![]() ![]() Many of the parks managed by the New Jersey State Park Service are locally very popular. Today, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority utilizes the reservoir as part of its vast network of water supplies. The state eventually decided to begin developing the reservoir for recreational use. The reservoir sat unused for a number of years. The lake itself was created by the construction of two dams, but the pipeline that was to provide water to Newark some 35 miles away ran into controversy and was never built. “The heartbreaking sacrifice of a few has provided recreation, and life-giving water, for many,” Hunterdon County Historian Stephanie Stevens has written in her history of the Round Valley Reservoir, Beneath These Waters. Many moved their homes off their foundations and sent them to Valley Crest Road near the park, where they still stand today. Farmers who lived in the valley lost their homes or relocated. The state started acquiring land in Round Valley in the late 1950s for a reservoir to supply water to Newark. The Round Valley Recreation Area officially opened in 1977. In addition, more than 50 historic sites are attached to parks, including historic districts, villages and battlefields. It includes 39 active recreation areas with year-round operations. The State Park System encompasses 440,000 acres in 21 counties, including more than 500 miles of hiking and riding trails, and 10 miles of beaches. The longer term goal of the second phase is to raise about two-thirds of the annual operating budget for the park system from alternative funding sources, thereby greatly reducing reliance on the state budget while increasing overall park funding. The goal of the first phase is to increase non-tax resources to $15 million by 2015 through an initial round of partnerships with private sector and non-profit organizations and environmental foundations at some of the state’s largest parks. This two-phase strategy creates a long-term sustainable stream of funding without having to rely on additional state taxpayer funds. The Christie Administration recognizes the importance of keeping New Jersey’s parks such as Round Valley open, affordable and even more accessible, late last year launching a long-term strategy for keeping parks sustainable for future generations by improving visitor services, amenities and activities. ![]() Whether you prefer your outdoor experience to be more on the tame side or a little more adventurous, park staff works hard to make sure that you get the most out of your visit to this special place.” “There really is something for all ages, interests and seasons at Round Valley. “What makes Round Valley so special is its exceptionally diverse range of recreational opportunities,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. The only lake in New Jersey that is deeper is the much smaller Merrill Creek Reservoir in Warren County, which reaches depths up to 210 feet The 2,350-acre reservoir, which reaches depths up to 180 feet, is protected by more than 1,600 acres of forested land. Or they may try something more adventurous, such as wilderness camping, mountain biking, ice-fishing, even scuba diving. Visitors can experience the tried and true hiking, swimming, fishing and picnicking. Recreational opportunities at Round Valley are as diverse as the natural beauty the state recreation area preserves. With all this plus its pristine, deep lake, the Round Valley Recreation Area is truly a hidden gem of the State Park System. If you’re lucky, you may even see the faint foundation of a Revolutionary War-era farmstead or a remnant fruit tree from the orchards that once graced the area. ![]() Surrounding the lake are pristine eastern woodlands, habitat for a wide variety of wildlife from hawks and eagles to deer and bears. (12/P82) TRENTON – Nestled in the rolling hills of Hunterdon County, the Round Valley Recreation Area protects New Jersey’s second deepest lake – and a world of natural beauty. ROUND VALLEY RECREATION AREA OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ![]()
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