1996 PRINCETON COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN
updated - December 4, 2003

VIII. OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT

RESOLUTION OF THE OPEN SPACE & RECREATION ELEMENT

INTRODUCTION

The Princeton community is approaching build-out and vacant land has become a scarce resource. How we choose to utilize this scarce resource will shape the final development of the community. The debate over affordable housing, senior housing, park development and open space preservation has already intensified. Increasingly difficult choices will have to be made. Princeton does not have enough vacant land to meet all its needs. Important decisions will be presented to the community regarding the uses of the remaining vacant parcels.

The Princeton Community consists of 11,789 acres, and as of June 2003, approximately 1,100 acres of land is considered either vacant or farmland. Approximately 885 of these acres do not have any type of development approvals. Development of about 20 percent of these 885 acres is constrained by environmental conditions such as wetlands or floodplains. Thus, the community has about 700 acres of vacant, developable land for which there will be many competing uses.

An examination of open space and recreation needs must take into account the competing needs identified in other elements of the Master Plan. This element contains a description of the Community's open space and recreation needs and identifies the existing and new facilities necessary to satisfy those needs. The Master Plan is a guide to the governing bodies, Regional Planning Board and the public on appropriate uses for the remaining land. The community must evaluate it goals, priorities, needs and fiscal constraints in order to make decisions on the utilization of this scarce resource.

In 1997, at the recommendation of the Regional Planning Board, the Township voters approved a one cent open space tax which the voters increased to two cents in 2000. This tax generates approximately $462,000 annually which can be used for the acquisition and maintenance of open space and parks. In 2001, the Borough voters approved a one cent open space tax, which generates approximately $100,000 annually that can be used to further the goals of this element.

This stable source of funding has provided the mechanism for the Princeton Community to meet many of its open space and recreation goals. As a result, many of the 1996 Master Plan's recommendations for acquisition, preservation or active recreation use have been implemented. The community's long-standing goal of preserving twenty-five percent of the community's land (public or private) has been attained. While the community should continue to acquire additional lands in accordance with this plan, as opportunities arise, the focus for future expenditures will be more on providing linkages between parks as well as maintaining the existing parks and open space.

Our parks constitute a resource that is valuable both economically and ecologically, and they must be adequately maintained. Currently the Joint Recreation Department and the Borough and Township Public Works Departments are responsible for the maintenance of the community's open spaces. In 2003, the Township created the position of Open Space Manager to oversee the open space areas in the Township.

Approximately 1,000 acres have been preserved since the 1996 Community Master Plan was adopted and three new active recreation parks have been or are under construction. The Community's open space and recreation achievements are summarized in the next section.

RECENT ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION ACHIEVEMENTS

In 1997 the Institute Lands Preservation Committee successfully combined private and public sources of funds to purchase the development rights for 587 acres of the Institute for Advanced Studies 734± acre site. The 587 acres preserved include approximately 225 acres of woods, 228 acres of farmland and 134 acres of the Stony Brook floodplain and buffer zone for the D & R Canal. More than 90 percent of this tract is classified as critical due to a combination of historic significance (Princeton Battlefield, Stony Brook Settlement, D & R Canal Park, Institute Woods and Wildlife Preserve), community values, and environmental sensitivity (floodplain).

The Township added 52 acres to the Woodfield Reservation in 1996 through acquisition. An additional 15 to 20 acres have been added through the dedication of open space by private developers. The Woodfield reservation now includes over 120 acres of wooded open space.

In January 1998, Princeton Township and Princeton Borough purchased the 38-acre Weller tract which has been developed as a public park, Smoyer Park. This tract is located on Snowden Lane and Herrontown Road, adjacent to the Township-owned Van Dyke Wight Tract on Snowden Lane. A small portion of the site has wetlands, which include a small pond and a wooded area around it. The remaining area has been developed for active and passive recreation. A private donation funded construction of the park, named in memory of Barbara Smoyer. Park construction was completed in 2001, and one soccer field, one baseball field, and one multi-purpose field were constructed.

In 2001 the D & R Greenway was the lead agency in purchasing the 60-acre R.W. Johnson property on Rosedale Road. This property was purchased with assistance from the Township, Borough, Mercer County, State and private donations and was renamed Greenway Meadows. Approximately seven acres of land with houses and barns on it were subdivided and sold. The remaining 53 acres are preserved as publicly accessible open space. Construction of an active park is currently under way on 12 acres and will provide one softball field and two soccer fields.

In 2002, a majority of Coventry Farm, a 144 -acre parcel located on both sides of The Great Road, was preserved. A combination of private, state, and municipal funds has permitted approximately 51 acres of the farm to be preserved as a park. Approximately 28.4 acres, located on the east side of The Great Road just north of Mountain Lake Park, have been dedicated to passive recreation and 22.6 acres on the west side of the road will be developed for active recreation. The active portion of the park will provide two soccer fields and two junior sized baseball fields. A conservation easement has been placed on the remaining 92.9 acres assuring that this property remains undeveloped.

Also in 2002, most of the historic Gulick farm was purchased by the Township. This farm has been subdivided to create an 11.6 acre farmstead containing all the historic structures. A conservation and historic preservation easement has been placed on this 11.6 acre parcel. The remaining lands, approximately 28 acres will become a park. Approximately 0.8 acres along Princeton-Kingston Road remain as a future home site.

The community has been able to preserve additional open space and provide public parks through subdivision and site plan regulations. A number of cluster-type residential developments were approved by the Planning Board, which resulted in portions of the sites being set aside as permanent open space. These developments include: Washington Oaks, Pond View, The Ettl Farm, Rushbrook, Princeton Ridge, Campbell Woods, Province Line Woods, and Fieldwood. Open space areas from these developments have been identified on the Open Space and Recreation Map . Some of these parcels are open to the public and others are restricted to homeowners' use only.

Mercer County has acquired 25 of the 82+ acres of the Tusculum Estate. The 25 acres excludes the house itself (which was recently restored by private owners) but includes woodlands surrounding the main house, wetlands and an area of sufficient width to connect Community Park North and Mountain Lakes to John Witherspoon Woods.

The D & R Greenway and Friends of Princeton Open Space purchased 14.4 acres of woodlands along Rosedale Road in front of Johnson Park School now known as Rosedale Road Woods. The preserved area abuts other preserved woodlands and is accessible to the public.

POLICY STATEMENT

Our policy is to preserve, protect, provide, and enhance the open space and recreational resources identified as necessary to serve the Princeton Community. Preservation of parks and open spaces contributes to the natural beauty, variety of experience, ecological health, and sense of place that characterizes Princeton. Active recreation areas provide space for competitive and recreational sports for residents as well as open areas for informal play and scenic vistas. Equal opportunities for active recreation areas should be provided for competitive and recreational sports. In addition to acquisition, cluster development is also encouraged as an effective tool to preserve open space, protect environmentally sensitive lands, and to provide areas for active recreation.

Our aim is to integrate open space and active recreation areas into the development pattern of the community. By integrating open space, we can reduce the burdens on infrastructure and services. Princeton's open spaces represent a rich cultural resource and natural beauty which is fundamental to the character and quality of life in the community. Criteria for determining which sites should be preserved as open space and parks or developed as active recreation sites include:

•  Availability of tract.
•  Suitability for proposed use.
•  Location and accessibility of the tract.
•  Linkages of contiguous to sites that are publicly owned.
•  Environmentally sensitive tracts such as steep slopes, wetlands, floodplain
•  Historic significance.
•  Wildlife habitat.
•  Mature woodlands.
•  Preservation of stream corridors, ponds, lakes and the lands providing access to these resources.
•  Preservation of ground water and aquifer recharge areas.

PURPOSE OF THIS ELEMENT

This Open Space and Recreation Element of the Master Plan seeks to define a comprehensive system of parks, recreation facilities, and open space areas including wildlife habitat, ground water and aquifer recharge areas for the enjoyment of the Princeton community. Open space is viewed as an integral component of community development, not just as land that is unsuitable for development.

This element will:

•  identify sites and recommend areas for public or private open space;
•  identify areas for active recreation facilities to serve the needs of the Princeton community;
•  recommend sound land use and conservation practices;
•  identify potential linkages by connecting parks and open space areas throughout the community and with other communities; and,
•  provide guidance to the governing bodies on the future acquisition of critical sites for open space, parks, and active recreation areas.

EXISTING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPEN SPACE

The Princeton Community contains approximately 11,789 acres of land. Public and private open space account for 2,970 acres or 25 percent of the total land area. These 2,970 acres include state, county, and municipal public parks, private open space, and private lands with conservation easements ensuring that they remain undeveloped. Our calculation of open space also includes golf courses and private lands permanently preserved as open space with limited or no public access, including the open space owned by various homeowners associations. Not included in our open space inventory are those non-protected lands owned by the Princeton Regional School Board and the various institutions within Princeton which also contribute to the community's open space. These institutions are encouraged to consider the preservation of these open spaces in their master plans and development applications.

Of these 2,970 acres approximately 1,275 acres are governmentally owned public parks and open space areas and 811 acres are privately owned open space that is accessible to the public. Open space accessible to the public represents 17.6% of the total land area within the community or approximately 2,086 acres. Restricted private open space totals 884 acres or 7.5 % of the total land area.

Of the 1,275 acres of public parks and open space category, approximately nine percent is used for active recreation. Princeton's existing public parks and open space lands are inventoried in the Open Space Inventory Table, Appendix C.

OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION NEEDS

The Princeton Community has always valued open space for its inherent worth in providing walking, biking and hiking trails. Preservation, protection, and maintenance of the natural environment is important in safeguarding and enhancing the Princeton Community's quality of life. All development plans and changes in land use are carefully reviewed for its impact upon the natural environment. When the cost of development or the impact is too great, the community has chosen to preserve lands through acquisition, conservation easements or by encouraging cluster development.

The Joint Recreation Board programs approximately 99.5 acres of active recreation land. The active recreation areas consist of six major parks: Grover Park (7.5 acres), Hilltop Park (11 acres), Community Park South (26 acres), Smoyer Park (19 acres), Greenway Meadows (11 acres) and Coventry Farm (25 acres). If the fields and facilities for active recreation provided to the Princeton Community by Princeton University are no longer available, there will be a need to replace these facilities either within or outside the borders of Princeton if current programming is to be maintained.

In recent years the community's participation in the programs offered by the Joint Recreation Board has increased dramatically. The greater demand for athletic fields and facilities that has resulted has led to increased concern about whether the number of fields and facilities is adequate. In addition to the numerous programs offered by the Joint Recreation Board, the Princeton Regional Schools also make use of many of the facilities in the parks. Currently girls' softball makes use of Community Park as do the high school tennis programs. Boys' baseball makes use of the fields at Hilltop Park and Smoyer Park. The Joint Recreation Board also uses school facilities with the basketball program scheduling gym space and other recreation programs utilizing some of the smaller school fields.

The following is a summary of the existing active recreation facilities.

Existing Municipal Recreation Facilities

Recreation needs in Princeton change over time as shifts in the age of its population occur and various sports increase or decrease in popularity. Since 1996 the diversity of team sports being offered by the Joint Recreation Board has increased and with it the demand for additional fields.

The Joint Recreation Board has also identified the need to rotate fields and to permit some fields to “rest.” If new fields are not provided to meet the growing need, other alternatives such as synthetic fields and field lighting will need to be investigated.

In 2003, the Joint Recreation Board in consultation with the Princeton Youth Sports Council and the Recreation Department developed a list of the recreational facility needs for the community. The Youth Sports Council comprises all of the volunteer youth sport groups and the Princeton Regional Schools. The identified needs represent only recreational sport needs and do not include public school program needs which also utilize municipal facilities.

The recreational needs chart presented below summarizes current need.

While many fields can be shared and are shared by more than one sport there is still a need for ten to eleven additional fields after completion of construction of the fields at Greenway Meadow and Coventry Farms. Approximately 30 to 50 acres of relatively flat land is needed to meet the projected active recreation need. The increased demand in fields is a direct result of multi-season sports. In the past baseball was only played in the spring and summer and now it includes a fall session. Similarly soccer traditionally played in the fall is now played in all seasons.

This element identifies the remaining tracts of land that may provide active recreation areas to meet the identified need. Almost all of the sites have some environmental and or historical constraints and there is no one site that will meet all of the community's needs. This need can be filled by lands to be acquired or on lands already owned by the municipalities. The purchase of land outside the community or the development of joint facilities with surrounding communities should also be investigated.

Greenways are trails, walkways, or bikeways bordered by natural vegetation or other natural features that serve recreation and local commuting in a natural setting. Open space linkages include greenways as well as other connections that may or may not be bordered by natural vegetation. Greenway corridors connecting existing open spaces and recreational facilities are an integral part of the Princeton Community's Master Plan. These corridors are needed to protect environmentally sensitive lands and to provide an alternative means of travel around town. Greenways and linkages also provide opportunities for walking and jogging.

OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION GOALS

I. Provide the necessary fields and facilitates to meet the recreation needs of the Princeton Community.

a. Provide athletic fields, open playfields, and other active recreational facilities to meet the needs of the Princeton Community.

b. Actively promote the development of parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities of varying sizes to meet neighborhood needs and the needs of the community at large.

c. Work with the schools, governing bodies and Recreation Department to develop indoor recreation facilities.

d. Provide equal recreation opportunities for men and women during the planning/development of new facilities or during the rehabilitation of existing facilities in the spirit of compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

II. Preserve additional land area as public open space, private open space or park land.

a. Preserve environmentally sensitive areas such as the Stony Brook, Harry's Brook Basin, Jewell's Brook, Mountain Brook, the Ridge and Lake Carnegie that are characterized by the presence of wetlands, steep slopes, stream corridors, flood plains, boulder fields, and unique ecology.

b. Preserve important visual amenities, placing special emphasis on the preservation of woodlands, vistas, corridors, agricultural lands, waterways, and other scenic resources.

c. Preserve and protect areas with large and contiguous tree canopy. Reforest areas that have had their tree canopy removed or disturbed.

d. Preserve and protect open spaces as a setting or for historical context around important historical, architectural and cultural sites.

e. Identify strategies for preserving properties.

f. Areas of exceptional landscape design should be identified and preserved, where appropriate, through acquisition or easements.

III. Enhance public access to Princeton's open spaces.

a. Develop a network of linkages that connects existing and proposed open space areas within Princeton as well as lands in adjoining municipalities.

b. Link existing open space properties wherever possible to form a continuous greenway system throughout Princeton and provide an alternative means for transportation.

c. Preserve major stream corridors as greenway connections between open spaces within and outside of Princeton.

d. Obtain access easements over private lands including utility easements augmenting public access to existing and proposed open space areas.

e. Encourage public participation in using the community's passive recreation areas.

STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION GOALS

The pressure to develop the remaining lands in Princeton for uses other than open space and recreation has placed a high priority on preserving and acquiring land for open space and recreation. Listed below are proposed strategies to help the community meet each goal.

I. Provide the necessary recreation fields and facilitates to meet the needs of the Princeton Community.

A. Land Acquisition: Even if existing recreational lands were utilized more efficiently, additional property must be acquired to meet current demands for recreational facilities and projected future needs. Funding for these acquisitions can be provided through the open space tax or in combination with additional funding sources. In addition to acquisition of larger tracts, vest pocket parks in the more densely populated portions of the community should be acquired.

B. Development of New Facilities : An indoor recreation facility that would serve the growing senior and youth recreational needs should be a high priority. Funding for these developments can be provided through the open space tax or in combination with other funding sources.

C. Regulatory Provisions: The Township's residential cluster option includes an incentive to provide land suitable for active recreation in appropriate and convenient areas to the residents of the community. The Community through its boards and staff should encourage the use of this option whenever possible.

II. Preserve additional land area as public open space, private open space, or park land.

A Access Agreements: When possible, agreements should be sought to allow public access to open space areas of residential clusters, whether by easement or dedication to municipal ownership.

B. Acquisition of Fee Title and Conservation Easements: The outright purchase of land and conservation easements should be encouraged to reserve for public use those lands where long-standing informal agreement have made open space areas available to the public and to protect natural resources.

C. Private Land Trusts: The efforts to preserve open space by encouraging donations of land or funds for acquisition projects and long-term maintenance should be continued.

D. Selected Preservation, Donation or Acquisition Program: The New Jersey Green Acres Program, Mercer County Open Spaces Fund or private contributions should be utilized to defray the costs of land acquisition. Donations of land may also be offered to the Princeton Community.

III. Enhance public access to Princeton's open spaces.

A. Regulatory Provisions: The Planning Board, as part of its site development review and approval process, should seek dedications or public access easements to facilitate linkages to open space areas and parks.

B Acquisition: Acquisition of linkages and access easements should be considered when funding is available. Use of Federal Transportation Funds which encourage alternative means of transportation such as walking and bicycling should be pursued.

C. Management : The professional management of Princeton's open spaces should be pursued to ensure that these areas are maintained to the highest standards. The stewardship of these resources must be maintained. The Township has created a new position to oversee its open space areas.

Opportunities to return developed land to open space or recreational use should be a priority whenever structures are demolished or uses and ownership changes.

LANDS RECOMMENDED FOR PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

The Regional Planning Board of Princeton recommends designation of the following sites for active recreation.

Municipal Lands at River and Herrontown Road (80± acres): These parcels owned by the municipalities contain over 80 acres of land. These lands contain both wooded areas and open areas with generally gentle slopes. Areas under review for constructing athletic fields include the land near the intersection of Herrontown Road and River Road and the land on top of the closed landfill. Lighting of these fields may be possible given their remote location.

Gulick Farm (28 acres): The Township recently purchased 28 acres of this 40-acre site. These 28 acres contain both wooded areas and open meadow. Consideration should be given to developing active recreation facilities on this property.

Vest Pocket Parks/Plazas: Small parks or plazas should be created whenever infill development or redevelopment takes place in Princeton. These enhancements provide significant open spaces and maintain the vitality of Princeton. Pocket parks, plazas and gardens create focal points for the community and provide public and semi-public spaces that address neighborhood open space needs. Included in this category are the landscape treatments of public streets and small parks. The goal of such small-scale open spaces is to provide welcoming, friendly, and visually pleasing community amenities.

LANDS RECOMMENDED FOR OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION

Listed below are lands recommended to be preserved through acquisition, regulatory provisions, conservation easements, private land trusts and/or donations for passive open space preservation

Township Lands:

Textile Research Institute (10 ± acres): Portions of the site are wooded with many large specimen trees. The rear portion of the site provides access to and excellent views of Lake Carnegie. A permanent conservation and access easement should be considered for a portion of the property. As of this writing, a plan for this 18- acre site is before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This plan proposes to provide a five-acre lot for TRI, construct age-restricted housing and preserve approximately 10 acres as open space.

Stony Brook Floodplain including Worth Mill & Millrace Pond (7+ acres): The Planning Board has supported the development of a greenway along the Stony Brook. In addition to supporting the development of a greenway, Worth’s Mill has historical significance as one of the first structures in
Cleveland Lane: This lot is located on Cleveland Lane between Bayard and Lafayette. It is a potential single family home lot. A better use would be for a small park or passive open space lot. Acquiring the property should be considered.

Stony Brook Flood Plain - Quaker Road (95 acres): The flood plain area between the Stony Brook and Quaker Road should be preserved. This area is subject to flooding and a conservation easement should be obtained.

Elizabethtown Water Company/Charles Rodgers Wildlife Refuge (46 acres): The Charles Rodgers Wildlife Refuge off West Drive is owned by the Elizabethtown Water Company and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries along the eastern flyway. A permanent conservation easement or acquisition should be sought for this property.

Princeton University's Floodplain Land Adjoining the Charles Rodgers Wildlife Refuge (35 acres): The lands lying between the Stony Brook and West Drive are a critical part of the wild life area and should be kept in a natural state. A conservation easement should be granted for these lands.

Thompson River Road Site (10 acres): This site is floodplain for the Millstone River and is adjacent to 40 acres of municipal owned property. The preservation of this area will ensure a contiguous open area along the Millstone River. A permanent conservation easement should be sought for this property.

All Saints' Church North of the Church and Cemetery (46 acres): These lands should be preserved in a natural state due to the extensive wetlands, wooded nature and proximity to publicly owned open space. A permanent conservation easement or acquisition should be considered for this property.

Nassau Builders/Lanwin (90 acres): These tracts of land off Mount Lucas Road and Herrontown Road are critical due to stream corridors, wetlands, woodlands and steep slopes. A large level area that may be suitable for active recreation is located toward the front of the property on Herrontown Road. A conservation easement should be placed over the environmentally sensitive portions on this site.

McAlpin (25 acres): This 25 acre tract is located on the east side of the Stony Brook between Pretty Brook Road and the unimproved portion of Winfield Road. The western and northern portions of the tract are critical due to its frontage on the Stony Brook and the presence of a tributary stream, steep slopes and floodplain areas. A conservation easement should be sought to preserve the more environmentally sensitive portions of this site. A public access easement along the properties frontage on Stony Brook should also be pursued.

Devils Cave (3.7 acres): This property consists of two lots located north of John Witherspoon Woods. The lots contain a unique geological formation known as Devil's Cave and should be preserved.

Updike Farm : The Updike Farm located on Quaker Road contains 6 acres of land and a number of farm buildings. This property is surrounded by land preserved permanently as open space.

Tusculum : This 58-acre parcel includes the home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, farm buildings and vacant farm fields which provide a historical context for this site. If the vacant land surrounding the house is threatened by development, acquisition or deed restrictions against future development should be pursued to preserve the historical context of the site.

Old Trolley Line (varies): The abandoned trolley line from Johnson Park School to the Princeton – Lawrence boundary south of the intersection of Rosedale Road and Province Line Road should be pursued as a possible greenway corridor.

Princeton University's Crew Race Area at the Eastern End of Lake Carnegie (6 acres): The community has enjoyed this access point to Lake Carnegie off Princeton-Kingston Road for many years. Continued access to the Lake at this vantage point should be encouraged through a permanent access easement.

Borough Lands:

Mercer Street : This 2.1 acre property owned by the Princeton Theological Seminary is adjacent to Marquand Park and located at the corner of Hibben Road and Mercer Street. Consideration should be given to acquisition, obtaining deed restrictions against future development or acquiring the parcels development rights.

Hodge Road-Library Place : Located at the intersection of Hodge and Library this triangular shaped lot would provide an excellent small play area for neighborhood residents. Acquiring the property should be considered.

Nassau Street and Scott Avenue : These two parcels are currently owned by the adjacent bank as a passive park and provide a buffer between residential properties and commercial uses. Preserving this property through deed restriction, purchase of development rights or in fee should be considered.

79 Alexander Street : This approximately half acre property abuts Springdale Golf Course and is owned by Princeton University, and is surrounded by University lands. Purchasing this property should be considered.

Elm Road: This small parcel located at the southwest intersection of Elm Road and Rosedale Road is currently the side yard of the adjacent single-family residence. The parcel should be considered for acquisition as passive open space or a pocket park.

Cleveland Lane: This lot is located on Cleveland Lane between Bayard and Lafayette. It is a potential single family home lot. A better use would be for a small park or passive open space lot. Acquiring the property should be considered.

Prospect Avenue: This property is located on the north side of Prospect Avenue near the intersection of Prospect and Cedar Drive. Consideration should be given to acquiring this parcel for passive open space or as a small park.

Linden Lane: The property abuts Westminster College and is a separate lot located between two existing homes on Linden Lane near its intersection with Hawthorne Avenue. It is currently used as a parking area for one of the homes. This parcel should be considered for acquisition as passive open space or a pocket park.

Merwick/Stanworth/YMCA/YWCA Area: If this area is redeveloped, preservation of central wooded portion of this area and the historic garden of Merwick Mansion should be considered. Any future development or redevelopment of this area should be concentrated to provide for public and quasi-public access to these features. Preservation can be accomplished through conservation easements or deed restrictions.

LANDS RECOMMENDED FOR OPEN SPACE LINKAGE

Listed below are lands, trails and pathways that should be preserved through acquisition, regulatory provisions, conservation easements, private land trusts and/or donations.

A connecting linkage should be created starting at Mountain Lakes Preserve, extending west to the Stony Brook, thence along the Stony Brook connecting to the Institute for Advanced Study lands, thence along the D & R Canal north to Autumn Hill Reservation and Herrontown Woods and back to Mountain Lakes.

A pathway should be extended from the Stony Brook along the eastern edge of the Jasna Polana Golf Course out to Route 206 to a safe crossing connecting the Washington Oaks Overlook. The Open Space Map indicates possible branches of a greenway network.

Additional greenway linkages off the main network described above should be considered connecting Woodfield Reservation, Institute Woods, Charles Rodgers Wildlife area, Van Dyke-Wight and the Princeton Ridge area.

A connecting path from the Harrison Street Park through downtown and the cemetery terminating at Community Park should be created. This path could start at the Harrison Street Park, continue to Harrison Street and Nassau Street, thence west to Queenston Place, through Quarry Park, thence west along Spruce Street to Moore Street to Willow Street, through existing alleys and parking lots to the Borough owned properties on Spring Street thence to the Valley Road facilities and west over to Community Park.

Consideration should be given to preserving corridors along the Stony Brook, Delaware and Raritan Canal, various streams and floodplain areas in Princeton. Of particular importance is the waterfowl flyway. An accepted rule of thumb is that preserved area adjacent to water bodies and associated wetlands should be a minimum of 250 to 300 feet to assure sufficient habitat.

In addition to the above linkages the community should evaluate the potential for additional open space or new linkages that may occur as a result of redevelopment.

A detailed Open Space Inventory of the Princeton Community can be found in Appendix C.

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