5 Things About The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve

The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve is preserved open space for public use. Here are "5 Things" to know about the lake:

1. The borough of Franklin Lakes purchased the 147-acre Haledon Reservoir for $6.5 million from Haledon on Aug. 23, 2006. It was the largest land acquisition since the borough was founded in 1922. According to officials, 80-percent of the purchase price was provided through state and county grants.

2. The manmade reservoir was completed in 1919 along the Molly Ann Brook. Its gravity dam is 25-feet tall and 625-feet long. The reservoir served as the water supply to Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park. 

3. Haledon Reservoir is listed as number 15 in the 1998 book, “Gone Fishing: 100 Best Fishing Spots in New Jersey” for its abundance of bass, black crapple, pickerel, carp, catfish and perch.

4. You can now get your fishing license online or if you prefer to do it in person, the closest locations are Ramsey Outdoors in Ramsey and Paramus, the Sports Authority in Paramus or Wayne, of Kmart in Wayne.

5.  The site has 120-acres dedicated to passive recreational use, such as to hiking, fishing and birdwatching. It was officially opened to the public on June 11, 2011. The entrance to the park is on High Mountain Road in North Haledon, just south of the Franklin Lakes border.