Lincroft is surrounded by parks, parkways and great schools
Lincroft, in Middletown Township, is surrounded by greenery about 40 miles from Jersey City. Residents enjoy the community for its proximity to transportation, highly rated schools and recreation. “Lincroft has a central location close to parks and close to the beach. It’s also close to the Garden State Parkway,” says Lara Krall, a resident and the owner of Bottone Realty Group, Inc. Lincroft is less than 10 miles from two train stations and residents can get to the beach and Philadelphia in under two hours. Several Monmouth County Parks are nearby, such as Thompson Park and Monmouth Park.
Highly rated public and private schools in Middletown Township
The Middletown Township School District, which gets an A-minus from Niche, serves the area. Children may attend Lincroft Elementary, which receives a B-plus. Students continue to Thompson Middle and Middletown High School South, which both get an A-minus. Middletown High has several student-run clubs and activities, including color guard, dance team and drama club. While most children attend public schools, there are several private schools in the area, including the all-boys Christian Brothers Academy, which gets an A, and Saint Leo the Great School, which serves prekindergarten through eighth-grade students and is unrated by Niche. Brookdale Community College gets a B-plus and is rated the best community college in New Jersey.
Large lots, manicured yards and a variety of home styles
Homes are organized along winding roads or gridded streets and some areas have narrow sidewalks. Many have manicured yards large enough for pools. “Houses have nice yards, and they’re not really close together here,” says Krall. “We have big lots; the smallest lots we have are around a third of an acre.” Townhouses, condos, single-family and multifamily homes are often New Traditional, Colonial Revival and split-level styles. Townhouses and condos range from $825,000 to $1.1 million. Single and multifamily homes range from $550,000 to $850,000, while larger houses range from $950,000 to $2 million. “With Lincroft, there are some neighborhoods that are relatively affordable and some that are over a million dollars,” says Krall. “I live in a smaller neighborhood where you can still get a house for $700,000 or a little less. This is more appealing to first-time homebuyers.”
Recreation through Monmouth County Parks
The Sunnyside Equestrian Center is part of the Monmouth County Park System and provides therapeutic horseback riding for those with physical and mental disabilities. The 667-acre Thompson Park has a recently renovated racing stable and a historic visitor center. The park has nearly 5 miles of paved trails, tennis courts, a playground and a lake for fishing, kayaking and boating. The park also has a 1.5-acre off-leash dog park. Lincroft Park is a large, forested area with hiking paths and manicured soccer fields. The Swimming River that passes through the park is used for fishing.
Commuters use the Garden State Parkway and public transportation
“We are close to the ocean, New York and Philadelphia,” says Krall. Lincroft is about 11 miles from the shoreline for summer beach trips. The Garden State Parkway leads from Lincroft to New York City, 46 miles away, and Jersey City, 43 miles away. Interstate 95 leads to Philadelphia, 72 miles away. There’s a Lincroft Park and Ride, 2 miles away. Academy buses take commuters to Port Authority, Jersey City and Wall Street. The Red Bank train station is 3 miles from Lincroft and brings commuters to Penn Station on the New Jersey Coast Rail Line in 90 minutes. The Middletown train station is 5 miles from Lincroft and also reaches Penn Station in 90 minutes. Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center is 4 miles away. The Newark Liberty International Airport is 34 miles away, and the Philadelphia International Airport is 89 miles away.
Community and county events and activities
Monmouth Park, 7 miles from Lincroft, has horse racing and events throughout the year, such as car shows, wine tastings and food festivals. “The Monmouth County Parks have all kinds of programs, like summer camp for kids, art shows and classes,” says Krall. Thompson Park hosts an acting camp and a fine arts camp for kids. Adults can participate in sports programs and classes on painting and cross-stitching.
The Lincroft Village Green Association is a civic organization made up of community members. The association hosts events year-round, such as an Easter egg hunt and petting zoo in the spring, pictures with Santa, tree lightings and menorah lightings in the winter. Krall says the Lincroft Village Green Association holds an annual townwide yard sale each April. In June, the Church of Saint Leo the Great holds a carnival, with classic fair rides, vendors and carnival games. Other houses of worship in the area include the Islamic Society of Monmouth County and the Church of Saint Catherine.
Shopping and dining in Lincroft and Red Bank
Charlie’s of Lincroft is an upscale eatery along Newman Springs Road serving American fare and is known for their steak and seafood dishes. Nearby, Luigi’s Famous Pizza Restaurant and Catering shares a building with Queso Grill, which serves Mexican cuisine, burgers and salads. Also along Newman Springs Road is ACME Markets for groceries. More restaurants and retailers are in Red Bank, 3 miles away, such as Birravino, a popular Italian restaurant. The eatery serves classic dishes and pizzas in a rustic, modern setting.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
Photography Contributed By
John Georgiadis
