Freinds of the Lawrence Greenway Logo  
"TAKE A HIKE"  
line decor
  
line decor
 
 
 
 
 
NEWS

February 22, 2009

Loveless Nature Preserve Trail Blazed

Note: After posting this item he blazes, as well as ribbons used to mark newly planted trees, were removed. So this is an unblazed trail right now. We are considering a different way of indicating the trail that is not so easy to obilterate.

The Lawrence Township Greenway Committee has created a trail through the woods of the Loveless Nature Preserve on Eggerts Crossing Road. The blazed trail, shown on the map to the right, begins near the center of the property and runs along the border between the grove of farmed evergreen trees and the woods. The trail then angles off to run parallel to Five Mile Run and ends at the Trolly Line Trail near the site of the future pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Five Mile Run (see article below). The trail is about 1600 ft (nearly 1/3 mile) long.

This is the first trail that the committee has created using its blaze. The trail will be featured in the trail guide to be published and distributed to Lawrence Township residents by the spring.

The preserve was purchased by the township from former police chief Nick Loveless in 2007. Mr. Loveless, who ran a tree farm on the property, sold it to the township for less than a developer would have paid out of his desire to see the property preserved as open space.

  Loveless Nature Preserve Trail Map
  Anne Demarais points to the first blaze

Anne Demarais points to the first blaze

   Peter Wood marks the way

Peter Wood marks the way
 

February 9, 2009
(February 13, 2009 update)

Trolley Trail Bridge Funded by NJDOT

The Township of Lawrence has been awarded a $275,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) to construct a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, and connecting paths, along the former Johnson Trolley Line north of Eggert Crossing Road (see map to right). With matching funds to be provided by the Township, the total cost will be $300,000. The bridge will cross Five Mile Run, a tributary of Shipetaukin Creek.

Construction may be completed by this fall. The timing depends on how quickly the township can get the needed environmental permits from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DOT funds were awarded from their Bikeway Grant Program which supports the state’s goal of constructing 1,000 new miles of dedicated bike paths.

Jim Parvesse, the township’s Municipal Engineer, stated that at least 100 ft of an 8-10 foot wide stone dust path will be constructed along the trolley line right-of-way on each side of the 6-8 foot wide bridge. He is hopeful of extending the paths further than that with judicious use of the funds.

The bridge will establish an important link in the trolley line greenway connecting Rider University in the north to Eggerts Crossing Village and beyond to the south. Currently users must descend to the creek bank to cross.

The township is also applying for a $25,000 grant from the DEP’s New Jersey Trails Program to surface the nearly 700 foot stretch of the trolley line trail from Alcazar Ave. to the existing bridge over the Shabakunk Creek, where the trail crosses into Ewing Township (see map to right). This segment, which will also have a stone dust surface, will connect to the paved greenway to the north to Eggert Crossing Rd.
  Trolly Line Bridge Grant Future Trolley Line Trail Bridge Future Stone Dust Trail Trolley Line Trail crosswalk at foot of Johnson Ave. Future stone dust trail Future stone dust trail from southern end
 

December 17, 2008

Lawrence Hopewell Trail Routed through Maidenhead Meadows

Plans are in place to complete the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) through the Princeton Pike Corporate Center and Maidenhead Meadows. This includes a connection between the LHT and the Delaware and Raritan Canal. (Map and photos to the right).

Lawrence Township has extended the Brearley Meadow Trail (BMT) to the Corporate Center. Brandywine Realty, owners of the center, will construct a link from that point to their newly constructed road that leads to Princeton Pike. A traffic light is to be installed at the intersection with the pike.

Lawrence Towship has also completed construction of a loop trail and parking in Maidenhead Meadows. The loop trail will be connected to Meadow Road and the BMT via an improved bike lane along Princeton Pike. Wetlands preclude a more direct connection between Meadow Road and the loop trail.

Completing the LHT in this area will be the section from the loop trail to Princeton Pike at Foxcroft Drive. Construction is pending the cleanup of dredge spoils from Colonial Lake that are along the planned route as it approaches the pike.
 

Lawrence Hopewell Trail via Maidenhead Meadows LHT at entrance to Princeton Pike Corporate Center Future LHT Brearley Meadow Trail connection to Princeton Pike Corporate Center Brearley Meadow Trail at Brearley House Entrance to Maindenhead Meadows Loop Trail Maidenhead Meadows Loop Trail
Route of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail through the Princeton Pike Corporate Center and Maidenhead Meadows. Click on the camera icons to see photographs from those locations. A higher resolution version of this map is available for download. Right click on the link and select "Save Target As..." (Internet Exporer) or "Save Link As.." (Firefox).