- Open daily from 7am to dusk
- Free guided walking tours of the historic district offered monthly
- Many available public and private programs offered in the seasonal park system program guide
- 14 miles of multi-use trails, a dog park, tennis courts and athletic fields, canoe rentals, and a playground
- Annual Thompson Park Day Festival hosted in October
- ADA accessible
- public restrooms
- Visitor's Center
- On-site parking
- Bus parking
- free guided walking tours one Saturday a month
- Private group tours
- Free
Thompson Park
805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738
732-842-4000
Established in 1968, Thompson Park serves as the headquarters for the Monmouth County Park System. The preserved historic buildings offer a glimpse into the area’s past, while the surrounding fields, trails, and lake provide a beautiful location for outdoor activities. Thompson Park is a pivotal site in the history and development of Monmouth County, representing the evolution from eighteenth century farm to nineteenth century horse estate to twentieth century public park. The site currently stands as the most complete remaining nineteenth century horse estate in Monmouth County, an area known for the raising and racing of horses.
Geraldine Livingston Morgan Thompson (1872-1967) presided over Brookdale Farm for seventy years and became one of the county's most prominent citizens. In 1923, she was the first woman delegate from New Jersey to attend the Republican National Convention. Among her many civic and philanthropic contributions were founding the Monmouth County Organization of Social Services (MCOSS) in 1918; establishing the Allenwood Tuberculosis Hospital in 1921 (now the Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center); a long career of political activism on behalf of prison reform, public health, and social welfare; and establishing scholarships for the needy. She also played an important role in preserving Island Beach as a state park. She shared many social welfare interests with her lifelong friend Eleanor Roosevelt, who visited Brookdale Farm on several occasions. Upon Geraldine’s death in 1967, Brookdale Farm’s 257 acres were transferred to Monmouth County and became Thompson Park. In 2020, the historic farm core of the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Brookdale Farm National Historic District.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
- Tour the historic buildings on the property that offer a glimpse into the area’s rich past
- Learn about the life and legacy of Geraldine Thompson
- Explore the surrounding fields, trails, and lake
Journey through Jersey strives to have the most up-to-date information, but always check with the site itself before planning a visit.
