FORMER GLORY: The beauty of Trenton’s Cadwalader Park, considered to be landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s last great urban park, has been revitalized, hosting gatherings such as this recent birding event. (Photo by Jay Watson)

By Anne Levin

When Becky Taylor and her husband moved to Trenton’s Hiltonia neighborhood eight years ago, Cadwalader Park was in a state of decline. The 109.5-acre expanse of majestic trees and winding paths — right across the street from their house — was designed in the late 19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the father of American landscape architecture and the designer, with Calvert Vaux, of New York’s Central Park.

As a co-founder of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail’s network of walking and biking paths, Taylor knew how to mobilize people to revive and rehabilitate green space. She soon had local residents and environmentalists hard at work with rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrows, clearing paths and digging out overgrown weeds. Thanks to their efforts, and a major, post-pandemic cleanup by the City of Trenton and Mercer County, Cadwalader Park has reclaimed much of its former glory.

The Cadwalader Park Alliance (CPA), which Taylor co-chairs, is recognizing this renewal with a revised website, currently under development. A key element is a section in which members of the public are invited to share their favorite recollections. “Cadwalader Park Memories” will showcase these reflections along with photographs, also submitted by the public.

“We are looking for heartwarming tales spanning all ages and stages of life, offering readers views of Cadwalader Park’s impact on our community,” Taylor said in a press release. “Whether it’s fun with family, encounters with wildlife, or something else, the Cadwalader Park Alliance wants to hear about your memories in the park. We also invite you to submit photos that you have taken without any text accompaniment, to appear throughout the website.”

Recalling the massive clean-up efforts and the work of the city and county, Taylor said that the effort was overwhelming. But the work by the city and county made all the difference.

“Ultimately, the park has come alive again,” she said. “When I moved here, you couldn’t really tell where the paths were. They were lined with Belgian block. We dug them out, and pulled out the overgrown weeds. And when the pros came and started working on it, it got better and better.”

During a phone conversation, Taylor noticed a truck from the city, across from her house.

“They’re doing some special work here,” she said. “Trenton has made this a priority. The city recently had the loop around the interior completely repaved, and it’s gorgeous. Also, there has been a real effort to plant trees in Trenton, and a part of that has been the planting of trees in Cadwalader Park.”

Photos from the park’s turn-of-the-century heyday show crowds attending concerts in a bandshell, having picnics, going on pony rides, boating, and relaxing on benches. Shots taken in later years show children watching animals in a paddock, playing ball, and just enjoying the outdoors. Taylor found a lot of images at the Trenton Public Library’s Trentoniana Collection, including some of the popular Petey the Bear, and The Balloon Man.

The CPA is focused on monthly events, which have recently included sessions on birding and tree-plantings. The new website will focus on news and events, the history of the park, and the section on memories. The site is expected to go live in the next few months.

“I think the memories section will be the best section,” Taylor said. “I don’t care if you’re young, old, or whatever. Anyone who has been around here has some kind of memory of the park, and we want to know what it is.”

To submit memories, which should be labeled as memories or photos — with an email address and phone number in case follow-up is needed — email cadparkalliance@gmail.com.