Located on 3405 Valley Road, Basking Ridge (Bernards Twp.), Pleasant Valley Park is a sprawling park with a wonderful playground in a shady area just off the main parking lot.  Nicely mulched and very clean with newer equipment and amenities – bathrooms are open and nearby! Tons of sports fields and courts, paved walking paths and a pond (don’t take your eye off toddlers too long!) We were here on a sunny but chilly day in early Spring and the kids still didn’t want to leave.  The older ones enjoyed all the monkey bars and the younger ones got into some imaginative play and hide and go seek.
Name of Manufacturer: Built by Gametime
One larger playground for 5-12 year olds and a pre-school playground for 2-5 year olds
Climbing: Â Tons of monkey bars, rings, poles, handles to grab and a rocky wall to climb
Merry Go Round: Â NONE
Playthings: Tic-tac-toe and a cool “castle†with cut outs for little faces, ramps, tunnels, spinning puzzles
Slides: Toddler slides plus a big twisty tunnel slide and a fun 3-person slide with turns and bumps
Swings: Â Big kid slides are nicely separated from the rest of the equipment
Parking: Â Larger parking near the playground area
Benches: A few benches are scattered throughout the playground area
Food & Beverage: Â Â A main building houses bathrooms and may serve concessions during the Summer (we were there in early Spring)
Picnicking: Great shelter with lots of tables and even an indoor party/meeting room right next to the playground
Drinking Fountain:  Not sure? Didn’t see one…
Bathrooms: Large indoor bathrooms right next to the playground, they were open in March when we visited
Sports Fields: Lots of open fields
Basketball: Full court with at least 6 nets, not lit
Tennis: 6 Â tennis courts and 4 lit platform tennis courts too
Water: Â A pretty pond right next to the playground where people were fishing when we were there
Walking Paths: Â Nicely paved 1.5 mile walking paths
Other Cool Stuff:  Lots of open fields here and places to explore – there’s also a “fitness†station by the entrance to the park.  Pleasant Valley Pool is here too and looks amazing! There’s a sand volleyball court AND there’s an amphitheater that houses concerts and two picnicking shelters.  Visit the recreational departments website for more info http://www.bernards.org/departments_services/Parks_Recreation/pr_fa_pv_park.aspx
Also wanted to add a few pictures sent by Sara Rall that shows off the water aspect of this park 🙂
Make a Day of It: Â Lord Stirling Stable is not far away. Part of the Somerset County Park Commission this facility offers lessons, group riding, pony parties and more .http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/parksFacilities/stable/LSS.html
Sara Rall had sent me this earlier prior to Amy’s post, here is some great info from Sara:
Pleasant Valley Park on Valley Rd. near Lurline Dr. in Lyons, Basking Ridge
(Somerset Co.) is a lovely, shady park with lots of wooded paths to walk and
a big playground by a pretty pond.
The structure for older kids is in two sections with a triple slide and a
castle theme. Then there is a nice structure for younger kids and a set of
swings.
There is a large picnic pavilion and clean bathrooms that are always open.
Then there’s a lovely stone gazebo with benches made from big logs right
next to a pond with fountains.
They have tennis and paddle tennis courts, beach volley ball, soccer,
basketball, and a fitness course. In the summer they often offer plays and
concerts in the amphitheater near the baseball fields behind the tennis
courts.
My kids think the stream intentionally running across the road on the way in
is really cool, too.
I am told that every year there is a free fishing contest for children. This contest teaches children how to fish, I would like to volunteer to help these children with their fishing. How do I go about this? As I am an old time fisherman from way back. Also, I am the responder at Valley Brook Village in Lyons V.A. and would look forward to providing my services and skills… Thanks..