20 Minute Radius: Pitman’s Alcyon Park

an aerial photo of Jen in a blue kayak surrounded by lilypads in Alcyon lake.

Is the boredom of being quarantined at home (to prevent the spread of COVID-19) getting to you lately? Luckily, the weather has warmed up and there are plenty of outdoor spaces near campus that allow you to get a breath of fresh air while still maintaining social distance! 

the head of a blue kayak in a lake, facing trees, in Alcyon ParkIf you’re craving some sunshine, I recommend a trip to Alcyon Park in Pitman, NJ — less than a 10-minute drive from campus! Invite a family member, pet or roommate (if you’re safely quarantined together) and set out on your journey. I suggest taking a backpack along with you, with supplies including plenty of water, some granola bars, sunscreen, sunglasses or a hat, and anything else you might need during an outdoor adventure.

The park is home to several sports fields and a playground, but if that’s not your thing, there are hiking trails and even a boat launch! The boat launch is located at the coordinates (39.7284°, -75.1433°), which you can search in Google Maps to access. This is the perfect opportunity to take a peaceful kayak ride on Alcyon Lake, which is what my roommates and I did.

an aerial photo of Jen in a blue kayak surrounded by lilypads in Alcyon lake.
My roommate captured this photo of me with our drone camera!

Alcyon Park is a historic South Jersey location, and according to southjerseytrails.org, it used to serve as a racing track for horses and cars in the 1940s and 50s.

Information and photos about the park’s rich history is posted throughout the trails, so the further you walk, the more you learn. Pretty cool!

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Story by:
Nicole Cier, writing arts graduate

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