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Camden County
Open Space & Recreation Plan

Delaware waterfront looking south along a waterfront path.

Introduction

Camden County is developing an updated Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP), a long-range planning document that will help guide future decisions about parks, recreation, open space preservation, trails, greenways, natural resources, public access, and future investments throughout the County.

The OSRP will provide a framework for understanding Camden County’s existing open space and recreation resources, identifying community needs, and establishing priorities for the future. The Plan will help guide how the County protects open space and natural resources, improves parks and recreational facilities, expands trails and greenways, meets the recreational needs of residents, and prioritizes future investments and land preservation.

The OSRP belongs to the community, and public participation is a critical part of the process. Residents, business owners, community organizations, property owners, visitors, and stakeholders all bring valuable perspectives and lived experiences that help shape the plan and its recommendations.

On this page:

OSRP Process

Camden County’s Division of Open Space and Farmland Preservation is working with Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, Inc. (BRS) to develop the Open Space & Recreation Plan.

Throughout the planning process, the County and project team will gather data, evaluate existing parks and open spaces, assess recreational and environmental needs, and provide opportunities for residents and stakeholders to share their experiences and priorities.

Community engagement is an essential part of the OSRP. The outreach process is intended to build open dialogue between the community, County, and project team; identify community concerns and needs; encourage participation throughout the planning process; and ensure that community priorities help shape future planning decisions.

We encourage everyone to get involved:

  • Attend public meetings and engagement events
  • Share ideas, concerns, and priorities
  • Complete the online survey
  • Review draft recommendations and planning documents
  • Learn more about the Master Plan and its elements
  • Help shape the future vision of Asbury Park

Whether you are a longtime resident, new neighbor, business owner, artist, student, visitor, or community advocate, your voice is important to the future of Camden County’s open spaces.

Click image to enlarge
OSRP process diagram, details in caption.
The OSRP process is a cycle of developing goals and policy, assessing environmental and recreational needs, engaging the community and stakeholders, inventorying open space and recreation opportunities, and profiling the existing conditions and community. The outcome is a draft plan that's reviewed with the community before being finalized.

Get involved!

Camden County OSRP Community Discussion

Thursday, July 23, 2026

6:00 PM

Camden County Multipurpose Sustainability Building
508-B Lakeland Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012

Online survey

Link Coming Soon!

Flyer for 7/23 community discussion at the Camden County Multi-Purpose Sustainability Building.

Schedule

Planned events and milestones
  • Project Kickoff: May 26, 2026
  • Research and Data gathering: May – July, 2026
  • Community Meeting: July 23, 2026
  • Draft Plan: September 29, 2026
  • Release Draft Plan to Public: October 20, 2026
  • Public Hearing: October 26, 2026 (final date TBD)
  • Final Draft: November 2, 2026
  • Final Plan: November 20, 2026

What is an OSRP?

An Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP) is a long-range planning document that establishes a vision for protecting, improving, and expanding a community’s open space and recreation resources.

For Camden County, the OSRP will help guide how the County:

  • Protects open space and natural resources
  • Improves parks and recreational facilities
  • Expands trails, greenways, and public access
  • Meets the recreational needs of residents
  • Prioritizes future investments and land preservation

The Plan looks at the County’s existing resources while also considering changing demographics, recreational needs, environmental conditions, accessibility, connectivity, and opportunities for future improvements.

A park with a wooden pedestrian bridge over a waterway and a playground in the background.

Why is the OSRP Important?

Parks, trails, natural areas, and recreational facilities contribute to the health, environmental quality, character, and quality of life of Camden County communities.

The OSRP provides an opportunity to look at these resources as a countywide system rather than as individual parks and properties. This allows the County to better understand where resources currently exist, where gaps may occur, and where future investments could have the greatest benefit.

The planning process will also help Camden County establish clear priorities for future park improvements, recreation opportunities, open space preservation, trails and connectivity, accessibility, and environmental protection.

Collage of multiple park images, showing walking paths, cyclists, children playing, ornamental landscaping and hardscaping, and park amenities like bathrooms and a gazebo.