Community Park North
lies between Elm Road and Route 206, Princeton Township, Mercer County, NJ
71 acres
(Source: http://www.princetontwp.org)
The Park's western boundary abuts Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, and its southeastern boundary abuts Route 206. It lies across Route 206 from the swimming and recreation complex.
Directions:
There is a parking area off Mountain Avenue. Or the park can be reached from a
footpath that leads into the tract from Route 206 near the Valley Road traffic
light.
Geology and Topography:
Lies at the base of the Princeton section of the diabase ridge and part way up
its slope. The underlying rocks are red shale and siltstone. The soils are silt
loams.
History:
1965 -- Princeton Township acquires the Park land from the Harrop Family.
1970s -- create the pond and ampitheater with federal and state funds.
The Greater Mountain Lakes Open Space Area (315 acres) has been called the "central park" of Princeton. It consists of three sections: Mountain Lakes Preserve and Mountain Lakes North; John Witherspoon Woods; and Community Park North.
Habitats:
stream, pond, meadow, woods, pine plantation in the northern section.
Trails:
The trails in the meadow area are paved. Trail map at:
http://www.njtrails.org/trailmap.php?TrailID=16
PLANT LIST:
Trees:
Acer negundo (box elder maple)
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Carya spp. (hickory)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Fraxinus americana (white ash)
Juglans nigra (black walnut)
Picea abies (Norway spruce)
Pinus strobus (white pine)
Quercus alba (white oak)
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
Sassafras albidum (sassafras)
Shrubs:
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
Lindera benzoin (spicebush)
Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)
Rubus sp. (blackberry)
Vines:
Vitis sp. (wild grape )
Herbs:
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Asclepias sp. (milkweed)
Lepidium virginicum (peppergrass)
Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd's purse )
Cichorium intybus (chicory )
Ranunculus sp. (buttercup)
Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage)
Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)