Martin Luther King Day of Service at Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park Headquarters

Put on your work boots and join Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for an invigorating cleanup session. We will be clearing small trees, brush, vines, and trash in the Mapleton Preserve.  Come spend a winter afternoon outdoors, and discover the special joys of stewardship!

Bring tools such as saws, clippers, loppers and rakes.  Dress for the weather, whatever it is - work gloves, sturdy shoes, warm clothing and hats are recommended. It's free and all are welcome.  For more information, see www.fpnl.org or call 609-683-0483. 

Background: Monday, January 21, 2013 marks the 27th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. To make it a "a day on, not a day off," millions of Americans honor King by volunteering for a "National Day of Service" in their communities.  

The site where the event will take place, Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park Headquarters, was formerly the headquarters of Princeton Nurseries, once one of the largest wholesale tree nurseries in the United States. In 1995, over 200 acres of the Princeton Nursery lands were preserved, and the historic sales office for Princeton Nurseries was transformed into the headquarters for the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands serves as a 'friends group" for this historic resource.

Directions

From Rt. 27 (South of Kingston): From Princeton and south, take Rt. 27 North. Pass Lake Carnegie and the light at River Road. Take right at next light onto Academy St, which turns into Mapleton Road. Go ~0.2 miles down the road. After crossing bridge, turn left into parking area at the white sign for Mapleton Preserve. If you reach a stoplight at Barclay Square, you have gone too far........

Rt 27 (North of Kingston): Take Rt. 27 South into Kingston Center. Pass light at Heathcote/Laurel Ave (Main Street Cafe is on this corner). Take left at next light onto Academy Street (Kingston Garage is on this corner). Academy turns into Mapleton Road. After crossing a bridge (~0.2 miles down the road), turn left into parking area at the white sign for Mapleton Preserve. If you reach a stoplight at Barclay Square, you have gone too far........

From Rt. 1 Southbound: Turn right at the Ridge Road exit toward Kingston (Note - this is south of the Raymond Road exit). There is a Doubletree Hotel at this turn. Follow Ridge Road to the second left (after Railroad Ave). Turn left onto Ridge Road (called Division Street on some maps). Follow until it ends at a stop sign. Turn left onto Mapleton Road. Go ~0.1 miles, cross bridge, and turn left into parking area at the white sign for Mapleton Preserve.

From Rt. 1 Northbound: Pass Princeton, College Road Exits and Independence Way exits. At Ridge Road exit, take jughandle across Rt. 1 toward Kingston. There is a Doubletree Hotel at this turn. Follow Ridge Road to the second left (after Railroad Ave). Turn left onto Ridge Road (called Division Street on some maps). Follow until it ends at a stop sign. Turn left onto Mapleton Road. Go ~0.1 miles, cross bridge, and turn left into parking area at the white sign for Mapleton Preserve.

If using a GPS, use 145 Mapleton Road, Princeton 08540 as the address. GPS devices have trouble finding Kingston.