Over the past year, construction started on a parking area near the intersection of Route 6 and Twin Lakes Road in Milford Township, PA. There was much speculation over what it could be by some area residents. Another area of construction was on Route 6 just east of the Twin Lakes Road intersection. Unlike many construction projects, this particular project was for the benefit of people and the natural environment alike. This fall saw the fruits of over five years of planning and work: the Cornelia and Florence Bridge Preserve.

Charles Bridge had a vision for his land, to protect and preserve it for future generations to enjoy, and he also wanted to honor his late wife and mother by naming the preserve after them. The preserve consists of a 250-acre parcel north of Route 6 and a 67-acre parcel south of Route 6 that is adjacent to Sawkill Pond. The land was donated to Dingman Township in 2007, and a master plan was undertaken by Dingman and Milford townships in 2010. Among the major goals was to preserve the land through conservation, promote recreational opportunities, and foster environmental education. Construction of trails and other amenities started during 2014, and the northern tract was opened to the public on October 4 of this year.

I had a chance to hike some of the trails in the northern tract of the Bridge Preserve, and the packed rock chip trail to a small gazebo and a meadow is wide, well maintained, and accessible by wheelchair. Another trail (Florence Trail) goes to a small pond near the northeast corner of the northern tract. It is mostly cleared path, with part of it being a jeep trail before narrowing down to a grass-covered foot path. None of the trails are very steep, and for the most part, they were dry when I hiked them. Measures were taken during construction of most of the trails to mitigate the effects of water erosion during heavy rains.

There is still time to catch some fall foliage on the trails of the Bridge Preserve. It is open during daylight hours, and a map is on display at the parking area. There are some trails that are slated for future construction, but the Cornelia and Florence trails, as well as the loop trail around the meadow, are open.