Hartshorn Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Hartshorn Park is a beautiful park located in Short Hills, New Jersey.


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Summary

The park covers an area of 37 acres and offers visitors a range of activities and experiences, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

One of the main reasons to visit Hartshorn Park is its stunning natural beauty. The park is home to a variety of trees, plants, and wildlife, making it a great place for bird-watching, hiking, and picnicking. Visitors can also enjoy the park's playground and sports facilities, which include tennis courts and a basketball court.

Some specific points of interest to see in Hartshorn Park include the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary, which is a 16-acre natural preserve that showcases a variety of native and exotic plants. The park also has a pond where visitors can fish, and there are several hiking trails that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Interesting facts about the area include that it was once home to the Lenni Lenape tribe, who were the original inhabitants of the region. The park was also the site of a Revolutionary War skirmish in 1780.

The best time of year to visit Hartshorn Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm, and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy its beauty at any time of the year.

Overall, Hartshorn Park is a stunning natural oasis in the heart of New Jersey, offering visitors a range of activities and experiences that are sure to delight.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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