John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

About John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

The Nature Centre in the park shows visitors why this park is a biological treasure and why the oasis is a habitat for endangered native tropical and coastal plant species. Visitors can swim on the beach, but diving and snorkeling are also popular activities.

Fishermen can kayak, canoe and fish in the lagoon, and birdwatchers can spot birds of prey such as sea lions, sea turtles, dolphins and other marine mammals.

In addition to numerous species of waders on land, the park is a preferred breeding ground for sea turtles. From the beginning of May to the end of August, numerous loggerhead and green leatherback turtles nest here. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is located on the eastern shore of the Atlantic Ocean, about 30 miles east of New York City.

The earliest evidence of human settlement in the area comes from artifacts found in the park, such as kitchen utensils. The Indians who settled in this area collected food from the sea and lake, as well as fish, crabs and other marine life.

Munyon Island is not open to the public and can only be reached by boat, but it has been a popular destination for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and other recreational activities since the early 20th century.

The park is named after its previous owner, John D. MacArthur, who wanted to preserve it for future generations. After convincing MacArthur through university studies in the 1970s that the property was a biological treasure, he gave it to the state so that it could be used as a public park. Additional funding has been allocated for the development of the Nature Center and the creation of Munyon Island State Park.

The William T. Kirby Nature Center will show live animal exhibits and visitors can also watch a 15-minute video about the park. The facility opened to the public in 1989 and hosts the largest living animal exhibition in the United States.

The nature centre is open daily from 9: 00 to 17: 00, and diving and snorkelling are permitted in the summer months from June to October. Diver flags for divers and divers are legally required and can be borrowed at the Nature Centre.

The park has two pavilions, the North Pavilion and the South Pavilion, both open daily from 9: 00 to 17: 30. The North Pavilion is somewhat more secluded, but has 10 tables and can accommodate about 80 people.

The gazebo at the Nature Centre has 9 tables and can accommodate 72 people, and in the gazebo there is a barbecue for visitors. There are bathrooms, snack machines and water fountains nearby, but there is also no bath, water or electricity.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is a park in the state of New Jersey, located on the west side of the Hudson River in the city of Newark, New Jersey, USA.