Nov 2026: Skating is allowed only on the flooded area behind the basketball court, and only when green signs say the ice is safe (at least 4 inches thick); red signs mean no skating. The township says the ponds at Southard Park and Pleasant Valley Park are never considered safe for skating. The park restrooms are closed in winter, with a portable toilet beside the parking lot.
Southard Park At A Glance...
- In winter the township floods the low area behind the basketball court into a skating area, with green signs when the ice is safe.
- A pond for fishing sits beside the playground and courts, and the park has shuffleboard and bocce courts.
- Todays Sunrise: , Sunset:
- New Jersey Skylands Region Somerset County
About Southard Park
Southard Park is a Bernards Township park on North Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge, a block north of the Bernards Township Library. It has a playground, a pond for fishing, a softball and multipurpose field, and basketball, shuffleboard, bocce and sand volleyball courts. A picnic shelter is available for rental, and there is a restroom.
In winter the township floods the low area behind the basketball court for ice skating. Signs at the park tell you whether the ice is ready (see the notice above).
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Activities:
- Fishing
- Playing in the playground
- Picnicking
Amenities:- Sports / Athletic Fields
- Restrooms/Bathrooms
- Parking Lot(s)
- Picnic / Sitting Area
- Picnic shelter(s)
- Playground
Park Type:- Municipal / City Park
- Playground
Contact / Location
Things to See & Do
Bring skates when the cold has set in: the flooded area behind the basketball court is the park's winter attraction. In the warmer months the pond is open for fishing and the courts, field and playground are in use.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Winter, once the ice reaches 4 inches and the green signs go up. The township checks the ice thickness on weekdays, and the sign status can change at any time.
Tips and Tricks
Check the sign at the park before you lace up: the status can change at any time. Using or clearing the ice while it is posted closed can damage the surface and keep it closed even after it is thick enough.
The picnic shelter can be rented in person at the Parks and Recreation office, April 1 through October 31.
Hours / Season of Operation
Open all year; check the Bernards Township website for current hours. The skating area is open only when the ice is posted safe. The township opens its grass fields from April 1 through the third Sunday in November, and picnic shelters can be rented April 1 through October 31.
Facilities
A restroom is in the park (closed in the winter months, when a portable toilet stands beside the parking lot), along with a playground, a picnic shelter and a parking lot.
Directions
The township gives the address as 67 North Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge, and notes that it is approximate. From I-287, take exit 30-A toward Basking Ridge onto Maple Avenue, go 1.4 miles through one traffic light, and the park is on your left (when heading north on I-287 the exit merges onto North Maple Avenue).
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Nearby Places
- Southard Park (~0 miles)
- Lord Stirling Stable (~1 miles)
- Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center (~1 miles)
- Lord Stirling Park (~1 miles)
- Environmental Education Center (EEC) - Somerset County (~2 miles)
- Wightman Farms (~2 miles)
- Cross Estate Gardens (~3 miles)
- Jockey Hollow (~4 miles)
- Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (~4 miles)
- Wagner Farm Arboretum and Gardens (~5 miles)
- Leonard J. Buck Garden (~5 miles)
- Lewis Morris County Park (~5 miles)
Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920