Cooper River Park is the crown jewel of Camden County’s parks system, drawing visitors from Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, and Collingswood and hosting rowing regattas. Camden County officials recently unveiled $1.2 million in improvements at the Jack Curtis Stadium track and field site, including a modern surface, shade pavilions, water stations, tree plantings, seating upgrades, and curb and drainage enhancements. Read on to find out more.
1. Boat Launch
Cooper River Park is a great place to go walking, running, or biking. It has a lot of amenities including a running path that is 3.8 miles around, a 1 1/4 mile cinder track, and several picnic areas. There are also sports fields, a boat ramp, and a yacht club for sailing. The park is also home to many prestigious rowing events.
A busy stretch of the Cooper River in Pennsauken Township, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Collingswood will soon be crisscrossed by kayaks and sailboats that people can rent for hourly rates. Camden County is seeking bids to operate a new boat-rental service at the Cooper River Park, which already hosts recreational and competitive rowing events like high school and state championships and college regattas.
2. Picnic Areas
The Cooper River Park runs through three Camden County municipalities — Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, and Collingswood. The 346-acre linear urban park is a hub for recreational and competitive rowing hosting High School, State, National, College, and Masters regattas.
Picnicking at Cooper River Park is a beautiful experience. The picnic areas are secluded by trees and overlook the water. You can also enjoy the view from one of the gazebos.
The paved paths make the park popular for runners and walkers. The park is clean compared to some other parks, though I would love to see it power-washed more often. Discover More about Sewell here.
3. Playgrounds
The 346-acre Cooper River Park runs through Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, Haddon Township, and Collingswood and is home to the Camden County Boathouse. It’s also a popular location for high school, state, and college regattas that attract visitors from across the region and country.
The park is a great place for running and walking with paved paths throughout the park. Just be sure to watch out for the geese droppings and other trash strewn about as they can be a bit gross at times, especially by one of the pavilions on Route 130.
Freeholders are working with the lead landscape architect behind Philadelphia’s Revel casino to create a statewide model for environmental stewardship at Cooper River Park, which already features powered stations for electric vehicles, raised boardwalks made from recycled materials, porous walkways that limit stormwater runoff, and innovative placement of berms to control erosion.
4. Bike Paths
The paved loop trail at Cooper River Park is perfect for bike riding and walking. The path offers a variety of scenery and is great for families. The park also has picnic areas, a large playground, and other recreational fields.
Camden County is moving forward with two bridges that will give cyclists and pedestrians unimpeded access to the entire Cooper River system without having to cross busy roads. The project is part of the $52 million LINK trail, which will eventually run from the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge to Winslow Township and dovetail into Gloucester and Atlantic Counties, ending in Cape May.
The trail’s wide, firm cinder base (it used to be a railroad) is ideal for biking. The route will pass through rural landscapes, forests, and wetlands and travel across six bridges for scenic river views.
5. Dog Park
A dog park has become a popular addition to the expansive Cooper River Park. The park features a fenced dog area with benches, trees, and grassy areas. The park also features a walking trail.
Camden County is working to make more improvements at the park, including athletic fields and picnic areas. The park is home to several rowing regattas that attract athletes from all over the country. A $10 million dredging project on the Cooper River has helped the park maintain its status as one of the top rowing venues in the region.
Whether you enjoy boating, kayaking, or sailing, the parks at Cooper River offer plenty of ways to get outdoors and relax. The parks are close to the shops and restaurants of downtown Collingswood. Metropolitan Collingwood offers spacious one and two-bedroom apartment homes in an ideal location near one of the area’s most beautiful parks. Click here for the next blog post.
Driving directions from Apex Estates to Cooper River Park
Driving directions from Cooper River Park to Fasola Park
