Rambling Creek Park

Upper Ferry Road, Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

Located southeast of Trenton-Mercer County Airport.

Directions:

We could not find any entrance or trails for this park.  Perhaps one could search around the ball field at Carlton field off Cartlton Avenue or the soccer fields off
Chief William C. Forst Lane.

New Jersey Turnpike south to Exit 7A for US 195 west;  get onto US 295 north which becomes US 95 just after Exit 67 on US 295;  get off at Exit 3; turn left heading south on Scotch Road, Route 611; passing by the Trenton-Mercer County Airport on the right and the CSXT/NS railway on the left to a left turn onto William C. Frost Lane (for the soccer fields on the left) or to a left turn onto Carlton Avenue (for the ball fields on the left).  . 

Geology:

The West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek begins north of Rambling Creek Park and runs through the Watson Park and then Rambling Creek Park; it  then flows for five miles south then east into Lawrence Township where it joins the Shabakunk Creek west of Route 206.

Facilities:

Ewing Little League, soccer fields

Trails:

5/09/2005.   Ceferino Santana, dog Sonar and I found the area of the park, but never discovered any actual path.  We even tried walking along the creek at Carlton Avenue.  (We did not get far with all that multiflora rose blocking our way.)  We also tried getting into the area from John S. Watson Park, with no luck.  (It seems to me that they should try to create a greenway using Watson Park and  Rambling Creek Park, heading past the soccer fields on Chief William C. Forst Lane, the buildings of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Carlton Field off Carlton Avenue.)  One can always hope. Dr. Patrick L. Cooney. 

PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney

* = blooming on date of field trip, 5/09/2005

Trees:
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Tilia americana (American basswood)Shrubs:
Lindera benzoin (spicebush)
Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw viburnum)  *
Viburnum sieboldii (Siebold's viburnum)  *soon
Vinca minor (periwinkle)  *

Vines:
Hedera helix (English ivy)
Wisteria sp. (wisteria) 

Herbs:
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) *
Allium vineale (field garlic)
Barbarea vulgaris (common wintercress)  *
Claytonia virginica (spring beauty)   *
Geranium sp. (geranium)
Impatiens sp. (jewelweed)
Narcissus sp. (daffodil) 
Podophyllum peltatum (may apple)  *
Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed)
Polygonum virginianum (jumpseed)
Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine)
Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage)
Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)  *

Ferns:
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)