Home » Mercer Meadows pedestrian bridge receives Excellence In Design award

Mercer Meadows pedestrian bridge receives Excellence In Design award

by Community Contributor

The Mercer County Park Commission was presented the Excellence in Design award for Stony Brook Pedestrian Bridge in Mercer Meadows on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The 500-foot pedestrian bridge opened to the public in July of 2020 and offers new trails to park patrons, connecting to the 22-mile Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT).

The Excellence in Design award is based upon the quality of public use, recreation, and park facilities, which exhibit unique aesthetics, design, usability and versatility. Mercer Meadows features a wide range of recreational activities while promoting the environment and stewardship. Under the category of Special Use/Other Design, the Park Commission was presented the award representing areas of conservation, accessibility, and community.

“The addition of the bridge has enhanced the features of Mercer Meadows, extending a network of trails and creating new routes” said County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “This has been a great benefit to the community and new visitors to the park throughout the pandemic.”

The New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) Annual Awards Ceremony took place at the Summit Family Aquatic Center in Summit, New Jersey. The award was accepted by Aaron T. Watson, Executive Director of the Mercer County Park Commission, Deputy Director Joe Pizza, Project Manager Herman Snyder, and Leslie Floyd, Director of the Mercer County Planning Department.

“I would like to recognize the work of our Commissioners, elected officials, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation and Mercer County Planning Department, who worked collaboratively to make this bridge an important community asset” said Director Watson. “We encourage you all to explore this new area of Mercer Meadows and the LHT either on bike or on foot.”

The Stony Brook Pedestrian Bridge is the longest pedestrian bridge in New Jersey. It crosses a Category 1 stream, maintains a floodplain, and completes one of the last portions of the 22-mile Lawrence Hopewell Trail.

Submitted by the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, which is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting parks and recreation; enhancing the professional development of its members; advocating sound policy and stewardship related to parks, recreation, resource management, and leisure services; and increasing awareness of the value of play and preservation of the environment to interested citizens and the public.

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