Peters Brook is approximately six miles long, beginning near the west side of I-287 and emptying into the Raritan River south of Somerville.
The Brook is named for Peter Van Nest,[1] son of Dutch immigrant Pieter Van Nest.[2] The homestead of the Van Nest family was in nearby Raritan near Glaser Avenue.[3]
Peters Brook is notable for having high phosphate levels and flooding, receiving large amounts of stormwater.
Peters Brook Greenway
Greenway entry point at Mountain Avenue in Somerville
A 1.5-mile-long gravel pathway in Somerville traces the course of the brook through the borough. The trail is about eight feet wide and runs from Mountain Avenue to High Street.[4] The brook also traverses Flockhart Park, which is accessible from US-202 South in Bridgewater right before the Somerset Shopping Center and Somerville Circle exit. Flockhart Park was named after former Somerville Mayor Thomas Flockhart.
