| State: | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Address: | 218 Cranbury Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, USA |
| Postal code: | 08550 |
| Phone: | (609) 799-6141 |
| Website: | https://www.westwindsornj.org/van-nest-park |
| Monday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday: | Closed |
| Sunday: | Closed |
Went there to listen to the 1938 Mercury Theater Broadcast of War of the Worlds. Got a kick out of the being at ground zero. A marker and a few signs. A few picnic tables and a pretty pond/lake. A decent restroom. The infamous water tower is a stones throw away.
Nice park, clean and relaxing.
We had so much fun there with our toddler, however ... the playground needs a power wash, it was so dirty that both my husband and I got a stye the night after going to that park. The swings are very rusty too. But other than that it's really a gorgeous park.
GROVERS MILL/WEST WINDSOR: thanks to the TikTok account, Vintage.newjersey, we were reminded of the legendary moment that put this small town on the map, quite literally. Grovers Mill was the accidental epicenter of the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast by Orson Welles, which caused widespread panic as listeners believed a real Martian invasion was underway. The writers reportedly chose the location by dropping a pencil on a map, launching Grovers Mill into unexpected fame and chaos.
You can experience this quirky slice of history by visiting the monument commemorating the event in Van Nest Park. Follow the short, paved path to the right of the playground to find informational displays about the broadcast. Continue walking to the field, and look to your left, the monument is slightly tucked away behind some bushes.
The park itself is a lovely place to relax: bring a picnic, enjoy the playground, or sit on a bench overlooking the serene Grover’s Mill Pond. Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed!
Just up the road, be sure to stop by the Red Barn, a charming spot and perfect backdrop for a photo.
I come here once in a while to this small park with my son to play. The play ground is fairly nice. There's a nice view of the lake.
This area is a land mark, where the aliens landed in the book "War of the Worlds".
A few years ago they built a nice rest room. Not one of those portal potty. But I have to take away a star because the door some times are locked. Which I don't understand. If you have kids with you a locked rest room is a big inconvenience.