Cottrell Farm Park

Cottrell Farm Park is the former home of a 21.5 acre 19th century apple orchard farm that provided agricultural products to the area for over a century. In 2010, Old Bridge Township teamed with Middlesex County to purchase the land in order to preserve the farm, which was one of the few remaining green spaces along County Route 516 as well as to provide residents with recreation space.

French & Parrello Associates served as the design landscape architects and engineers from concept through construction for the new recreational facility which includes amenities such as multi purpose patio areas, splash pad, playground, walking trails, community and memorial gardens, parking for +100 cars, picnic areas and amphitheater. The design included careful placement of the new amenities to blend harmoniously with the site’s historic features.

Thus passive features constructed of 19th century construction materials such as brick were placed in and around the farm buildings to provide sense of what might have existed at that time. Active amenities including the playground and splash pad were placed away from the more historic areas and were designed with farm themes to reflect the site’s overall character. The work also included the renovation of four (4) of the site’s farm buildings for use by the municipality and community.