Corson's Inlet State Park
{{Short description|State park in Cape May County, New Jersey}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Corson's Inlet State Park
| photo = Corson’s Inlet State Park.jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_caption = Sign marking the entrance of the park
| location = Cape May County, United States
| coords = {{coord|39|13|1.95|N|74|38|46.52|W|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|341|acre|km2}}
| created = 1969
| operator = New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
| visitation_num =
| status =
| open =
| map = USA New Jersey#USA
| map_caption = Location in New Jersey##Location in United States
| map_label = Corson's Inlet State Park
| website = {{Official website|url = http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/corsons.html}}
}}
Corson's Inlet State Park was established by the New Jersey Legislature in 1969 to protect and preserve one of the last undeveloped tracts of land along the state's oceanfront. The park borders Corson Inlet. The area's natural habitats are teeming with wildlife established in the numerous primary and secondary sand dune systems, shoreline overwash, marine estuaries, and upland areas. The park offers opportunities for observing a number of migratory and residential wildlife species.{{fact|date=October 2023}} The park itself is located in Cape May County, just south of Ocean City. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
Location and description
The park is located in Cape May County, just south of Ocean City, adjacent to Corson's Inlet. Included in the park is Strathmere Natural Area, located north of Strathmere. The park consists of {{convert|341|acre|km2|adj=on}} of undeveloped and undisturbed sand dunes that serves as a protected nesting site for the endangered piping plover, the least tern and black skimmers. Other shorebirds and waterfowl, such as the American oystercatcher, various species of sandpipers, gulls, herons, sanderlings and ducks also stop during the year.
There are two endangered species that inhabit the park – the piping plover, a bird; and the seabeach amaranth, a plant.
History
In 1969, the New Jersey Legislature established Corson's Inlet State Park to protect and preserve one of the last undeveloped areas of land along the New Jersey coastline.{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/corsons.html|title=Corson's Inlet State Park|publisher=New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry|accessdate=January 22, 2018}} Since then, the park has been managed by Belleplain State Forest. In 2012, the park received a $5,850 federal grant to construct a {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}} boardwalk trail that would form a loop in the park. The grant would be matched by $3,700 from the New Jersey State Park Service. Local environmentalists protested the project, citing the disruption to the environment.{{cite news|date=January 28, 2012|title=Experts disagree on Corson's Inlet boardwalk proposal|newspaper=The Gazette of Ocean City|accessdate=March 8, 2018|url=http://www.shorenewstoday.com/ocean_city/news/experts-disagree-on-corson-s-inlet-boardwalk-proposal/article_0659c67c-6702-56c6-8e90-bf64ff692356.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309054314/http://www.shorenewstoday.com/ocean_city/news/experts-disagree-on-corson-s-inlet-boardwalk-proposal/article_0659c67c-6702-56c6-8e90-bf64ff692356.html|archive-date=March 9, 2018|url-status=dead}}
Recreation
File:Corson’s Inlet and Russ Chatin Bridge.jpg]]
Beaches are open during the summer months.
Boating is allowed (regulated by the New Jersey Boating Regulation and Marine Law). The boat ramp is open 24 hours day, seven days a week year round. The boat ramp has a launch fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Corson's Inlet provides excellent opportunities to catch blue fish, kingfish, striped bass and weakfish. Fishing is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, as well. Fishermen are allowed to use four wheel drive vehicles (with permit) from September 16-May 14.
Pets are not permitted in the area during the nesting season.
See also
{{portal|New Jersey}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}
{{New Jersey Parks}}
{{authority control}}