Friends of Carson Road Woods: News

Lawrence weighs grant matter

Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrence Ledger

June 24, 2004

Council will discuss bike trail Wednesday.

Eight-year-old Andrew Moldoff didn't want the trail.

"Why do they want to hurt mother nature?" he asked his mother, Holly Ferris.

The mother and son were among the more than 50 people that went to the Lawrence Township Council meeting June 16 which resulted in council deciding to apply for a $200,000 state grant to fund the installation of a 10-foot-wide, solid bike path through the township-owned Carson Road Woods property.

"This is basically a quality of life issue," said Charles Carmalt of Birchwood Lane, a supporter of the path. "We need to decide whether we want to enjoy what we have, or isolate it."

Council was split over whether to apply for the grant. Councilman Rick Miller moved to table the vote on the application, but that motion failed. The resolution was passed with a 4-1 vote, with Mr. Miller providing the lone opposition on the Council.

There were many in the audience, however, who agreed with the Councilman."

"What I find hard to believe is the lack of planning that went into something so irreversible," said Kirk Moldoff of Carson Road. "It's as if you had a beautiful son or daughter and they went out and impulsively got a tattoo and scarred their beauty forever. It's irreversible."

While the first portion of the trail opened earlier this month at the Lawrenceville Main Street's Jubilee celebration, the Carson Road Woods section has been delayed for a year.

The Township applied for the same grant last summer, but withdrew it application because of opposition from homeowners whose properties adjoin the 183-acre parcel of land bordered by Carson Road, Belleview Terrace, and Carter and Province Line Roads.

"To me, it's just not appropriate for, essentially a road, to go through a wildlife refuge," said Mary Lincoln of Carter Road.

The crowd seemed to agree, as several members raised signs reading, "What do they want? 10 ft paved highway through preserved Greenland!" and "Fact: bike trail wider than Carson Road."

Friends of Carson Road Woods, Inc., comprised of homeowners devoted to maintaining the tract, argued that the public will be best served by preserving the woods as they are.

"Why alter something so beautiful?" asked Pat Clancy of Carson Road. "Why alter something so peaceful?" Why take away something that can never be replaced?"

Many in the Friends say they contributed money toward the purchase of the woods because they believed it would remain untouched, but proponents of the trail countered that it would make the woods accessible and appealing to the maximum number of people whether they're on foot or wheels.

"Everyone paid for this land," said Councilman Greg Puliti. "I realize some people donated funds, but everyone should be able to use and enjoy the land."

The Township purchased Carson Road Woods with $8.4 million in private and public money. The Delaware & Raritan Greenway raised $3 million, Bristol-Myers Squibb contributed $1 million and the rest came from the state, county and township.

Many members of the public also pointed out that the woods has been classified as a passive recreation park and putting a bike path through it would challenge its classification.

"We consider a bike trail to still be passive recreation," said Deputy Mayor Pam Mount. She gave Central Park as an example for an active recreation park.

Eleanor Horne, an ETS vice president and spokeswoman for the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, proposed a compromise and suggested an environmentally safe 8-foot-wide path around the perimeter of the property rather than through it.

Ms Horne also mentioned using a surface that would allow the path to be constructed once and then left alone.

Municipal Manager William Guhl said the only paths that require very little maintenance are hard surface ones, such as ones made of concrete or asphalt, and that 10 feet was a state standard.

"Just so everyone knows, the idea for a 10 foot trail didn't come out of the sky," Mr. Guhl said. "The state of New Jersey will support an 8-foot trail, but there has to be a compelling reason."