• 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 FREE 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)
    • Picnic outings and biking trails. Three beach volley ball courts
    • Barrier free Lake Side Village Playground.
    • The Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center located in Mercer Park is the U.S. Olympic Training Site for Rowing and the only Olympic Training site in New Jersey.
    • The Olympic, Senior, Under-23 and Junior National Teams all train and/or are selected on Mercer Lake.
    • Mercer Lake recently hosted major rowing competitions such as the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, FISA World Master Rowing Championships, NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships, Scholastic Rowing Association of America Championships and the Metro-Area Athletic Conference (MAAC) Collegiate Championships
    • Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA) through the Mercer Junior Rowing Club (MJRC) provides opportunities for students from 20 Mercer County area high schools without rowing programs to excel in competitive rowing.
    • PNRA provides opportunities for inner city youth from Trenton to experience the sport of rowing.
    • The Hun School, Lawrenceville School and Peddie School rowing programs all call Mercer Lake home.
    • For information on rowing programs contact PNRA at www.rowpnra.org
    • Interesting Facts- In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the US Rowing athletes who trained on Lake Mercer won the Gold medal in the Men’s Eight and Silver in the Women’s Eight.
    • In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Women’s Eight won the Gold medal, the Women’s Single won the Silver medal and the Men’s Eight won the Bronze medal.
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  • Boat Rental Hours and General Information
    • Weekends & holidays May 24th to June 14th from 12:00 to 6:00 PM
    • June 17th to Sept 7th (Labor Day) Wed thru Fri 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Sat and Sun 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
    • All rentals are weather permitting
    • We rent rowboats and pedal boats with a max capacity of 4 people. Kayaks are single person only.
    • 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)
    • You must be at least 17 years old to rent a boat.
    • Fishing is permitted from row boat only.
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  • New for 2009
    • 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 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM
    • Guided Pontoon boat nature tours with county naturalist contact Jlear@mercercounty.org for more information.
    • 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.
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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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