Village Park
Westminster Place, Cranbury, Cranbury Township, Middlesex County, NJ

Located on Brainerd Lake right in the town of Cranbury. Cranbury Brooks flows into the lake from the east. Cranbury Brook continues west onward to the Millstone River.

Directions:

New Jersey Turnpike south to exit 8A; right onto Forsgate Drive; left onto Route 130; exit for Route 535 (Main Street Cranbury); in Cranbury turn left onto Westminster Place (across from Westminster Cemetery); the park entrance is on the left at the turn in the bend right of Westminster Place.

History:

1907  --  dedication of the drinking fountain (provided by the Cranbury WCTU) at Brainerd Lake.  The fountain had 3 different drinking levels, for dogs, horses and humans.

They used to harvest ice from the Lake.  Conover's Ice House stored the ice.  The James Conover farm was at 1 South Main Street. 

turn of the 20th century  --  Brainerd Lake was the center for outings.  Uncovered boats could be rented for ten center per hour. 

(See Brennan, 1995)

Facilities:

three baseball fields; playground, basketball, tennis, gazebo by the lake, grass fields

Trails:

No trails in the park. But one can combine this hike with crossing Main Street by the bridge over Brainerd Lake and exploring West Property (3 North Main Street).

PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney, brief stop, 11/22/2003

Trees:
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Pseudoacacia acacia (black locust)
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
Quercus rubra (red oak)

Vines:
Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)

Herbs:
Phytolacca americana (pokeweed)
Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed)