By Frank Mustac, Contributor
With the goal of completing another segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, the Township Committee unanimously gave its consent to apply for grant money to help pay for the endeavor.
If awarded, the grant money would go towards building a trail segment proposed for the eastern portion of the 320-acre Mount Rose Preserve, which straddles Carter Road just south of Pennington-Rocky Hill Road.
Federal funds are available for eligible projects from the Transportation Alternatives Grant program administered through the state Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
“This is a competitive grant from the NJDOT,” Township Administrator Paul Pogorzelski said during the Oct. 24 meeting. “It provides for funding up to one million dollars.”
Mr. Pogorzelksi explained that the township in the past has assisted in obtaining funds for the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) from various sources.
“There have been private-sector funds,” he said. “There has been (funding from) our open space trust fund. We have previously received NJDOT grant funds, and we’ve also received Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission funds.”
Becky Taylor, co-president of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation, told the Township Committee that the trail through Hopewell is close to being finished.
“We’re very excited about that,” Ms. Taylor said. “And we’re thrilled there is some possibility of getting a significant chunk of money to help us build the trail through the Mount Rose Preserve.”
She said people attending the special events that frequently take place on the trail, such as the Trail and Treat Ride for families with young children held Oct. 23. and the Full Moon ride held in September, often come up to her and LHT organization co-president Eleanor Horne to express their gratitude for the trail.
“I think the trail is very well regarded,” Ms. Taylor said.
The LHT is a bicycle and pedestrian trail and transportation corridor through public and private land in Lawrence and Hopewell townships.
Of the full 22 miles proposed for trail, 18.7 miles are currently open and accessible to the public, while 3.3 miles remain to be completed, according to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation website.
The corporation is a non-profit organization tasked with developing and maintaining the trail.
The Mount Rose Preserve, named after a nearby historic village and rocky summit, was permanently preserved in 2015 by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Hopewell Valley Citizens Group. Major funding for preservation efforts came from Mercer County, Hopewell Township, Pennington and Hopewell boroughs, the New Jersey Green Acres program and private contributions.
