Monmouth Co. Considering Kayak/Canoe Rentals At Swimming River Park

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Monmouth County Parks System is strongly considering having a boat rental service — renting either kayaks or canoes to the public — at Swimming River Park once the park fully reopens in the next few years.

This was revealed in mid-February by Monmouth County Commissioner Ross Licitra, who is the parks liaison for the county board of commissioners.

Middletown's Swimming River Park, located next to the reservoir, has been under construction and closed to the public for some time now.

However, the first phase of the park will be completed and open in the spring of 2023, he said. That means a boat and kayak launch will open this spring, as will a floating dock on which kids can sit and fish or crab. The paved perimeter walking trail will also open this spring.

He said it's too early to give an exact month when all that will open, but it will be sometime in spring/early summer 2023.

The boat rental will not come until the second and final phase of the park is completed; the second phase involves the county building a visitor center.

"We are looking into having a boat rental there, but it's really too early to say what kind of boats. And also we have to consider how to keep boaters safe from going out into the bay," said Licitra. "There will also definitely be a place to store your own personal kayaks. That's coming this spring."

"Who gets to store their kayaks there would be determined on a lottery system. There obviously will not be space for everyone in Monmouth County to store their kayak there," he said. "It's going to be a really busy park."

Here's what will be completed and open at the park this spring:

• A new boat ramp
• A floating dock on which the public can sit to crab and fish
• A paved walking trail around the reservoir
• A kayak launch area on the beach
• More parking spaces
• New bulkheading

The second phase of the project is the construction of a visitor center. That is currently in design and has not been funded by the county. It will not be completed for another two or three years, said Licitra.