26 Mill Street, Medford, NJ
Phone: (609) 654-2512
www.medfordtownship.com/recreation.php
Township of Medford
From the parking area at Medford WMA, turn Left onto Ark Road. After 0.3 miles, turn Left at the “T” intersection onto Church Road. Take the first Right onto Route 541, Medford Mt. Holly Road. Go straight through the first traffic light at Route 70, and after 0.5 miles, turn Right on Union Street. After 0.3 miles turn Left onto Allen Avenue and make the first Right onto Gill Avenue, which brings you to the parking lot on the Left. DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST HIGHWAY: From the intersection of Route 70 and Route 206 at Red Lion traffic circle, continue on Route 70 West. After 4.5 miles turn Left onto Route 541/Main St. After 0.5 miles, turn Right on Union Street. After .3 miles, turn Left onto Allen Avenue and make the first Right onto Gill Avenue, which brings you to the parking area on the Left. Map
The park has many family-friendly features, including a pavilion, picnic area, play equipment, a restroom, basketball court and the Bunning baseball field.
There is an annual fishing derby in June for children up to 16 yrs. old. Register in advance or onsite for $5 per child. Prizes are awarded in a variety of categories. NJ fishing license required.
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| Hooded Merganser | Kevin Karlson |
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| | Medford Park is a hidden jewel in an otherwise busy suburban area. With a variety of playing fields and other infrastructure, there is something for everyone on this friendly neighborhood green. Throughout the seasons, there is a variety of wildlife and interesting flora. A couple of miles South of the park is the neighborhood of Medford Lakes, which is a great place to get lost on a leisurely drive with its winding, piney roads and multiple scenic lakes.
If kayaking is your fancy, there is the two-mile Medford Canoe Trail on the Southwest Branch of the Rancocas Creek. It begins in Medford Park (drive Right from the parking lot down to the launch) and ends at historic Kirby’s Mill. At normal water levels, it offers a relaxing one hour trip through a splendid greenery of native vegetation and surprisingly beautiful waters.
Woodpeckers like the Red-bellied, Northern Flicker and Downy are commonly seen amongst the giant sycamores and red oaks. Cheerful Dark-eyed Juncos overwinter here, sometimes gathering in flocks numbering 30 and 40 strong. Look for Fox Sparrows mixing with flocks of White-throated, Song and House Sparrows. Listen for the high-pitched seeee seeee seeee of Golden Crowned Kinglet mixing with Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice. If the pond is not frozen, look for Common Merganser, Canada Goose and Ring-billed Gull.
Spring: A sharp eye will note Scarlet Tanagers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Black-and-white Warblers, Cardinals, Eastern Towhees and Baltimore Orioles, all within a hundred or so yards from the parking area off Gill Road. The creek is stocked with trout in April. Even when the fishing action is slow, the insect, avian and floral life is more than enough to keep a budding or well-rounded naturalist’s attention. Beginning in late March and early April, spring peepers and other frogs can be heard near dusk and all day if it’s rainy or overcast. May and June are the best months for kayaking or canoeing.
A sharp eye will note Scarlet Tanagers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Black-and-white Warblers, Cardinals, Eastern Towhees and Baltimore Orioles, all within a hundred or so yards from the parking area off Gill Road. The creek is stocked with trout in April. Even when the fishing action is slow, the insect, avian and floral life is more than enough to keep a budding or well-rounded naturalist’s attention. Beginning in late March and early April, spring peepers and other frogs can be heard near dusk and all day if it’s rainy or overcast. May and June are the best months for kayaking or canoeing.
A mere 2 minute walk from the parking lot to the water’s edge will yield Red-bellied turtles, green frogs, and dragonflies such as common whitetails, slaty skimmers, black saddlebags, Eastern pondhawks and spangled skimmers. Walk a little farther to the little ditches and spungs and damselflies like the ebony jewelwing can be observed flitting around. Toward the bridge to the Right of the parking area, there is a large stand of wood nettle and its itch-curing counterpart, spotted jewelweed. Down just before the canoe launch and over the small bridge to a wetland peninsula, the beautiful lizard tail and swamp rose mallows can be found. Look for yellow stargrass, buttonbush and fringed loosestrife as well.
Multiple species of asters bloom in fall, along with hog peanut and smooth Solomon’s seal. Look for Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Hermit Thrushes and American Robins among fall migrants. Hooded Merganser, Mallard, Ring-necked and sometimes Ruddy Duck or Pied-billed Grebe can be found on the pond in November and December, before it ices over. Red-tailed, Coopers, and Sharp-shinned Hawks can be found overhead and perched in the tree lines.
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