We’re making progress in clearing our trails of fallen trees after Sandy.
Three WWBPA volunteers cleared the fallen trees off the dog run trail in Community Park. There were several trees blocking the popular blacktop trail and a great deal of debris and leaves on the pathway. It is now clear for all to use.
One day later, a large crew of volunteers tackled the down trees in the Rogers Preserve trails. One section was so bad that we had to re-route the trail around a large fallen tree. Even so, most of the Preserve is now cleared, with only a couple of very large trees yet to be cut. These will be tackled soon, but they are passable with a little effort. Many thanks to all who helped, particularly to Phil, the “Minnesota lumberjack” who impressed us with his chainsaw skills. Some of us had never seen a giant rootball and stump settle back into place oh-so-slowly when cut right.
We will keep you updated as we clear more of the open space trails in West Windsor. If anyone wishes to join us on our next “work day”, please send an email to wwbikeped@gmail.com. We’ll also send out an email to our members. Feel free to bring a friend. The more people who help, the faster we can get our trails back to normal.
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance and Friends of West Windsor Open Space invite you to join us for some maintenance on the Rogers Arboretum and Rogers Preserve trails. We will beat the heat by meeting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 12 in the Rogers Arboretum parking lot on Clarksville Road. We will be clearing trails of brush, weeds and downed trees. If there are enough people, we will tackle Rogers Preserve as well. Otherwise we will do that next.
Bring clippers/loppers, rakes and weed-whackers or something else to take out the weeds. You may want to wear gloves and carry a bottle of water. Children are welcome with their parents. We?ll be done by noon.
Email wwbikeped@gmail.com with any questions, and feel free to bring some friends.
The WWBPA needs your help to clear the Millstone trails of the damage done by Irene.
Join us at 1 p.m. Sunday Sept. 25 in the Millstone Preserve parking lot (Millstone Road). Bring loppers, rakes, and (if you have one) a gas chain saw or trimmer. Don’t forget gloves and bug spray!
Consider it an extension of National Public Lands Day, which is Saturday, Sept. 24. Entrance fees at all national parks across the country will be waived that day. For list of national parks in New Jersey, click here. The day is also a huge nationwide volunteer event; help clean up and maintain our public lands (and that’s more than just the national parks. Several volunteer events are planned for our area; the list is here.
Part of the Rogers Preserve (a former Christmas Tree farm, with entrances on Clarksville Road, Landing Lane and Berkshire Drive) was down to a single track until the WWBPA and some neighborhood volunteers took on the weeds. (Other parts had been recently mowed by the township.) Now there’s room to run!
We’re tackling the Rogers Preserve trails on Sunday (July 31) and could use your help. Yes, your kids’ help too.
To beat the heat, we’ll start at 9 a.m., meeting across from 17 Landing Lane. Plenty of street parking.
Bring loppers, weed-whackers and anything else that will help cut back overgrowth and weeds. There will be plenty of shade, but still, don’t forget water!
These trails were developed by the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance and Friends of West Windsor Open Space. Don’t know the trails? This is a great way to discover them.
Are you involved with a scout troop? This is a great group activity. Let us know if you’d like to co-organize another trail day.
West Windsor’s latest acquisition of open space fits in with a strategy of developing a network of trails linking natural areas.? The latest purchase is 27.59 acres along Clarksville Road next to a nesting area for? blue herons.? The trail will run from Clarksville Road to parking lot (or nearest walking path) at the rear of Duck Pond Park, which fronts on Meadow Road, and will be developed in partnership with Friends of West Windsor Open Space (FOWWOS).
Because the path would cross Duck Pond Run and go through rather thick woods protected by wetlands restrictions, permits from the State Department of Environmental Protection will be needed.
FOWWOS was instrumental in developing the trails in the Millstone and Zaitz Preserves with help from the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance.
This latest acquisition will be paid for by funds from the township’s dedicated open space fund, Mercer County’s open space fund, and FOWWOS.
Monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month via Zoom due to Covid. We will eventually resume meeting in the West Windsor Municipal Building, room D (lower level). Email us at wwbikeped@gmail.com if you would like the Zoom code.
Find us at the West Windsor Farmers Market (Vaughn Drive parking lot) from 9 am to 1 pm every other Saturday from May through Halloween.
We’re making progress in clearing our trails of fallen trees after Sandy.
West Windsor’s latest acquisition of open space fits in with a strategy of developing a network of trails linking natural areas.? The latest purchase is 27.59 acres along Clarksville Road next to a nesting area for? blue herons.? The trail will run from Clarksville Road to parking lot (or nearest walking path) at the rear of Duck Pond Park, which fronts on Meadow Road, and will be developed in partnership with Friends of West Windsor Open Space (FOWWOS).