West Windsor walk will celebrate nature trails

Saturday events mark National Trails Day

By: Olivia Tattory
   WEST WINDSOR — Spring has sprung and with summer right around the corner, it seems only natural to celebrate the walking trails in the area.
   In celebration of National Trails Day, The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance (WWBPA) and Friends of West Windsor Open Space (FOWWOS) will host a walk, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday along the Millstone River and Bear Brook.
   This is the second year the two organizations are holding the event and according to Ken Carlson, president of WWBPA and second vice president of FOWWOS, the turnout is expected to be large.
   "This event is to introduce area residents to several miles of beautiful new trails," said Mr. Carlson. "Many of the residents don’t realize what is basically in their own backyard."
   The event is sponsored by the two organizations but the restoration and preservation of the trails really was a community effort, Mr. Carlson said. The trails have been developed by teams of individuals and community members, including Girl Scout Troop 600 of West Windsor.
   The troop adopted The Rogers Preserve early this year after designating the area as a community service venture needed to obtain the Girl Scouts’ Bronze Award. After visiting the site on an unexpected warm day in January, the troop loved it so much they decided to maintain and preserve the trails on a regular basis, said Carey Bloom, co-leader and mother of Carly Bloom, a troop member.
   "The most exciting thing for the girls was when they blazed their own trail," said Ms. Bloom. "Besides removing the litter and sprucing up the areas of the trails already there, this was something unexpected that we were able to."
   "The Speckled Rock," as the troop named the trail after a speckled rock they found along it, serves as a connector between two existing trails in the preserve. The troop has also created trail markers to be placed along the trail in the upcoming months. The Rogers Preserve, which is bordered by Bear Brook and Grovers Mill Pond, has been preserved for two years because of efforts by the FOWWOS.
   The walk, which will cover three miles and last about one hour, will begin at the Millstone River Preserve in the gravel parking lot off Millstone Road. Several Township Council members are expected to attend. It will then cross Joanne Street to the trails in Millstone Preserve West followed by the Rogers Preserve and Bear Brook. Ending at Grovers Mill Pond, the walk will then rejoin the Millstone Trail.
   West Windsor resident and naturalist Kevin Appelget will continue the event with a nature and wildlife hike through the Millstone River Preserve while identifying the flora and fauna along the trails.
   The rain date for the event is 1 p.m. Sunday. For more information on the event visit www.princetononline.org/wwbpa.