Double Trouble Celebrates 60 Years As State Park

BERKELEY, NJ — A gem of the Pine Barrens, Double Trouble recently celebrated 60 years as one of New Jersey's state parks.

It was Nov. 27, 1964 when the Double Trouble Company (1909-1964) sold the 1,560-acre Double Trouble tract to the State of New Jersey through its Green Acres program, the state park shared on Facebook.

“The area is a chief watershed and Cedar Creek is the second largest river in Ocean County. This gives full control of the most valuable part of Cedar Creek,” was the primary justification given for the purchase.

There had been several failed attempts in the 1950s to sell the tract to developers, the state park said, and it had also been discussed as the location for Community Medical Center and Ocean County College.

Voters in Ocean County turned down purchasing the property to turn into a county park in 1963, and one year later, it became a state park.

“Thanks to the state's foresight and protection, Cedar Creek has remained one of the cleanest and healthiest rivers in the larger Barnegat Bay Watershed as Double Trouble State Park has expanded to well over 8,500 acres to continue this mission,” the state park said.