For a borough that is small in size, Metuchen nevertheless offers an extensive range of recreational options including playgrounds, green spaces, trails, playing fields and courts, and nature parks. The borough’s recreation department organizes events throughout the year, a robust summer camp program, and is continually upgrading the numerous parks throughout the borough.
Private preserves, such Woodwild Park, provide bird watching and nature walk opportunities. The Municipal Pool offers a gated kiddie pool area, dining pavilion, outdoor volleyball court, changing rooms with showers, and movie and theme nights throughout the summer. The Edison-Metuchen Dog Park provides socialization opportunities within separate gated runs for large and small breeds.
The Metuchen Y is a mainstay of Metuchen’s recreational offerings. A supportive, nonprofit organization, it is dedicated to bringing quality programs and services to our community to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities through programs that develop values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility and serve all people, regardless of age, religion, gender, or financial means. The main Metuchen facility on High Street includes pools, fitness rooms, classrooms, and an indoor basketball court, plus a strong selection of enrichment programs.
The Middlesex Greenway, established on a long-closed a historic portion of Lehigh Valley rail corridor, bisects Metuchen east-west and serves as a pedestrian “superhighway” through the borough, with connections to Edison, the Dismal Swamp, and Woodbridge. Plans are underway to extend this picturesque open space resource even farther beyond its current 3.5 mile long, 42-acre boundaries. Accessible at entrances throughout the borough and at Trailhead Park, it is a 10-foot wide, paved trail suitable for walking, biking, and jogging. Running enthusiasts will find a number of 5Ks held here annually in Metuchen as well.
In addition to Metuchen’s many recreational and passive parks, the nearly 200-acre Roosevelt Park is just a short walk to the border with nearby Edison Township. This beautifully maintained county park offers trails, playgrounds, playing fields, and more within a setting of majestic trees and an eight-acre lake stocked for fishing by the State of New Jersey. Established in 1917, the park is the oldest in the Middlesex County Park System and is home to a number of important monuments and works of art. In addition, the park contains extensive picnic groves, an ice rink, and courts for basketball and tennis.
Center Street Park
(between Midland & West Chestnut)
Dismal Swamp
(nature preserve, foot of Liberty Street)
Edison-Metuchen Dog Park
(Whitman Avenue)
Greenway Park
(Middlesex Avenue & Memorial Parkway) and Greenway (3.5 mile linear park, see www.edisongreenways.org)
Hampton Park
(Middlesex Avenue & Volkmar Place)
Kentnor Street Park
(off Essex Avenue)
Memorial Park
(Memorial Parkway & Essex Avenue)
Myrtle/Charles Park
(foot of Myrtle Avenue, with parking lot accessed by East Walnut)
Oakland Park & Community Mural **
(Grove & Oakland Avenues)
Olmezer Park
(Main & Christol Streets)
Roosevelt Park
(Edison)
Tommy’s Pond
(Lake Avenue & Franklin Place)
Woodwild Park
(nature preserve, Middlesex Avenue)
**Oakland Park was renovated andreopened in 2017 to provide barrier free play to children with all abilities.