Editing Woodbridge Township, New Jersey (section)

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Tidal creek Woodbridge Marsh 2008.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Woodbridge River in Woodbridge Township, 2008]]
[[File:Heards Brook, Woodbridge, NJ.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Heards Brook in Woodbridge Township]]

In the center of Woodbridge [[Heards Brook]] passes through Heards Brook Park. Described as "the most preferred tourist attraction in Woodbridge," it has a wooded area, [[picnic]] tables, tree-lined stone pathways, basketball courts and "stunning views of the brook."<ref>[https://trip101.com/article/things-to-do-in-woodbridge-nj Top 20 Things To Do In Woodbridge Township, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201101854/https://trip101.com/article/things-to-do-in-woodbridge-nj |date=February 1, 2023 }}, Trip101.com, October 27, 2020. Accessed January 23, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.courtsoftheworld.com/united-states/woodbridge-nj/heards-brook-park/ Woodbridge, NJ Basketball Court: Heards Brook Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116091430/https://www.courtsoftheworld.com/united-states/woodbridge-nj/heards-brook-park/ |date=January 16, 2020 }}, Courts of the World|. Accessed January 23, 2022.</ref> The [[Rutgers University]] floodplain plan is to integrate smaller areas of park land in the eastern portion of Heards Brook into the larger area of open spaces with a [[bioswale]].<ref>[http://sj-site-persistent-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/fileadmin/cicbase/documents/2018/5/30/15277083813378.pdf "Woodbridge Township Open Space and Flood Plain Restoration Plan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116063619/http://sj-site-persistent-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/fileadmin/cicbase/documents/2018/5/30/15277083813378.pdf |date=January 16, 2020 }}, [[Rutgers University|Rutgers Cooperative Extension]], January 29, 2016. Accessed January 23, 2022.</ref>

In 2013, the Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve was dedicated; the Preserve occupies {{convert|67|acres}} along the [[Woodbridge River]] and has restored the river and adjacent land as a [[nature preserve]]. Activities include hiking, boating, bird watching, and picnicking.<ref>[https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/new-jersey-celebrating-revived-marsh-and-man-who-made-it-possible.html In New Jersey, Celebrating a Revived Marsh and the Man who Made it Possible] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116060107/https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/new-jersey-celebrating-revived-marsh-and-man-who-made-it-possible.html |date=January 16, 2020 }}, [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] [[Office of Response and Restoration]], November 22, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2021. ""</ref> Many bird species have been observed along the river, particularly at the Oros Preserve. Bird sightings include wading birds ([[great blue heron]]s and [[great egret]]s), the [[bald eagle]], [[belted kingfisher]]s and [[Canada goose]]. Eight mammal species have been noted, including raccoon and red fox; nine fish species have been identified, including the [[American eel]]. The Preserve has been called "an important hot spot in an otherwise highly developed area."<ref>Kerwin, Kathleen; and Maslo, Brooke. [https://wildlife.rutgers.edu/docs/BioBlitz_Report.pdf ''Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve BioBlitz 2017 Report''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920195238/https://wildlife.rutgers.edu/docs/BioBlitz_Report.pdf |date=September 20, 2020 }}, [[Rutgers University]] School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, June 21, 2017. Accessed April 18, 2021.</ref> Within the preserve is the Butterfly Garden.<ref>[http://twp.woodbridge.nj.us/816/Butterfly-Garden Butterfly Garden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218232321/http://twp.woodbridge.nj.us/816/Butterfly-Garden |date=February 18, 2020 }}, Woodbridge Township. Accessed April 18, 2021.</ref> Downstream and north of Port Reading Avenue is Woodbridge River Park. It covers {{convert|40|acres}}, and has been described as "loaded with channels, [[backwater (river)|backwaters]], [[meander|oxbows]] and suitable for canoes."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Middlesex County Fishing and Floating Guidebook|last=MacCracken|first=Jim|publisher=Recreation Guides|location=Bremen, Ohio}}</ref>

The [[Middlesex Greenway (New Jersey)|Middlesex Greenway]] is a {{convert|3.5|mi|adj=on}} long [[rail trail]], a former [[Lehigh Valley Railroad]] [[rail line]] between [[Metuchen, New Jersey|Metuchen]] and Woodbridge. It makes up a portion of the [[East Coast Greenway]].

Merrill Park is a {{convert|179|acres}} park along the [[bank (geography)|banks]] of the [[South Branch Rahway River]], fully renovated in 2013. It has sports facilities, playgrounds, [[bike path]]s and [[walkway]]s.<ref>Bradshaw, Jennifer. [https://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/reconstructed-merrill-park-reopens "Reconstructed Merrill Park Reopens New paths for walking and biking, 185 new trees and shrubs and bridges connecting main areas of Merrill Park have been put in."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215182532/https://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/reconstructed-merrill-park-reopens |date=February 15, 2020 }}, Woodbridge, NJ Patch, October 22, 2013. Accessed March 9, 2020.</ref>

[[James Parker (publisher)|James Parker]] founded the first printing press in New Jersey in 1751; his building has been restored with an old working printing press. It is located in Parker Press Park, Woodbridge Proper; the park has concert series in the summer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amusements-parks.com/New_Jersey/Woodbridge/Parker_Press_Park|title=Park "Parker Press Park", reviews and photos, 400 Rahway Ave, Woodbridge, NJ 07095, USA|website=amusements-parks.com|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218180341/http://amusements-parks.com/New_Jersey/Woodbridge/Parker_Press_Park|url-status=live}}</ref>

Woodbridge Community Center has a gym, miniature golf course, batting cages, a pool, community rooms, a playground, and also has "The Arenas", which have a roller skating rink with arcade and an ice skating rink.<ref>{{cite web|title=Woodbridge Community Center|url=https://rinkatlas.com/rinks/59|website=RinkAtlas|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://www.njwcc.com/ Home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831104931/http://www.njwcc.com/ |date=August 31, 2014 }}, Woodbridge Community Center. Accessed August 7, 2014.</ref>
 
[[Joe Medwick|Joseph Medwick]] Park is a [[Middlesex County, New Jersey#County parks|Middlesex County Park]], shared with Carteret, along banks of the [[Rahway River]].<ref>[http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/About/ParksRecreation/Pages/PR/Joseph-Medwick-Park.aspx Joseph Medwick Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127190424/http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/About/ParksRecreation/Pages/PR/Joseph-Medwick-Park.aspx |date=January 27, 2020 }}, [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]]. Accessed March 9, 2020.</ref> It is part of the Rahway River Greenway Plan.<ref>[https://rahwayriver.org/images/RRAGreenwayPlan.pdf Rahway River Greenway Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930004919/https://rahwayriver.org/images/RRAGreenwayPlan.pdf |date=September 30, 2020 }}, Rahway River Watershed Association, February 2009. Accessed March 9, 2020.</ref>