Van Saun County Park offers family fun in Bergen County

A 130-acre park in Bergen County is home to a stunning array of recreational options for families from all across the region.

Van Saun County Park in Paramus is open year-round and promises “something for everyone to enjoy.” With the Bergen County Zoo, a miniature train ride, a carousel, pony rides for kids, athletic fields, catch-and-release fishing, biking and hiking paths, picnicking spots, and an accessible playground with a seasonal waterplay area, it lives up to that promise.

“We have a great park system throughout from Mahwah to the Meadowlands, but I’d say for Van Saun, it’s definitely one of the finest jewels that we have here in the county,” Bergen County Department of Parks communications coordinator Mark Rotundo told the New Jersey Independent in a phone interview. “It’s an invaluable piece of county history and county parks property. And yeah, we love it here, and we’re glad that we have so many people that appreciate it from in and out of county.”

The park, Rotundo noted, is home to the Washington Spring historic site, the spring in which George Washington watered his horse during the American Revolution in 1780. The park was acquired by Bergen County in 1957. 

Admission to the park is free, as is parking.

The carousel and train, which are both open from 10am to 5pm daily, cost $3 each per person and operate from early April through late November. 

Pony rides are $5 per ride. In order to ride, kids must be over two years old, less than 50″ tall, and weigh under 90 pounds, according to the park’s website. They are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends. 

Admission to the Bergen County Zoo, located inside the park, costs $10 for adults ($6 for county residents), with discounts for children, seniors age 62 and above, and individuals with disabilities. Activity duty military and veterans can enter for free, as can children under age 3. 

The zoo is home to red wolves, bison, pigs, donkeys, birds, big cats, horses, and an alligator. 

Rotundo said the prairie dog exhibit is a personal favorite: “It’s this little enclosure that we have, but it’s incredibly cute. We have a lot of prairie dogs that pop in and out, that a lot of guests come to see and visit.” 

In addition, the park hosts annual events including a Halloween Zoo Boo, a Pride at the Zoo celebration, and a holiday Winter Wonderland with Santa Claus. 

“Honestly, it’s a wonderful park,” Rotundo concluded. “It’s got so much to do and so much activities for people of all ages.”