D&R Canal Park: A Jersey gem

HELEN KULL EWING THEN & NOW

We continue our exploration of the “ribbon of transport” along the western border of Ewing this month with a consideration and appreciation of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, most definitely a “gem” within Central Jersey.

And while I fully realize that the portion of the park which is actually located in Ewing (maybe 3 miles long?) is tiny when compared with the entire park (about 70 miles long), much of the park is not that distant from Ewing, and provides a wonderful opportunity for all sorts of recreation and enjoyment of wildlife and natural beauty within our densely populated state. So we’ll consider the park in its totality.

As I write this a few days before the official first day of Spring (not that this year we had any Winter, really - but that’s a different column!), a reminder of the many benefits of living near the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is most timely. The Park provides many opportunities to engage with the natural world around us.

So, we know that the “heyday” for the Canal (both the main and feeder canals) was in the 1860s and 1870s, when millions of tons of coal and other goods were transported by barge along its length. As the railroads developed and grew, the efficiency of barge or even steam-powered canal transport could no longer compete, and canals lost commercial traffic. While personal/ pleasure boat traffic increased, it could not match the revenues needed to maintain the canal, and in 1933, the D&R Canal ceased commercial operations. After three years, per the original lease, the canal, now considered “abandoned,” was turned over to the State of NJ.

For some years in the 1930s and 1940s, the main and feeder canals were primarily used for water recreation. But in 1944, the Division of Water Resources for the State began to improve the waterway for use as a water supply. Locks were removed, and sluices and spillways were constructed in order to control the flow of water.

The canal became a source of water for the growing population in the area post-WW2. Today, under the control of the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, it continues to provide water for some NJ residents.

But what of the land surrounding the canal and its water? In the early 1970s, thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of a small grass-roots group of enthusiasts, the Delaware and Raritan Canal and many of its related structures (bridgetender houses, etc) were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A year later, the State passed legislation to create the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, comprised of more than 60 miles of canal and thin strips of land on both sides of the canal, preserving the history and natural beauty of the area. In the 1980s, additional land previously used by the BelDel tracks was added to the park. In the 1990s, the park’s trail system was designated a National Recreation Trail. Today, the entire park is used and enjoyed by more than one million people each year. Some of the ways the park can be used are summarized in this information from the DEP’s State Park Service website at nj.gov/dep/ parksandforests/parks/ drcanalstatepark.html.

Biking

D&R Canal State Park’s multi-use trail (link accesses map) provides more than 70 miles of wide, flat pathway along the Canal. Numerous access points make it ideal for a bike trip.

Hiking

The trail is also ideal for a day hike, for all ages and physical abilities. Both the main canal and the feeder canal are ADA accessible.

Boating

Canoes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and non-motorized boats are allowed along the entire length of the D&R Canal. The gently-flowing waterway is perfect for beginners or those looking to enjoy a leisurely paddle. Portage may be required in some locations. Of course, all NJ boating regulations apply.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted along the entire length of the D&R Canal and Delaware River. Trout are stocked at various locations during spring months, and there are also warmwater fish, migratory American shad and striped bass. All fishing is subject to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations. We are blessed with this wonderful resource!