Fun to explore and hike, but pubic access isn't easy.
by Mindy Block
Flanders County Park isn't an official name, but it best describes an area between the David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens Preserve and Maple Swamp County Park. Just south of the Flanders Firehouse, was protected as a critical resource area. Though it has several possible access points, none are appealing. What follows below is a quick review of the reasons why, and a call for action.
Flanders County Park isn't an official name, but it best describes an area between the David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens Preserve and Maple Swamp County Park. Just south of the Flanders Firehouse, was protected as a critical resource area. Though it has several possible access points, none are appealing. What follows below is a quick review of the reasons why, and a call for action.
Public Access Isn't Easy
To the west of the Flanders Firehouse is a narrow strip of public land, but not safe for a pull off. For years, we used to park at the Firehouse and walk in, but that's now locked and the fence we had once stepped over is repaired.
South on Pleasure Drive, you can pull off the road, either parking midway down (not at all visible as one drives by), or near the old boundary road.
West of the Firehouse, at the traffic light is Oak Street. Follow it down to Main Street, where both roads turn into a paper street near the SCWA pump house. The Main street access has been blocked by a white picket fence.
Phil Benvin and I found an alternative route, back tracking to evaluate it.
| There's a trail to take you around the SCWA building to avoid the white picket fence. From there, one could reasonably reach the Paumanok Path and eventually the LIGTC trail head. But we ran out of time. |  |
Call For Action
| Help us improve public access and look into a Paumanok Path connection. This is what Kenny Spadafora always talked about, as he was the first one to introduce me to Flanders County Park. It's a beautifully biodiverse area within the pine barrens. |  |
Contact us if interested in joining us on an our next outing. We'll be coordinating with Janet Hann, a trail maintenance crew leader for the Paumanok Path.
RSS Feed
