requirements and Fire Marshal application.

Yes, customers can bring additional tables and chairs. They must be set up within a reservable picnic area. Additional tables and chairs cannot be brought into the Open Groves.

Radios and Bluetooth Speakers are allowed in a picnic area. Please keep all music to an appropriate level so all other park visitors can enjoy the park's surroundings. Amplified Sound Systems are not allowed in any reserved picnic area or open grove area. Non-amplified speakers (Bluetooth) may not exceed a ranger of 70 to 90 dBs and shall not exceed a size of 10”L x 10”H. Amplified live music is not allowed in any of the parks. Please contact our reservation desk for any additional questions.

No, forced air rides/inflatables/bouncy house or game/entertainment trucks are prohibited in conjunction with any picnic permit.

The use of personal generators is prohibited. Generators are only allowed in conjunction with an insured Caterer with a valid picnic permit. Please inform the reservation desk staff and it will be indicated on your permit. County Fire Marshal application must also be applied for. 

No. Mechanical, motorized, and water-based rides are strictly prohibited.

No. Pony rides and live animal attractions of any kind are strictly prohibited.

Yes, but they cannot sell their product. Food/drink/products must be donated and a sign must be displayed with the following: “Not for Sale/Private Party.”

NO REFUNDS OF PICNIC FEES. Credits will be given if the permit holder cancels the reservation. Credits must be used within the current or following year's picnic season. Picnics must be cancelled or changed at least 3 business days prior to your original scheduled date. Rescheduling any picnic due to weather will only be possible for the current season. Reservations can only be changed one time.

Due to the popularity of weekend picnics, we are unable to give rain dates in advance for any picnics occurring on weekends or holidays. If your picnic is on a weekday (Monday through Friday) and does not fall on a holiday, we would be happy to give you a rain date when you book your picnic.

If it is a continuous rain that lasts the duration of the scheduled picnic/event.

Subject to availability, we may be able to reschedule your reservation for another date in the current picnic season. Rescheduling your picnic must be done at least 3 business days before your original picnic date. Your picnic can only be rescheduled (1) one time.

While there are picnic areas that do not require a permit as long as you have less than 100 people with no alcohol, these areas (which are marked “Open Grove”); fill up fast. Picnic Reservations can be made at the following link: https://parkreservations.co.middlesex.nj.us/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?display=detail&module=FR  Prices for picnic groves start at $43 for Middlesex County residents.

There are first come – first serve “Open Grove” areas in the following parks. Follow the links for more detailed information on each park including facilities, a map, and directions: (1) in Donaldson in Highland Park, (1) in Fords in Woodbridge, (2) in Johnson in Piscataway, (1) in Medwick in Carteret, (1) in Merrill in Woodbridge, (2) in Roosevelt in Edison, (2) in Thompson in Monroe/Jamesburg, (2) in Warren in Woodbridge, and (1) in Alvin P. Williams in Sewaren.

We will need the date you want a picnic, the park you would like to reserve, and the picnic grove you would ideally like to be in. We will also need your name (and Company/Organization name, if applicable), address, phone number, and the approximate number of people attending your event. Proof of Residency will be needed to verify the account.

Yes, of course! The parks are open for use by everyone, however fees are doubled for out of County residents. You can view the Fee Schedule to get the prices on picnic areas.

Requests for our 2025 picnic season are tentatively set to open Monday, February 3, 2025, at midnight with our electronic reservation system. Please visit our Picnic Reservation page to make a reservation.

Requests for 2025 Special Events can be submitted by completing the following form starting on December 1, 2024. https://powerforms.docusign.net/fb0ad8ae-2749-4853-a7fb-e11a7a4ab576?env=na3-eu1&acct=7ef1c973-e4d3-4208-8a1e-e50a0f3b87c7&accountId=7ef1c973-e4d3-4208-8a1e-e50a0f3b87c7

Requests can be made using our electronic reservation system. We allow one request per date.

A member of our staff will call you within 3 business days of making your request to answer any questions and to help you make payment.

You will need to create an account and upload your proof of residency into the documents section. Once your information is verified, payment can be made and the permit will be emailed to you to sign electronically. Please visit our Picnic Reservation page to make a reservation.

There are seven reservable picnic areas that have a covering or gazebo included in their picnic permit. These areas are Grove 1 and Grove 5 in Johnson Park, Grove 1 in Donaldson Park, Grove 1A and Grove 3C in Merrill Park, Grove 1 in Alvin P Williams Park, Grove 1 in Medwick Park, Grove 1A and 2B in Roosevelt Park, and Grove 1A and 4B in Thompson Park. All other gazebos are not to be used as picnic areas as they are public areas in which all park goers are welcome to use.

Our box office opens at 5:30 pm and that's when gates will be opened to let folks into the lawn area to put down their chairs. A lot of factors figure into how early the line begins to form, and how long it might get: the weather report, the day of the week, and the type of show. It is hard to generalize, but a blockbuster family musical such as Wizard of Oz, on a sunny Friday with no prediction of rain, will most likely find a line forming about 2:00 pm in the afternoon, often building to about 200 patrons by the time we open the gates. This is the first rush, and these early birds take up the first several rows. Then, over the next few hours until 8:00 pm, there will be flurries of activity. But please keep in mind we comfortably seat 2000, so there are still plenty of spaces. You do not have to show up this early. It is a rare occasion indeed for us to turn anyone away, and more often than not it is because there are no more parking spaces.

On a night where there is a chance of isolated thunderstorms (which is just about every night it seems), the line will form about 4:00 p.m. and will reach 100 or so by 5:30 pm. So plan accordingly, but keep in mind that there are great seats throughout the arena so no need to rush to be here by the gate opening at 5:30 pm.

Yes, we provide the lawn - you provide the seats! We have found that standard woven-plastic lawn chairs, or the resin one-piece chairs, or canvas chairs in carrying bags are acceptable as long as the back is no higher than 40". If you do arrive with a chair higher than 40" we will have to ask you to sit in the area to the side, referred to as "the berm". When you accommodate as many as we do, there is a need to be specific as to the type of chairs allowed. If your seats are too tall, then the people behind you won't be able to see; and if you bring a blanket or a seat that is too low, you won't be able to see. Below are examples of the types of acceptable chairs:

This is the magic question. We at the theater never wish to cancel and will wait until the last possible minute, but there are a number of factors to consider. Even a light mist can ruin sound and lighting equipment, as well as the musician's instruments. Heavy downpours are dangerous to fleeing patrons and actors who could slip on the wet stage. It takes approximately 45 minutes of clear skies to dry out equipment and set up the orchestra, so if time does not allow for that delay, we will have to cancel the show. Generally, if it is raining at 8:00 p.m., we will cancel. If it is drizzling before 8:00 p.m. but stops at 8:00 p.m., we'll move forward.

Bottom line - we simply cannot predict the weather. If you are concerned about the weather, it may be better to schedule your visit when clear skies are predicted.

We do not. As an outdoor theater, we need to wait until it is dark in order for our lighting to be effective.

Performances are every night at 8 pm, except Sunday. There are no Sunday shows.

No, tickets are sold on the day of the performance only, beginning at 5:30 pm, at which time you may buy your ticket(s) and place your lawn seat(s) in the seating area. You can then leave - after getting your hand stamped - and have dinner. We ask that you return before curtain time of 8:00 pm

It is located just a dozen or so yards from the theater. As you approach PIP from Grandview Avenue and Pine Drive, the Park Rangers will guide you where to park your car (parking is free) and you will then see the two paths that lead to the box office. (This is where patrons arriving early queue up.)

We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards at the Box Office. View our Box Office policies.

Yes, as long as you have a ticket for every chair, and can carry all those chairs. You cannot save spaces without placing down a chair.

Only service animals are allowed into the theater. 

Yes, there are picnic tables available. we ask all patrons to clean up the area after eating. We also have concession stands and Plays-in-the-Park is within walking distance from diners, pizzerias and the Menlo Park Mall. Alcohol is prohibited at the theater. There is a concession stand on premises.

Unfortunately, we cannot hold tickets.

Sometimes after a good soaking from summer rain, the parking area turns to mud and we have had cars get stuck. When possible, we will re-route you to enter at higher ground. Did you also know there is a paved parking area directly across from the theater?

On crowded nights it is important for us to maintain a flow of patrons getting safely in and out of the lawn area. By designating certain gates as entrances and others as exits, it makes this job easier. This gate set-up also helps us identify folks who have not yet purchased tickets and thus do not have rights to enter.

Absolutely. Just mention this to the Park Rangers who are directing traffic.

There are actually 4 sections for people with special needs - not only wheelchairs. Ample special needs seating is available down in front to the right and left of the center seating areas and in four smaller sections integrated throughout the center section. These sections are clearly marked by signage, green partitions, and blue paint. We no longer require reservations for our handicap seating, but patrons requiring assistance due to a disability are welcome to contact Amanda Sorrento at 732-584-2884. View more information about the Accessibility Services at Plays-in-the-Park.

Disability services include *Sign Language Interpretation, Audio Description, Open Captioning, Accessible Parking, and Barrier-free access to seating, rest rooms, box office, and parking areas. We also offer Large Print and Braille programs.

Should it rain during a performance, we may need to cancel the show for the safety of the audience, actors, technicians, and musicians. However, if you save your ticket stub, you may use it to attend any future summer performance up to a year later at no additional charge. You do not have to wait in the ticket buyer's line; There will be a special table set up where you can immediately exchange your stub for a new ticket on the night you decide to revisit us. The rain check line will open 3 minutes after the Box Office opens. There is only one chair allowed for each rain check ticket stub. Additional tickets cannot be purchased on the rain check line. The stub is only good for the summer shows. They are not valid for the children's musicals or "Joseph".

View official rainout dates.

Yes indeed! The regular admission price is $8; seniors 60 years of age and older are admitted for $5.

Our actors and backstage staff are all volunteers. We do not offer them complimentary tickets, but we do set aside 40 spaces on the lawn for cast and crew use.

This is where we monitor and control the sound. We moved it from the middle of the hill to provide more seating and to give us a better vantage point to work from. By the way, talking should be kept at a minimum at the top of the hill so that the engineers can hear properly.

Why in the world would you want to? You've missed part of the show and seating will be so limited! But yes, if you need to, be our guest.

On the house left side of the grassy knoll seating area there is a new, elevated grassy area, which is called a "berm". This area is designated for people without chairs, chairs that are too tall or too short, or folks with blankets.

Still have a question? Please call the theater at 732-548-2884, ext. 225

BOX OFFICE

https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/find-programs-and-resources/parks-and-recreation/plays-in-the-park/box-office-info

Our general rule of thumb is that if the field has no lights, no lines, and no fence, then it is good to go. If a field is freshly lined, it means that another group has a permit for the field - please do not use it. There is also a "first come - first serve" softball field with a new backstop in Roosevelt Park across from Plays in the Park. If you are unsure where you and your friends can play a pickup game, please contact our reservation desk at 732-745-3900.

The Office of Parks and Recreations does not run any youth leagues, we recommend contacting your local recreation department.

The Office of Parks and Recreation offers Adult Slow-Pitch Softball leagues each spring and fall with men’s, women’s, and co-ed leagues. Visit the Organized Sports page for more information.

You must complete a Sports Request form via DocuSign on our Sports reservation page. Insurance is required for all sports field reservations. Please visit the Sports page for more information.

The sports field season runs from early April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving depending on the weather.

For Spring Sports, it is due March 10^th. For Fall Sports, it is due August 10^th.

Our park supervisor will call the contact person on the permit directly if the field is not playable. If you are not the contact person, please contact your coach, athletic director, or league president.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Money Orders, and Checks. Checks and Money Orders can be mailed to Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation 1030 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Cash will not be accepted. Checks will not be accepted less than 2 weeks before your reservation.