Editing Marlboro Township, New Jersey (section)

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:HenryHudsonTrailMarlboroRails.jpg|thumb|left|[[Henry Hudson Trail]] traversing Marlboro]]
Marlboro has a township-sponsored recreation program, with activities for all ages including active [[football (soccer)|soccer]] and [[basketball]]<ref>[http://www.marlborobasketball.com/ Marlboro Basketball Association]. Accessed September 9, 2008.</ref> leagues for boys and girls; in addition [[Little League]] [[baseball]] / [[softball]] and [[Pop Warner Little Scholars|Pop Warner]] [[American football|football]] / [[cheerleading]], and a growing amateur wrestling program.

In the summer, the township holds free outdoor concerts by notable popular music artists. In recent years performers have included [[Jay and the Americans]], [[Bill Haley and the Comets|Bill Haley's Comets]], [[Lesley Gore]], [[Little Anthony & The Imperials]], [[Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge]], [[The Platters]], [[The Trammps]], and [[The Tokens]].

In 2007, Marlboro introduced monthly indoor concerts at the recreation center. These shows feature many upcoming artists as well as local talent. Artists have included Marlboro's own [[Bedlight for Blue Eyes]] and [[Sound the Alarm (band)|Sound the Alarm]].

Marlboro is also home to the Marlboro Players, a private theater group that holds open auditions for background roles. Formed in 1975, the group presented its first performance, ''[[Don't Drink the Water (play)|Don't Drink the Water]]'', in the following spring.<ref>[http://marlboroplayers.com/pb/wp_d9370644/wp_d9370644.html About Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016194804/http://www.marlboroplayers.com/pb/wp_d9370644/wp_d9370644.html |date=2012-10-16 }}, Marlboro Players. Accessed December 5, 2012. "Marlboro Players was formed in 1975 mainly through the efforts of Sharon Mack who was a theatrical director and lived in town."</ref>

For walkers and bicyclists, two segments of the [[Henry Hudson Trail]] have substantial stretches within the township.<ref>[http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2525 Henry Hudson Trail], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]] Park System. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref>

===General parks===
The Recreation Commission maintains several parks and facilities for public use. However, some ball fields require permits for usage. The following is a list of recreation facilities:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Features of Marlboro Parks<ref>[https://www.marlboro-nj.gov/play/parks-facilities Parks and Facilities], Township of Marlboro. Accessed January 29, 2025.</ref>
|-
! Park Name !! Soccer !! Hockey !! Tennis !! Handball !! Tot-Lot !! Basketball !! Ball Field !! Sitting Area !! Open Field !! class="unsortable" | Notes !! Map
|-
| Marlboro Country Park         ||   ||   || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||   || Swim Club – Membership Required || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=gordon+corner+rd,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.355326,-74.294229&sspn=0.001447,0.002406&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Gordon+Corner+Rd,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07751&ll=40.336837,-74.280796&spn=0.002895,0.004812&t=h&z=18 Link]
|-
| Hawkins Road Park             ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||  || {{center|X}} ||  {{center|X}} || || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hawkins+Road,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.384564,-74.268731&sspn=0.001446,0.002406&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hawkins+Rd,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey&ll=40.341065,-74.319929&spn=0.002895,0.004812&t=h&z=18 Link]
|-
| Falson Park                   ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   || {{center|X}} ||   ||   ||   ||  {{center|X}} ||  Walking Path Available || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=falson+lane,+marlboro,nj&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.38984,53.085938&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Falson+Ln,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07751&ll=40.384564,-74.268731&spn=0.001446,0.002406&t=h&z=19 Link]
|-
| Wicker Place Park             ||   ||   ||   ||   || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||   || {{center|X}} ||    ||   || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=texas+road,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.326131,-74.268447&sspn=0.005791,0.009624&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Texas+Rd,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey&ll=40.367555,-74.293971&spn=0.001447,0.002406&t=h&z=19 Link]
|-
| Marlin Estates Park           ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||   ||    ||   || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=East+Francis+Ave,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.316017,-74.225387&sspn=0.002896,0.004812&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=E+Francis+Ave,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07751&ll=40.355326,-74.294229&spn=0.001447,0.002406&t=h&z=19 Link]
|-
| Nolan Road Park               ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||   ||    || Tennis court is out of service and blocked off  || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=nolan+road,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.38986,-74.250391&sspn=0.005786,0.009624&ie=UTF8&cd=1&hq=&hnear=Nolan+Rd,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07751&ll=40.38729,-74.23309&spn=0.002893,0.004812&t=h&z=18 Link]
|-
| Municipal Complex             || {{center|X}} ||   ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   || {{center|X}} ||   ||  {{center|X}} ||  Shuffle Board, Walking Path, and shelter building  || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Wyncrest+Road,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.334678,-74.278715&sspn=0.002895,0.004812&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Wyncrest+Rd,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey&ll=40.326131,-74.268447&spn=0.005791,0.009624&t=h&z=17 Link]
|-
| Defino Central School         || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||    ||  ||
|-
| Robertsville School           ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||    ||   ||
|-
| Recreation Way Park           ||   || {{center|X}} ||   ||   || {{center|X}} || {{center|X}} ||   ||   ||    ||   || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Wyncrest+Road,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.334678,-74.278715&sspn=0.002895,0.004812&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Wyncrest+Rd,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey&ll=40.328638,-74.264891&spn=0.002895,0.004812&t=h&z=18 Link]
|-
| Union Hill Recreation Complex ||   ||   ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   ||  {{center|X}} ||  ||    ||  Walking Paths  || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=union+hill,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.38729,-74.23309&sspn=0.002893,0.004812&ie=UTF8&hq=union+hill,&hnear=Marlboro+Township,+NJ&ll=40.342901,-74.301916&spn=0.002895,0.004812&t=h&z=18 Link]
|-
| Vanderburg Sports Complex     || {{center|X}} ||   ||   ||   || {{center|X}} ||   ||  || {{center|X}} ||  {{center|X}} ||  Aquatic Center – Membership Required|| [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=vanderburg+road,+marlboro,nj&sll=40.342901,-74.301916&sspn=0.002895,0.004812&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Vanderburg+Rd,+Marlboro+Township,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07746&ll=40.315579,-74.224126&spn=0.002896,0.004812&t=h&z=18 Link]
|-
| Brandigon Trail<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article_archives.pl?id=1367 McGreevey Presents Marlboro with $400,000 for Open Space Preservation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018122413/http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article_archives.pl?id=1367 |date=2012-10-18 }}</ref>    ||   ||   ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||    || Part of [[Henry Hudson Trail]] – about 20.27 Acres<ref>[http://www.marlboro-nj.gov/TC_minutes042403.pdf Legislative Minutes Marlboro Township Council Meeting April 24, 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721045935/http://www.marlboro-nj.gov/TC_minutes042403.pdf |date=July 21, 2011 }}, Township of Marlboro. Accessed September 29, 2015.</ref> || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=brown+road,+marlboro+nj+&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.644639,78.837891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Brown+Rd,+Morganville,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07751&ll=40.370613,-74.251914&spn=0.006,0.009624&t=h&z=17 Link]
|-
| Big Brook Park<ref>[http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.asp?agency=130&Id=2549 Big Brook Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104191244/http://monmouthcountyparks.com/page.asp?agency=130&Id=2549 |date=January 4, 2010 }}, Monmouth County Park System. Accessed September 29, 2015.</ref>    ||   ||   ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||    || A major site for fossils from the Cretaceous and Pleistocene ages<ref>[http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionIBBA/IBBASiteGuide.aspx?sk=3145 Big Brook Park Region Grasslands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923062227/http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionIBBA/IBBASiteGuide.aspx?sk=3145 |date=2017-09-23 }}, New Jersey Audubon. Accessed September 29, 2015.</ref> <br> See contaminated sites and hunting below || [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=22+School+Road+East,+P.O.+Box+203,+Marlboro,+New+Jersey+07746&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.50801,113.818359&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=22+School+Rd+E,+Marlboro+Township,+Monmouth,+New+Jersey+07746&ll=40.328438,-74.227881&spn=0.011483,0.027788&t=h&z=16 Link]
|}

===Dog parks===
Marlboro has an off-leash dog park located at the township municipal complex off Wyncrest Road, located on Recreation Way.<ref>[http://www.marlboro-nj.gov/dog_park_rules.html Dog Park Rules] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414070901/http://www.marlboro-nj.gov/dog_park_rules.html |date=April 14, 2010 }}, Marlboro Township. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref>

===Fossil collecting===
Open to the public, Big Brook transects the border of Colts Neck and Marlboro, New Jersey. The stream cuts through sediments that were deposited during the [[Late Cretaceous]] period. Reportedly, prolific finds of fossils, such as shark teeth, and other deposits of [[Cretaceous]] marine fossils, including [[Belemnitida|belemnites]] are frequently found.<ref>Yoost, Derek. [http://www.njfossils.net/cover.html Big Brook Identification Page], Njfossils.net. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> This is a particularly fossiliferous site, with finds including fish teeth, crab and crustacean claws, shark teeth, rarely dinosaur teeth, dinosaur bone fragments (and on a very rare occasion a complete bone), megalodonyx (prehistoric sloth) teeth and bone fragments.<ref>[http://www.fossilsites.com/STATES/NJ.HTM US And Canadian Fossil Sites -- Data for New Jersey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415140618/http://www.fossilsites.com/STATES/NJ.HTM |date=2010-04-15 }}, Fossilsites.com. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> The area is regarded as one of the top three dinosaur fossil sites in the state. Multiple dinosaur finds have been found in this area.<ref>Morton, Rebecca. [https://www1.gmnews.com/2008/05/21/discovery-day-opens-window-on-prehistory/ "Discovery Day opens window on prehistory"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525214242/https://www1.gmnews.com/2008/05/21/discovery-day-opens-window-on-prehistory/ |date=May 25, 2022 }}, ''News Transcript'', May 21, 2008. Accessed January 20, 2018. "Creatures 80 million years old still remain in Marlboro, although most of them remain hidden to the naked eye. Residents were recently able to take a close look at the fossils of these extinct creatures, which are still being discovered around town. "</ref> In 2009, a leg section from a [[Hadrosaurid|duckbilled dinosaur]] called a [[hadrosaur]] was found.<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/marlboro_dentist_finds_dinosau.html "Marlboro dentist finds dinosaur bone in stream"], [[NJ.com]], February 25, 2009. Accessed September 14, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.njfossils.net/new.html New Stuff that's being found In the Area!], Njfossils.net. Accessed June 12, 2015.</ref> The first dinosaur discovery in North America was made in 1858 in this area.<ref>[http://www.fossilguy.com/sites/bbrook/ Big Brook, NJ], Fossilguy.com. Accessed June 12, 2015.</ref> Several bones from a [[Mastodon]] were found in 2009 by an individual fossil hunting.<ref>{{webarchive |date=Jul 25, 2011 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725021458/http://www.asnj.org/n-0109.pdf}}</ref> The deposits of marl which gave the township its name have played a major role in preserving the fossils found in the area.<ref>Hays, Constance L. [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/02/nyregion/golden-oldies.html "Golden Oldies"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 2, 1997. Accessed August 11, 2014. "Much of the credit for New Jersey's dinosaur fossil finds goes to the vast deposits of marl around the state, Dr. Gallagher said. Marl, for which towns like Marlton and Marlboro are named, is a greenish sand that was prized by farmers for its fertilizing capability and now is sought after as a water softener."</ref> The fossil beds can be accessed from the bridge on Monmouth Road in Marlboro.<ref>[http://www.njesta.org/fossilsites.html Fossil Sites in New Jersey], New Jersey Earth Science Teachers Association. Accessed August 11, 2014.</ref>

===Bow hunting===
Some areas of Monmouth County Big Brook Park allow bow hunting access with a permit.<ref>[http://monmouthcountyparks.com/documents/127/2009-10%20maps%20-%20final.pdf Big Brook Park], Monmouth County Park System. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref>

===Golf===
Bella Vista Country Club has an 18-hole course over 5,923 yards with a par of 70. It is considered a Private Non-Equity club.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030729211259/http://www.bellavistacc.com/ Home page]}}, Bella Vista Country Club. Accessed August 11, 2014.</ref>

===Walking/jogging trail===
The [[Henry Hudson Trail]] goes through parts of Marlboro. In September 2009, the Monmouth County Park System closed a section of the Henry Hudson Trail Southern Extension going through Marlboro Township ([[Aberdeen Township, New Jersey|Aberdeen Township]] to Freehold) for 18 months while a portion of the path that runs through the Imperial Oil superfund clean-up site was remediated.<ref>Jordan, Bob. [https://www.proquest.com/docview/438251246 "Section of Henry Hudson trail closing for contaminated-soil cleanup"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 10, 2009. Accessed August 11, 2014. "The Monmouth County Park System is closing a section of the Henry Hudson Trail Southern Extension (Aberdeen to Freehold) for 18 months beginning Monday, officials said, for an environmental cleanup of contaminated soil under federal oversight."</ref>

===Festivals===
* Music Festival – Spring
* Dinosaur Day – April
* Memorial Day Parade – May
* Marlboro Stomp The Monster [[5K run|5K]] & Festival – May
* Marlboro Blues & BBQ Festival – Fall
* Marlboro Day – Summer/Fall
* Halloween Party & Parade – October
* Multicultural Day – November

===Summer camps===
Marlboro Township offers a summer camp program for grade school children. The program is a six-week program, with an optional 7th week consisting of aqua-week. It is run by the Marlboro Township Recreation & Parks Commission.

===Wineries===
* [[Peppadew Fresh Vineyards]]

===Future open space===
The township has attempted to preserve the areas known as F&F properties, Stattel's Farm and McCarron Farm (also known as Golden Dale Farm) from future development. The last two farms are currently working farms and while the township has purchased the development rights on the property, their fate remains unknown.<ref>Staff. [http://nt.gmnews.com/news/2007-03-21/Front_page/027.html "Town acts to preserve 43-acre farm"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130124064807/http://nt.gmnews.com/news/2007-03-21/Front_page/027.html |date=2013-01-24 }}, ''News Transcript'', March 21, 2007. Accessed August 11, 2014. "Township officials have purchased the McCarron Farm, also known as Golden Dale Farm, Pleasant Valley Road, and preserved it from residential development. By using a grant from the state, the cost to Marlboro taxpayers will be about $300,000, according to information provided by the township."</ref> The development rights of F&F property were purchased for $869,329 to keep the {{convert|79|acre|m2|adj=on}} site as open space.

Open space funding is paid for by a number of sources. State and local sources account for most of the funding. Marlboro obtains the funding from a special tax assessment. The town collects $600,000 annually from a local open space tax assessment of 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.<ref>Hurley-Schubert, Victoria. [https://www1.gmnews.com/2007/05/31/purchase-of-development-rights-to-help-save-property/ "Purchase of development rights to help save property"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125202116/https://www1.gmnews.com/2007/05/31/purchase-of-development-rights-to-help-save-property/ |date=January 25, 2021 }}, ''News Transcript'', May 31, 2007. Accessed January 20, 2018. "Marlboro takes in about $600,000 per year from a local open space tax assessment of 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, according to township officials."</ref>