THE NEW "INLET TRAIL" IS OPEN AT BULLS ISLAND
JUNE 4, 2022:
We are super excited to introduce our park visitors to the much anticipated "Inlet Trail" at Bulls Island in Delaware and Kingwood Townships, Hunterdon County. For those of you who are long-time visitors to the Bulls Island Recreation Area, you will know that this much beloved section of the park, located alongside the scenic Delaware River, has been inaccessible to the public for several years. On June 3rd this new trail was officially opened for public use. It is is located between the Delaware & Raritan Canal and Delaware River and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a 1.3 mile leisurely stroll through shaded woods with scenic and historic views of the park.
On June 3rd The Department of Environmental Protection's Deputy Commissioner for Legal, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Sean Moriarty, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites John Cecil and D&R Canal Commission Vice Chairman Bruce Stout along with park employees Patricia Kallesser, Marsha Apffel and Stephanie Fox helped to cut the ribbon to the new "Inlet Trail."
We hope many of you have explored and enjoyed this new trail. For those who haven't, we certainly invite you to come by for a visit and enjoy!
REPAIRS TO THE TOWPATH IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP TO BEGIN
MARCH 23, 2022
BE ADVISED:
UPDATE: MAY 10, 2022
BE ADVISED:
UPDATE: JULY 7, 2022
BE ADVISED:
Work crews will be mobilizing at the Five Mile Lock parking area and resurfacing the path in Franklin Township (Somerset County) adjacent to Easton Avenue between Landing Lane and the Five Mile Lock Parking Area. Park visitors may encounter flag crews to safely direct them down the path. We ask for your patience while this much anticipated project is underway. For everyone's safety we ask our park patrons to be cooperative and mindful of the contractor's instructions. PLEASE NOTE that the Landing Lane Spillway will soon be under repair/restoration and visitors CANNOT access the Landing Lane Bridge from the trail.
Work has been completed between Landing Lane and Chapel Drive in Zarephath.
Work will continue south of Chapel Drive towards Griggstown beginning the week of May 23rd.
Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions.
Thank you for your continued patience as the park continues to recover from Tropical Storm Ida damage.
We are pleased to report that the towpath restoration/resurfacing has been completed from Landing Lane to Blackwells Mills. Work is now progressing south of Blackwells Mills towards Rocky Hill at Route 518.
Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions when encountering the work crews.
Your continued patience with this storm recovery effort is much appreciated.
EAST MILLSTONE BRIDGE TENDER'S STATION RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS UNDERWAY
March 1, 2022
Some of our park visitors may have noticed construction on a small structure next to the canal and bridge tender’s house in East Millstone. What looks at first glance like an unimportant small outdoor shed is actually a reconstruction of East Millstone’s historic bridge tender’s station - one of five similar surviving buildings that once served the needs of the tenders who operated the swing bridges at their assigned locations. This station was literally “hanging on the edge,” clinging to the side of the eroding canal bank - a victim of the passing years and continual flooding events. Thanks to the dogged support of the D&R Canal Watch, starting funds were raised and then supplemented in large measure by the D&R Canal Commission paving the way for the project to begin. Pieces of the historic station that could be salvaged and reused were carefully removed, saved and then used in the reconstruction of this small, but significant, piece of D&R history. An idea that began years ago is at long last underway! We are grateful to the staunch support of our partners at the D&R Canal Commission, D&R Canal Watch, HMR Architects, Hawley Brothers and our colleagues at the NJ State Historic Preservation Office and Office of Resource Development who all helped make this preservation effort a reality. Successful preservation projects DO take a village!
UPDATE: March 12, 2022
The rebuild of the bridge tender's station at East Millstone is completed! These before and after shots brilliantly capture its rebirth and transformation. It sure looks lovely with its first light dusting of snow.
REPAIRS TO THE TOWPATH IN LAMBERTVILLE BEGUN AND COMPLETED
MARCH 18, 2022
Tropical Storm Ida towpath repairs in Lambertville will get underway the week of March 21st and continue for approximately 5 days.
Work crews will be mobilizing, resurfacing and working on the path between Elm Street (adjacent to Nieces Lumber) north to the 202 parking area adjacent to the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum. Patrons may encounter flag crews to safely direct them down the towpath. Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions. As always, we thank you for your patience as this work progresses.
UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2022
Repairs to the towpath have been completed along this stretch in Lambertville. The path has been resurfaced, rolled and is now ready to be used and safely enjoyed!
REPAIRS TO TOWPATH ALONG QUAKER ROAD NOW COMPLETED
UPDATED: JANUARY 19, 2022
We are pleased to report that Quaker Road in Princeton, closed since sustaining damage from Hurricane Ida, has, at long last, reopened for vehicular traffic! As part of the project to restore the road, the embankment alongside the towpath has also now been repaired.
The towpath was rebuilt, filled-in, graded and a rolled, top stone coat has now been applied. This repaired section of the path is fully open and accessible to our visitors! We thank you for your patience and cooperation as the DOT crews worked diligently to complete this repair.
