Thompson Park has many recreational offerings By Eileen Koutnik Thompson Park in Jamesburg/Monroe is the ideal place to play sports, take a walk, have a picnic, or visit with the animals. The Middlesex County Department of Parks and Recreation consists of 18 county parks encompassing 6,631 acres. Thirteen parks have active recreational facilities and the remaining five are conservation areas or are being held for future recreational development. The county is in the process of acquiring 7,000 acres of open space through the Open Space Trust Fund. In addition, an active farmland preservation program has preserved 2,500 acres. The largest developed park in the system is Thompson Park, located in Jamesburg and Monroe. Throughout the year, the park becomes a meeting place for friends and family. During the summer you can see children enjoying the park's three playgrounds. Often individuals who work in the area will head to the park for their lunch hour to catch some sun, nap in the shade or enjoy the park benches along the 30-acre Manalapan Lake. They might even have the chance to watch a family of geese glide along the lake. Thompson Park boasts four lighted tennis courts, four basketball courts, two handball courts and a softball field. There are also several soccer fields where youths and adults play in organized competition. There is a designated golf driving area in a grassy area of the park, and a popular sledding hill. Showgrounds for horses are located in the park, and attract equestrian competitors from around the state. The park has numerous trails that are ideal for cross country skiing, jogging, walking and hiking. In fact, the Greater Middlesex County high school cross country championships are held in the park each October. A little known fact about Thompson Park is the existence of a fresh water spring, where you can fill your own bottle to quench your thirst after a day of exercise. If you are planning a special celebration such as an engagement party, a family reunion or a graduation, Thompson Park boasts four picnic groves as possible sites. Call the Park System office for reservation information. If fishing is your pastime, cast your fishing rod into the lake and see if you get any nibbles. Not only is the park populated with many human visitors on any given day, but a number of animals call Thompson Park home. For more than 40 years, goats, deer, peacocks and other animals have thrived in the park's animal haven. Another special feature of Thompson Park is the outdoor concerts that are held in the gazebo in July and August. Guests can enjoy an array of musical performances on Wednesday afternoons from 2-3:30 p.m. On Aug. 20 the park will feature Just Us in concert, and on Aug. 27 music by Dixieland will be offered. For more information about Thompson Park, call (732) 745-3900.