Dam Site 21 is a 370-acre tract that covers parts of Hamilton, West Windsor and Robbinsville townships.
The land contains a portion of Miry Run, a stream that flows from Robbinsville through part of Hamilton and eventually drains into the Delaware River.
After acquiring the property, the county built a series of dams to mitigate area flooding in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. As a result, the property now features a 55-acre lake surrounded by undeveloped uplands, wetlands, woodlands and open fields.
In the late 1970s, Mercer County purchased flood-prone land along Miry Run in order to build a park and one of several dams as part of a flood mitigation initiative known as the Assunpink Creek Watershed Water Works Plan. The dam was constructed in the mid-1980s, and created a lake of almost 50 acres. Since then the 279-acre dam site has become a popular place for neighbors to walk, fish, enjoy nature, and sled in the winter, but few beyond the neighborhood know of this largely hidden natural area. Geocachers will enjoy this area.
After a year-long planning process, the Mercer County Park Commission is set to announce its plan to restore the park’s natural areas and to create new passive recreation opportunities for the public’s enjoyment.