Friends of Carson Road Woods: News

Deadline looms for trail grant

Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrence Ledger

June 3, 2004

Lawrence could seek $200K for bike path.

Township Council must decide by mid-June whether it wants to apply for a state grant that would pay for installing a portion of the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail through the township-owned Carson Road Woods property.

A resolution that would authorize an application for a state Department of Transportation grant is expected to be placed on the agenda for Township Council's June 16 meeting, Municipal Manager William Guhl told the council Tuesday night. The grant filing deadline is July 1.

A portion of the 20-mile-long loop trail was opened in the village of Lawrenceville during Lawrenceville Main Street's Jubilee celebration Sunday but closure has not been reached on a proposal to install the path through the Carson Road Woods, Mr. Guhl said. He also serves on the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail Task Force. The pedestrian and bicycle trail connects the two townships.

If Lawrence Township applies for the grant and the DOT approves it, there likely would be enough money to pay for the entire cost of installing the path through the Carson Road Woods property, he said. The grant would likely be around $200,000, he added.

Although the route has not been finalized, it would start at the entrance to the property on Carson Road, Mr. Guhl said. The 4,500-foot-long path would mostly follow farm roads on the property, staying away from the residential properties that border the tract, he said.

Councilman Rick Miller, who belongs to the Friends of Carson Road Woods and whose property borders the tract, questioned what would happen if the DOT only awarded a partial grant to the township. The township received $25,000 half of what it had applied for to install a portion of the path through an 800-foot stretch of woods between the end of the path in Village Park and Keefe Road.

Deputy Mayor Pam Mount, who also serves on the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail Task Force, said the township could reapply for another grant. The township has three years to spend the grant money that it receives.

When Mr. Miller raised a question about the width of the path, Mr. Guhl said it would be 6 feet to 10 feet wide. Mr. Guhl said he had made it clear to Lawrence-Hopewell Trail backers that Township Council has the final say on the route of the path through the Carson Road Woods property.

Mr. Miller also pointed out that although the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail Task Force had made overtures to meet with neighborhood groups, it met once with the neighbors last summer. He said the Friends of Carson Road Woods Inc., plans to meet June 9, but the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail Task Force has not contacted the group.

Mr. Miller said it was his understanding that when Lawrence Township acquired the 183-acre parcel in 2001, it was to remain undisturbed. A bicycle or pedestrian path through the woods, however, would be disruptive, he said.

The Friends of Carson Road Woods Inc., which helps to maintain the tract, has objected to suggestions to install a 10-foot-wide asphalt path through it. The group encourages people to use the existing unpaved trails in the park.