ZOO EVENTS:
KidsFest: May. 11am – 2pm. Come celebrate the return of spring and summer! This fun, free family event is sponsored by the Cohanzick Zoological Society. Facepainting, crafts, and entertainment make this a favorite annual event!
Boo at the Zoo: October. 11am – 2pm. Join us at the zoo in your creepiest, prettiest, wildest costume for a fun & treat filled family friendly event! Community organizations and volunteers come together to bring treats, crafts, facepainting and more! Call the zoo at 856-453-1658 for more information!
Festival of Lights: December. Dusk until 8pm. A few years ago, the Bridgeton Department of Recreation decided to move the city’s Festival of Lights from Sunset Lake into the zoo and the community has been delighted change. Lots of pretty lights, food vendors, crafts, music, train rides, and a visit from “you know who” make for a special holiday treat. The city charges a small entrance fee for this event. More details from the Recreation Department will be available closer to the event. If you have any questions or are interested in being a craft vendor, you can call the rec department at 856-453-1675.
Zoo Summer Camp: With sessions geared for specific age groups ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old, Zoo Camp provides a unique educational experience centered on animals and animal care, along with an understanding of habitats and the environments unique to various species. The program features games, crafts, snacks, and of course the animals. There is a fee for this program and space is limited, so anyone interested in Zoo Camp, should call 856-453-1658 to sign up or get further details on this very popular program.
Out to Lunch Program: This free children’s entertainment program is held at the Cohanzick Zoo on Fridays, generally July and usually beginning at 1:00 pm. The Out to Lunch program is a wonderful time filled with high energy, fun and laughter. Children have the opportunity to participate in these programs, making it memorable for everyone. Those attending should bring a bagged lunch and be ready to enjoy great performances that include everything from puppet shows and magicians, to zoo presentations and everything in between. After the program, guests can enjoy the zoo or the splash park and it’s a great way to start the weekend. Admission is free and anyone seeking details and schedules for the Out-to-Lunch program are asked to contact the Bridgeton Recreation Department at 856-453-1675.
Splash Park: The official opening of the splash pad marked a bold new addition to the City Park and it has proved to be one of the most popular features in Cumberland County along with the Cohanzick Zoo. Situated next to the zoo, visitors can spend the day cooling off at the Splash Park, while also enjoying a visit to one of New Jersey’s unique zoo settings. The 7,500 square foot venue contains 28 fixtures featuring everything from buckets and fountains to water wheels and cannons, all designed to shoot, spray, mist, and pour water on hot bathers looking to beat the heat on steamy summer days. Aside from the actual spray deck itself, which covers 2,334 square feet, the venue also features a washroom facility, concession stand, outdoor shower, 2 pavilions, benches, lighting, and sitting areas where bathers can relax and parents can sit in the shade and keep an eye on smaller children. The splash pad is designed with a zoo theme and kids can enjoy fixtures that suggest lady bugs, tigers, and frogs. The goal of the Recreation Department is for visitors to enjoy the zoo, along with the splash pad, picnic areas, recreation fields, and the walking trails that line the 1,000 plus acres that form the Bridgeton City Park; basically a day trip for the whole family. With the emphasis on growing the park, and preserving open and green space, the city park is quickly becoming a regional destination. The splash pad is open on weekends only, until the school year ends, and then it is open 7 days a week, (weather permitting) from 11am to 6pm with additional hours added for the months of July and August. For more information on hours of operation, private bookings, and reservations, please call the Department of Recreation at 856-453-1675.
Mini golf: Visitors and guests are invited to come and enjoy their new 18 hole portable miniature golf course located north of the splash park in Bridgeton City Park. Bridgeton’s mini golf course opened Labor Day weekend, Friday, 4-8pm, Saturday through Monday, 11am to 6pm. The admission is $2 for the course. Regular hours of operation are Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm until September 27th.
The 1,100 acre Bridgeton City Park is its own destination; featuring everything from walking trails and picnic areas to playing fields, basketball courts, and a new 7,500 square foot Splash Park next to the Cohanzick Zoo, one of Cumberland County’s most visited attractions. Proud of this treasure along the Cohansey River, the park contains an outdoor amphitheater at Sunset Lake with a swimming beach, a network of guided nature trails, walking and wooded trails at Piney Point Woods, Mary Elmer Lake, playground areas, tennis courts, and the Southern New Jersey All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. The park also houses the Swedish Village Living History Display, slated to undergo renovations and upgrades in the future. Whether it’s competitive sports, strapping on headphones to jog or walk our wooded trails, or simply enjoying some fresh air and sunshine with family after a busy week; there’s something for everyone at Bridgeton City Park. For gatherings, cookouts, small events or family get-togethers, City Park features the following outdoor picnic areas: the Berkowitz Picnic Grove (containing a stage, picnic tables and comfort station), Piney Point (picnic pavilions with comfort station), Mary Elmer Woods (pavilions, barbeque grills, open air tables, horseshoe pits and state stocked fishing lake), Sunset Lake (picnic tables, barbeque grills, comfort station and beach), the Zoo pavilion area (pavilions, comfort station), Veterans’ Park (pavilion, picnic tables located on Mayor Aitken Drive across from the old park office). For those with a kicked-up exercise routine, City Park contains a fitness trail intersecting at various points with West Park Drive, Scholastic Drive, and Mayor Aitken Drive to form its own circuit; and an adult outdoor exercise equipment section featuring a sit-up/crunch bench, a pull-up/dip station, and a stationary cycle machine to help vary the routine or simply cool down. Beyond these venues, City Park plays host to various organized sports including Babe Ruth Baseball (ages 12-15), Little League Baseball, a variety of Softball teams and leagues, Midget League Football, Adult Soccer Leagues, and girls’ softball and basketball leagues. The Bridgeton Department of Recreation sponsors a full menu of programs and activities for residents and visitors to the Bridgeton Community. Call the Bridgeton Department of Recreation at 856-453-1675 for more information.
THE ENJOYMENT OF THE CHOICEST NATURAL SCENES IN THE COUNTRY AND THE MEANS OF RECREATION CONNECTED WITH THEM IS A MONOPOLY OF VERY FEW RICH PEOPLE. THE ESTABLISHMENT BY GOVERNMENT OF GREAT PUBLIC GROUNDS IS THUS JUSTIFIED AND ENFORCED AS A PUBLIC DUTY.
Frederick Law Olmsted
PARK EVENTS
Fourth of July: Bridgeton’s Independence Day celebration includes a fantastic fireworks show, beginning around 9:30pm at Alden Field in Bridgeton City Park. During the day, everyone is invited to participate in the Independence Day Horseshoe Tournament that starts around 11am.
Movie Nights: (Rated G and PG) Starting in June and extending through July and August, the Recreation Department hosts movie night, generally on the second or third Saturday of each month and movie night takes place at the Sunset Lake Amphitheater. Admission is free and movie night is a great way for families to spend a Saturday evening together under the stars. Call for specific times and dates.
Sunday Night Concerts: Happening at the downtown Riverfront Plaza along W. Commerce St, concerts start at 7pm on the first Sunday in July and run through mid-August. The musical styles vary but it’s always a quality show. Admission is free and anyone interested in the line-up should contact the Department of Recreation at 856-453-1675.
ZOO PHONE: 856-453-1658
ZOO WEBSITE: www.cohanzick-zoo.com
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Admission: Admission to the park and zoo is FREE! However, the zoo would not exist if not for the generosity of their visitors and the work of their non-profit funding arm, the Cohanzick Zoological Society. All donations to the Cohanzick Zoological Society are used to purchase medications, veterinary care & equipment, specialty feeds, and enrichment items for the animals and also provides funding for all of their renovations and new habitats.
Hours: The zoo is open daily 9am – 4pm during the fall/winter season and 9am – 5pm during the spring/summer season. They are are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Occasionally, they close during inclement weather.
Food: Currently, there are no food concessions available in the zoo, but they have a nice picnic grove overlooking the scenic raceway that runs through the park. Feel free to pack a lunch or bring in take-out.
The park and zoo is located in the heart of Bridgeton and is just minutes off Route 55. It’s a leisurely 40-45 minute drive south from the Philadelphia metropolitan area and 45-50 minutes northwest from the Atlantic City area.