Tatum Park

This is a great park! If you are from area, Holmdel Park is also in this area. I like this park a little better since it has a lot of trails that you can try out. For example, the Meadow trail is approximately 2.3 miles. At the main entrance (the one with that big beautiful White House, the activity center, there is a trail head with maps that you can grab.
Today was my first time at this park. I did the Meadow Trail and surprisingly did not get lost. The trails are pretty well marked. The terrain is not really that difficult though… Hartshorne Park is where you should go for some vigorous hills and footwork.
All in all, nice park. I will be back!

We really love going here because the trails are wide, the terrain varies and it’s clean. The terrain itself isn’t mountainous but its still challenging because the terrain Changes so frequently. its loopy and hilly, mostly open fields that loop into wooded trails. Some parts are flat and leafy others hilly and sandy. I’ve rode mountain bikes here, gone for a jog with my dogs, it’s really just a nice park with long or short trails depending on what you are in the mood for and how lost you feel like getting :). I think the trails are endless as I’ve gotten lost and been gone for over 7 miles and nothing looked the same! Haha!
Nice open field next to parking lot. Could be good for games, frisbee, etc. I’ve seen people eating lunch on the park bench, a woman painting in the open field. Its quiet and not overcrowded but enough people to feel safe.
Bathrooms are in the big white house — accessible and clean.
In fall, used to be summer, they host a mountain biking race here which is super fun.

Unfortunately there is deer hunting during the winter months. This park is best for hiking, jogging, biking and horseback riding.
Nice open area next to the parking lot for kites and soccer (and the occasional bag piper).
The trails differ from sand to grass and can be very muddy after it rains. Terrain can make it difficult to do fast runs, but is perfect for long distance running. There are endless trail combinations, so you are not just going around one loop 10 times.
Newcomers tend to get lost.
There aren’t crowds of people which is a nice relief.

Tatum Park is extremely close to my house. In fact is within walking distance. However, I never go there for some reason. I think it is because when my daughter was younger Tatum Park was not as kid friendly as Holmdel Park which has animals and playgrounds.
Tatum Park is really just raw open space with crude trails throughout the property. This makes it very popular with mountain bikers, day hikers and horse riders (bring your own).
Tatum Park is actually one of 3 parks that are next to each other in Middletown, NJ. The other two can be access by car off of Red Hill Road.
Due to the large deer population in our area Monmouth County is allowing bow & arrow hunting. As you walk the trails there are pink signs stapled to the trees informing hikers of the hunting in progress.
The interesting part is that you can see lower Manhattan and the Verazanno Bridge from some of the high elevations of the park. This is a natural oasis in the middle of a densely populated part of New Jersey.