Lawrence Hopewell Trail opens Maidenhead Meadows boardwalk segment

Ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for June 14

Lawrence Township and the nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation have announced the opening of a new segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail. The 0.4-mile stretch winds through wetland habitat in Lawrence.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Maidenhead Meadows elevated boardwalk will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 14. A community walk through Maidenhead Meadows Park will follow at 10 a.m., starting at the historic Brearley House. Refreshments will be provided before the event.

“This is an important opening for the LHT, as it takes riders and walkers safely across Mercer Meadows and avoids the heavy traffic on Princeton Pike,” said David Sandahl, chair of the LHT board of trustees. “Lawrence Township, which has supported the LHT since our beginning, has really delivered on this project.”

The new segment completes a key link in the southern portion of the trail. It allows users to pass through preserved open space without using Princeton Pike. Along with a recently reopened route through The Lawrenceville School, it helps connect the trail. When a segment through the new Pike Town neighborhood opens later this summer, it will remove the current detour and bring the trail closer to a seamless 20-mile loop.

“This project demonstrates our township’s long-standing commitment to walkability, bikeability, and access to open space,” said Lawrence Township Mayor Patricia Hendricks Farmer. “We’re proud to partner with the LHT to make our community healthier, more connected, and more sustainable.”

Lawrence Township secured grant funding for the design and construction of the segment as part of the overall plan for the LHT. Township Engineer Jim Parvesse led the effort. Capela Construction built the boardwalk, and Remington & Vernick Engineers managed the project.

The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is part of “Circuit Trails,” a growing network of multi-use trails across the Greater Philadelphia region.

“Our congratulations to the leadership and community who have persevered to build the 20-mile Lawrence Hopewell Trail,” said Patrick Starr, chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition Steering Committee. “It’s a beautiful accomplishment that advances our coalition’s vision of a regional trail system for everyone.”

Roughly 93% of the LHT is now complete. Four projects remain, with the next gap expected to close in Hopewell Township later this year. The goal is to complete the full loop by the end of 2026. The nonprofit is also exploring connections to other regional trails and neighborhoods once the trail is complete.

For more information about the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, visit www.lhtrail.org.