South Mountain Recreation Complex

Activities at the complex include a zoo, ice skating/hockey rinks, a safari-theme miniature golf course, a forest adventure park, a restaurant, paddle boats, a nautical theme playground, and a 1.75 miles (2.82 km) walking loop around the Orange Reservoir.

Prior to the formation of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, the north-western portion of the South Mountain Reservation had been home of the Turtle Back Zoo, the Richard J. Codey Arena and a park and ride facility.

[3] The second phase was completed in 2011 with the creation of Treetop Adventure, the expansion of the zoo called Big Cat Country Exhibit[4] and the opening of the restaurant.

However, the project was on hold as the county had not negotiated the purchase of the reservoir and its surrounding lands from the City of Orange.

[10] There were also other obstacles on county's attempts to purchase or lease the property including a lawsuit from the City of Orange on the damage claim due to the county's zoo operation[11] and West Orange's claim of unpaid property tax.