By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

The long, occasionally winding and picturesque road of the New Garden Greenways plan is about to add yet another valuable connection to its lengthening chain.

By agreement with the township's Open Space Review Board, George Treisner, a resident of the township, has agreed to donate a part of his 7.3-acre property on Laurel Woods Road to the township, which will serve as a connection to the Laurel Woods Trail, a nearly one-mile trail located on the former Phelps property one mile north of Landenberg. The trail is accessible from a public right-of-way off of Laurel Heights Road. Highlights of the trail include rare patches of Mountain Laurel, native holly trees and native flowers. There is a platform at the southern end of the trail overlooking the man-made rocky cut for the abandoned Pomeroy and Newark Railroad.

Much of the eastern portion of the loop follows the early 19th Century road into Landenberg and an old logging road from the mid-20th Century. The path is mostly packed dirt with sections of wood chips and includes multiple sets of stairs and bridges, one of which is over 35 feet long and eight feet high.

"When my kids were younger, we went hiking all over the local trails around Laurel Woods," Treisner said. "I think it's a good thing for a community to have trails, especially when they're in the form of nice, do-able walks. I walk to the Landenberg Store by way of the trails. Once the trail is complete, I'll be able to walk to the store without having to walk on Penn Green Road."

Rich Chadwick of the township's Open Space Review Board praised the acquisition, saying that property will enable a visitor to eventually come through the White Clay Creek Preserve through the township, via an expanded Greenways trail system. It's a piece-by-piece, often slow process, he said.

"We may not be able to finish connecting the entire trail, but if we can provide some progress, hopefully in several years they will be able to connect it all," he said. "In New Garden, there is still the opportunity to save some open spaces, and one of the best things about living here are those open spaces. It would be nice to connect some of them to some other similar properties, to be enjoyed by future generations."

The $5,600 cost to pay for legal fees, surveys and final negotiation of the easement will be paid for through the township's Open Space fund.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].