• History/ Establishment of Facility
    The grand opening of the new Mercer County Park Marina was held on June 1, 1985. At that time it was stated that with the completion of the Marina ,the five million dollar Mercer County Park project marked the end of the Commission's largest undertaking and rounded out the county's 2,600 acre central park as a total recreational facility. The Marina and the development of the 365-acre man made lake were overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.
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  • Facility Description
    • The Mercer County Marina on Lake Mercer consists of a beautiful lakeside boathouse, a boat ramp for launching small boats, 1,000 square feet of docks and rental boats.

    • Boathouse Rental and Catering at Mercer County Park-Beautiful panoramic views of Mercer Lake highlight the Boathouse that comfortably seats up to 80 people. Just out side the facility, the Marina offers three lakefront pavilions for a true one of a kind setting. Covered outside seating for up to 150 people is now available under a new 30' x 80' permanent pavilion. For more information on catered events at the Boathouse inside or out, please contact D & D Catering at (609) 586-0883.

    • Located on the North shore is the Finn Casperson Rowing Center. The original boathouse project began in the mid-1990s in an effort to provide a better venue for local scholastic rowing programs. Finn M.W. Caspersen, Chairman of the Board of the Peddie School led the effort to build a boathouse on the shores of Mercer Lake. Though privately funded, the project was a joint effort between The Peddie School, The Lawrenceville School, and Mercer County officials. The Center is home to the Princeton National Rowing Association. Whose mission combines youth and masters programs with elite rowing and international racing, allowing athletes of all skill levels and ages to train, improve and achieve together. This site is also the training venue for the US Rowing Teams as they compete in Beijing in the 2008 Summer Games.

    • Surrounding the marina is a recreational area consisting of picnic tables, a five mile bike trail, playgrounds, grills and 4 new sand volleyball courts.
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  • Programs and Activites
    • The marina boat ramp is open for public use seven days a week sunrise to sunset weather permitting. No gasoline engines permitted. Electric motors only.
    • Pedal boats, rowboats and kayaks may be rented Memorial Day through Labor Day. Pedal and Rowboats hold max of four people. Kayaks are single person only.
    • There are parking facilities for five hundred cars and an area for boat trailer parking.
    • Boating for canoes, small sail boats, pedal boats, row boats, coast guard approved inflatable and kayaks are allowed on the lake.  You must wear a life jacket at all times.
    • Pedal boat, Row boat and Kayak rentals
    • Fishing (15 years and older must have a fishing license)
    • Rowing team practices and races between area schools
    • US Olympic Rowing training sight
    • Picnic outings and biking trails. Three beach volley ball courts
    • Barrier free Lake Side Village Playground.
    • Mercer Lake recently hosted major competitions such as the FISA World Master Rowing Championships, NCAA Women’s rowing championships
    • And MAAC Collegiate Championships
    • Mercer Junior Rowing Club (MJRC) was created by Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA) to increase the accessibility of rowing for high school students in the Mercer County area.
    • The MJRC team is housed on Mercer Lake and is open to all high school students in the Mercer County area whose schools do not have their own rowing teams.
    • To date the MJRC services 15 different high schools.
    • Interesting Facts- In 2204 the US Rowing athletes who trained on Lake Mercer won US Men’s Gold and Women’s Silver medals.
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  • Boat Rental Hours and General Information
    • Open weekends (Sat and Sun) & holidays May 24 to June 15 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
    • From June 18th to Sept 1st (Labor Day) Wed thru Fri 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sat and Sun 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
    • Last boat rents one hour before closing
    • All rentals are weather permitting
    • Marina closed Mondays and Tuesdays
    • We rent rowboats and pedal boats with a max capacity of 4 people. Kayaks are single person only.
    • The cost is $10.00 per hour. There is a $10 deposit required and proof of ID.
    • After the hour the cost is $5.00 per every half hour or less of use.
    • Example 1hour and 15min of use would total $15 dollars)
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  • New for 2008
    • Pontoon boat lake tours are now available. 50-minute lake tour given on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tours begin at Noon, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM
    • First come first serve with a 15 person capacity.
    • Prices: Adults (12 and older) $6, Children (11 and under) $4, Seniors (62 and older) $4
    • All tours are weather permitting.
    • Everyone in the boat must wear a life vest at all times.
    • No standing in the boat or swimming in the lake at any time.
    • You must be at least 17 years old to rent a boat.
    • Fishing is permitted from row boat only.
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  • Did you know?
    • On the north shore of Lake Mercer, a new boathouse was privately financed in the year 2000 by three local prep schools for the use of their crew teams to develop the sport of rowing.

    • Lake Mercer was constructed at no cost to taxpayers because the fill was used to construct Interstate 295.

    • In 1975, the 365 acre lake started with the construction of a dam by the US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service known now as Natural Resources Conservation Service.

    • The dam was built to control flooding by the Assunpink Creek from flooding certain sections of the city of Trenton.

    • This project turned a marsh into a man made lake for boating and fishing which led to the development of the boathouse and marina.
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