New trail celebrated in Montgomery

Goal is to link walkway with D&R Canal towpath

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — The township Open Space Committee recently organized a nature walk to celebrate the completion of a new trail that links the Mill Pond Bridge, the floodplains of Pike Brook and River Road in the township.
   The committee hopes the "Mill Pond to River Road Trail" will be the beginning of a series of connections that will allow walking among all of the surrounding municipalities: Princeton, Hopewell Township, East Amwell, Franklin and Hillsborough.
   The walk began at the stone-arched Mill Pond bridge, near historic Opie’s Mill at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The walk stretched along Pike Brook, where it led to the 600 feet of boardwalk installed two summers ago. The walk ended at River Road, where the participants then turned back for the mill pond.
   "The Open Space Committee is working to coordinate with the D&R Canal Park and Somerset County officials to continue this pathway into the state park, where it may someday connect to the towpath of the canal," said Clem Fiori, the Open Space Committee chairman.
   "Curbing has recently been added to the boardwalk to make it more safe, as well as a ramp at the end," Mr. Fiori said.
   "The purpose of this walk was to introduce these new additions to the town," he added. "We want this to be the start of people getting outside more, for them to have reason to go for a long walk. Our plan is to join the paths of all the surrounding towns in the future."
   Mr. Fiori promoted the walk through an e-mail list, as well as through Tamara Garaffa, Montgomery Township’s public information officer, and more than 40 people were able to attend.
   "More walks are definitely planned for the spring," Mr. Fiori said.