To the Editor,

I would like to make known the extraordinary volunteer efforts that have transformed Herrontown Woods in recent months. Located out Snowden Lane, up along the boulder-strewn ridge in northeastern Princeton, Herrontown Woods was Princeton’s first dedicated nature preserve, beginning with 85 acres donated in 1957 by the famous visionary mathematician Oswald Veblen and his wife Elizabeth. Once a popular destination, its beautiful trails were made nearly impassible in recent years by storm damage and invasive shrubs.

This summer, however, Kurt Tazelaar and Sally Curtis took on the task of clearing all the trails, not only in Herrontown Woods but in the adjoining Autumn Hill Reservation as well — an area totaling some 200 acres. Their passion and commitment to the task, putting in more than 400 hours over three months, is a testament to the transformative power of community spirit. Town staff, without the time and resources to keep Princeton’s nature trails open, thankfully gave this work the green light. For my part, having helped on some of the workdays, I can speak to the tremendous satisfaction that comes from clearing trails and making the beauty of the eastern Princeton ridge accessible once more, not to mention the significant bonus of physical conditioning for those of us who are gym-averse.

Also exemplifying the can-do community spirit at Herrontown Woods was a recent workday by members of the Rotary Club of Princeton, 12 of whom gave their time and energy to the removing of invasive plants and debris at the preserve. I had somehow managed to live in Princeton for ten years without knowing of the Rotary’s remarkable work, not only here and in Trenton but also on health-related projects internationally, in India, Africa, and northern Argentina. Rotary’s gearwheel logo represents the “meshing” of Rotary with other organizations for useful purpose, and they have meshed beautifully with the newly formed Friends of Herrontown Woods.

These investments of positive energy at Herrontown Woods are well-timed with an initiative by the municipality and local nonprofit organizations to develop a master plan for the eastern Princeton Ridge, which includes all the parcels recently acquired that complete preservation of a wildlife corridor all the way from River Road up to Bunn Drive and beyond.

The success of Kurt and Sally’s trail initiative depended on government acknowledging its shortcomings, and allowing skilled volunteers with a lot of devotion and resourcefulness to fill the void. This arrangement is modeled on the Friends of Princeton Open Space trails committee’s ongoing maintenance of Mountain Lakes Preserve. The Friends group for Rogers Refuge has worked similar wonders, through a mix of volunteer effort and professional services, raising funds when and if they are needed.

The same model needs to be extended to restoring the Veblen House and cottage as historic and potentially functional features of Herrontown Woods. In the void created by government inattention, those who care should be allowed to get down to work and save public assets. A proposal to do so awaits approval by Mercer County.

Stephen Hiltner

Friends of Herrontown Woods, North Harrison Street