The Herrontown Woods and the Autumn Hill Reservation have been “adopted” by the Friends of Herrontown Woods – at least, for maintenance purposes.
The Princeton Council approved agreements with the nonprofit Friends of Herrontown Woods under New Jersey’s “Adopt-A-Park Law.” The agreement to maintain each park is for 10 years.
State law allows municipalities to approve agreements with nonprofit groups or business entities to provide for the maintenance, operation or improvements of a town’s parks and open spaces.
The FOHW has managed the Herrontown Woods and the Autumn Hill Reservation on a voluntary basis since 2013, but the resolutions approving the adoption of the parks formalizes the partnership between the town and the nonprofit goup.
According to the agreements, the trails within the Herrontown Woods and the Autumn Hill Reservation will be maintained by the FOHW. The nonprofit group also will control and treat invasive species.
New trails cannot be created without the town’s permission. Only wood chips or similar natural material can be used for a new trail. The FOHW, however, may close trails with the town’s permission if they become too expensive or impractical to maintain, according to the agreements.
The trails will be kept open to the public. The FOHW may provide or sponsor guided walks or talks for the public, and also hold volunteer work sessions for cleanup and invasive species removal.
The Herrontown Woods is a 148-acre woodland preserve bordered by Snowden Lane, Herrontown Road and Bunn Drive. A small parking lot for up to 20 cars is located off Snowden Lane, with parking for 12 cars off Herrontown Road.
There are more than four miles of unpaved trails and boardwalks winding throughout the preserve. The trails are accessible from the parking lots on Snowden Lane and Herrontown Road.
The trails also are accessible from Windy Top Court, Princeton Community Village, Stone Hill Church and from Herrontown Road, across from the parking lot for the Autumn Hill Reservation. They also connect to the All Saints Preserve to the south.
Next to the Snowden Lane parking lot, visitors can see the Botanical Art Garden. It was created by FOHW and features native plantings, art pieces, games, a gazebo and additional seating areas.
The smaller Autumn Hill Reservation is bordered by Herrontown Road. It is a 77-acre forested preserve, with a small seven-car parking lot off Herrontown Road.
There are two miles of trails and boardwalks that meander through the preserve. They can be reached from the parking lot, as well as from small spur trails at Cordova Road and Blue Spring Road in Montgomery Township.
Stone walls mark the remnants of farming activity from the 1800s. The stone walls mark off fields and pastures. There is even an abandoned car from the 1930s or 1940s in the park.
