Franklin Parker Preserve - Chatsworth, New Jersey - Public Access Lands on Waymarking.com

This waypoint takes users to the Speedwell location for access to this wonderful park. Hiking, birdwatching, and other activities are very popular here.


The following was taken from wikipedia (visit link) :
Franklin Parker Preserve is an 11,379 acre natural preserve located in the Pine Barrens in Chatsworth, New Jersey. The preserve links Brendan Byrne, Wharton, and Penn State Forests. Franklin Parker Preserve is owned and managed by New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

Description
Geography is typical of the Pine Barrens with sandy roads, pitch pines, cedar swamps, blueberry fields and tributaries of the Wading River. The 53 mile Batona Trail runs through parts of the preserve and the preserve provides habitat for rare, threatened or endangered species including bobcats, bald eagles, barred owls, northern pine snakes and pine barrens tree frogs. The area also serves as a filter for rainwater that makes its way into the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer.

History
Franklin Parker Preserve was a former cranberry farm that was once the third largest cranberry producer in the US. The farm was owned by Garfield DeMarco, an influential Burlington County Republican Chairman. He frequently opposed many of the pineland's preservation regulations but he decided to sell the land at a significant discount versus the lands estimated value in order to preserve it. The land was purchased by New Jersey Conservation Foundation in 2003 after they were able to raise the funds for preservation. After securing additional adjacent tracts of land from private owners in 2015 and 2016 the total acreage of the preserve is now 11,379. The preserve is named after Franklin E. Parker III, the first chairman of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.

Location and parking
Located in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the preserve has two entrances, each with a sandy parking lot. The Chatsworth Lake entrance is the northernmost access (1450 County Road 532, Chatsworth, NJ 08019) and the Speedwell entrance is the southernmost access (3705 County Road 563, Chatsworth, NJ 08019).

There are portable toilets located at or near both parking locations. Chatsworth location is about a five-minute walk down the trail.

Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): 11379 acres Is there a trail system?: Yes What points of interest are there?: pine barrens, cedar swamps, blueberry fields, etc What activities are available?: hiking, bird watching, nature Hours of accessibility?: sun up - sun down List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.): Timber Rattlesnakes Dogs Allowed?: Yes Is a permit/fee required?: No Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link] If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.: Not listed If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!

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