Cattus Island Park is a 530 acre park located in Dover Township, NJ, a densely populated municipality within Ocean County. Cattus Island offers a wide range of habitats and ecosystems.

The first ecosystem, located in Cattus Island Park, is an upland pine/oak forest, which is mostly comprised of oak trees (Quercus sp.) and a few scatterings of pine trees, such as the pitch pines (Pinus rigida) and the short leaf yellow pines (Pinus echinata). Even though Cattus Island Park is a maritime forest, within its pine/oak forest, one can find many of the same shrubs and animal species that are native to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

Cattus Island Park offers a second ecosystem: a freshwater wetland. This wetland is dominated by hardwood trees such as Red or Swamp Maple (Acer rubrum), Sour Gum or Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) and a wide variety of others. There are a few small stands of living Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) located in this wetland area. However, in this area, large stands of dead Atlantic white cedar also exist. They have been standing since the 1920's. Prior to the 1920's, the northern part of the Barnegat Bay, where Cattus Island is located, was mainly fresh water. After the Manasquan inlet was constructed, saltwater from the ocean infiltrated into the Northern portion of the bay. As a result, the Atlantic white cedar, which is an obligate freshwater species, was killed.

The third ecosystem that thrives within the park is a vast track of salt marsh, which contains several species of Spartina grasses. It is from these salt marshes that Cattus Island gets part of its name. Several times a year, the marshes flood. This is often a result of snowmelt, spring/summer storms or high tides. During the floods, the second bit of upland is completely inaccessible. Hence, it becomes an 'island'.

The last private owner of the Cattus Island Park property was John V.A. Cattus. Therefore, the land was named 'Cattus' Island Park after him. Cattus was a wealthy man, who used the island as his vacation home. He was an avid hunter, making use of the wildlife that lived within the park's forests and marshes. He spent most of his time fishing in the bay and raising livestock on his farm. John Cattus also founded the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, which is still in existence today. Having been a spectator of sailboat racing for years (John Cattus built his gazebo in strict view of the bay's sailboat races), he could not help but become more active in the sport. Unfortunately, his estate cannot be explored today. In the early 1980's, unfortunately the Cattus family farmhouse was destroyed by fire. Photos of the home are on display at the Cooper Environmental Center.

At the end of the park's one-mile causeway is the fourth and final ecosystem: the bay beach. Tens of thousands of school children frequent this beach each year to learn bay ecology. Pages Point, also located at the end of the one-mile causeway, was named after Timothy Page, a privateer for the United States government during the American Revolution. Page's legend is still told today. Luring British ships into the harbor, Page would hang lanterns on tall treetops, deceiving the British troops with a sign of welcome and safety. As the ships dropped anchor, Page would capture the crew and plunder thier supplies. He would then sail the ships up the Toms River to port and deliver the much needed supplies to the colonists and soldiers .

The complex ecology that exists within Cattus Island Park is rare and awe-inspiring. Not only does science drive the masses to investigate and explore every crevice of this Jersey beauty, but the park's history gives the natural space a soul.