Voorhees State Park
Encyclopedia
Voorhees State Park is a state park
in the U.S. state
of New Jersey
. It is 1400 acres (5.67 km²) in area and is located in Glen Gardner Borough
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
.
Voorhees State Park began when Foster M. Voorhees, a former governor of New Jersey, donated his 325 acres (1.3 km²) farm to the people of New Jersey in 1929. Succeeding land acquisitions increased the park size to 640 acres (2.6 km²).
During the Great Depression
in the 1930s, the park served as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC), which planted trees and constructed shelters and trails throughout the park. The park offers views of Round Valley Reservoir
and Spruce Run Reservoir. Camping
is allowed in the park for a fee, depending on the type of campsite. There are 47 tent and trailer campsites. There are 2 group campsites that can accommodate up to 50 people each. There also are 3 rustic, cabin-like structures with wood stoves for heat. Each cabin can accommodate up to 4 people in 2 double-deck single bunk beds. All sites and cabins have fire rings and picnic tables. Toilets and showers are within walking distance from the all campsites and cabins. The trailer sanitary station is open April 1 through October 31. Campsites and cabins are open all year.
In 1965, the New Jersey Astronomical Association built an observatory
on land leased from the state. The observatory features a 26-in (66 cm) Newtonian
reflecting telescope
and offers public sky-watch programs.
Voorhees State Park is across the street (County Route 513
) from Voorhees High School
; also named after Foster M. Voorhees.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. It is 1400 acres (5.67 km²) in area and is located in Glen Gardner Borough
Glen Gardner, New Jersey
Glen Gardner is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. At the time of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,704....
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
.
Voorhees State Park began when Foster M. Voorhees, a former governor of New Jersey, donated his 325 acres (1.3 km²) farm to the people of New Jersey in 1929. Succeeding land acquisitions increased the park size to 640 acres (2.6 km²).
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
in the 1930s, the park served as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
(CCC), which planted trees and constructed shelters and trails throughout the park. The park offers views of Round Valley Reservoir
Round Valley Reservoir
The Round Valley Reservoir in Clinton Township of the U.S. state of New Jersey was formed in 1960 when the New Jersey Water Authority constructed two large dams and flooded a large valley in the state's Hunterdon County. The reservoir is named after the naturally formed circular valley surrounded...
and Spruce Run Reservoir. Camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
is allowed in the park for a fee, depending on the type of campsite. There are 47 tent and trailer campsites. There are 2 group campsites that can accommodate up to 50 people each. There also are 3 rustic, cabin-like structures with wood stoves for heat. Each cabin can accommodate up to 4 people in 2 double-deck single bunk beds. All sites and cabins have fire rings and picnic tables. Toilets and showers are within walking distance from the all campsites and cabins. The trailer sanitary station is open April 1 through October 31. Campsites and cabins are open all year.
In 1965, the New Jersey Astronomical Association built an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
on land leased from the state. The observatory features a 26-in (66 cm) Newtonian
Newtonian telescope
The Newtonian telescope is a type of reflecting telescope invented by the British scientist Sir Isaac Newton , using a concave primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Newton’s first reflecting telescope was completed in 1668 and is the earliest known functional reflecting telescope...
reflecting telescope
Reflecting telescope
A reflecting telescope is an optical telescope which uses a single or combination of curved mirrors that reflect light and form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered from...
and offers public sky-watch programs.
Voorhees State Park is across the street (County Route 513
County Route 513 (New Jersey)
County Route 513 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Kingwood Avenue in Frenchtown to Lakeside Road in West Milford...
) from Voorhees High School
Voorhees High School
Voorhees High School is a four-year public high school located in Lebanon Township, New Jersey. The school is named after Foster MacGowan Voorhees, the 30th Governor of New Jersey. It is one of two high schools in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, serving students from six...
; also named after Foster M. Voorhees.