Baldpate Mountain "Improvements" - Update

Is additional car dependent public access worth the destruction?

Bill Wolfe

Back in January, while hiking on Baldpate Mountain (Hopewell Township, Mercer County) I was shocked to come across a new access road and parking lot blasted through forest - an experience that prompted me to write this post (with pictures):

Pave paradise: Put up a parking lot http://blog.nj.com/njv_bill_wolfe/2008/01/pave_paradise_put_up_a_parking.html

Today I returned to the scene of the crime for some followup photos - scroll through and see the good, the bad and the ugly along my hike:

Bill Wolfeentrance is transformed, and not for the better

Bill Wolfeparking lot - too big and over-engineered

Bill Wolfeis additional car dependent access worth the destruction?

Bill WolfeHow long before they widen and pave this carriage trail?

Bill WolfeUgly new fences enclose and restrict access to meadow.

Bill WolfeNew turn-around circle to accommodate cars. More pavement and more meadow destroyed.

Bill WolfeThank goodness they can't engineer the view.

Bill Wolfebicyclists enjoy the day - there are miles of are awesome trails

Bill Wolfemiles of old carriage trails - lets hope these are never "improved" by the engineers

Bill Wolfeoutbuildings - will they be restored or "managed" to reduce risks?

Bill Wolfe

Bill Wolfe

Bill WolfeMy kind of "rest stop" - set your butt on the rock and enjoy the views.

Bill Wolfeanother new parking lot

Bill Wolfeover-engineered 22 foot+ wide access road to new parking lot

Bill Wolfeanother new access road - more signs, more cars, more pavement.

Bill WolfeExisting rural road just at new access road - less than 18 feet wide.

Bill WolfeNew access road, signs, and road width (>22 feet) over-engineered, ugly and out of character with rural context.

Bill Wolfe

Bill WolfeThis is character and deign of rural roads just outside Baldpate.

Bill Wolfeadjacent rural character

Bill WolfeThis lovely historic home is directly across the road from the lower new parking lot. The "improvements" ignored this historic character