The popular marina at Mercer County Park soon will be open for the season. Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Mercer County Park Commission invite area residents to kick off the summer on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend at Mercer County Park, where there is no shortage of fun family activities.
“The marina on beautiful Mercer Lake and the surrounding picnic areas and playgrounds is one of our most popular destinations,” said Mr. Hughes. “Come and see why Mercer County Park is one of the best parks in the state.”
Amenities at the marina include a scenic lakeside boathouse, a free boat ramp for launching small boats, 1,000 square feet of docks and rentals of kayaks, pedal boats and rowboats. Fishing is permitted from rowboats only. Anyone 15 years or older must have a valid fishing license.
The marina has a snack bar that’s open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, featuring hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream, soft drinks, coffee and more.
The marina will offer affordable fun beginning Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25. Pedal boat and rowboat rentals are $16 per hour for Mercer County residents and $18 per hour for non-residents; single-person kayak rentals are $15 per hour for Mercer County residents and $17 per hour for non-residents; and double-person kayaks are available for $20 per hour for Mercer County residents and $22 per hour for non-residents. Pontoon boat lake tours will start on Saturday, May 23. Prices for Mercer County residents are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 62 and older, and $6 for children 11 and under. Prices for non-residents are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62 and older, and $8 for children. The pontoon boat rides are a weather-permitting 50-minute lake tour on Saturdays and Sundays, May 23 through Labor Day (May 30, May 31 and June 13 excluded; marina will be closed for events on Mercer Lake). Tours begin at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The boat has a 15-person capacity.
Marina hours of operation are Saturday, May 23; Sunday, May 24; Monday, May 25; Saturday, June 6; Sunday, June 7; and Sunday, June 14, from noon to 6 p.m.; and from June 17 to Sept. 7 (Labor Day), Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The marina will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the summer, and please note that the marina boat rental will be closed Saturday, May 30; Sunday, May 31; and Saturday, June 13, for events on Mercer Lake. All boat rentals are weather permitting.
Mercer Meadows, Rosedale Park District in Hopewell Township, also offers residents a beautiful setting for a variety of outdoor activities. The park is a prime fishing location as its 38-acre lake is stocked with trout and features a public-access boat launch open to rowboats, canoes and boats with electric motors. Rosedale also has a picnic area, two playgrounds, 5-acre off-leash Dog Park and an extensive network of hiking trails.
For more information on activities at Mercer Lake and the marina, please contact the Mercer County Park Marina at (609) 448-4004.
Also upcoming at Mercer County Park are:
Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship, May 29, 30 and 31 on Mercer Lake.
Paddle for Pink Dragon Boat Races, June 13 on Mercer Lake.
Freedom Festival, the annual Independence Day fair, Friday, June 26, from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, June 27, from 3 to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, June 28, from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds.
Summer Concert Series at the Festival Grounds: Saturday, July 11, 7 to 10 p.m. featuring Soul Cruisers; Saturday, July 25, 7 to 10 p.m., featuring Tramps Like Us; Saturday, Aug. 8, 7 to 10 p.m., featuring Rick Larrimore; Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 to 10 p.m., Local Legends.
For more information about guidelines and prices at the marina, please visit the Mercer County Park Commission website at http://mercercountyparks.org/facilities/mercer-county-park-marina-boathouse. For information about other parks of the Mercer County Park Commission, visit http://mercercountyparks.org/.
