Walkers and runners are invited to join the fun along New Jersey’s 70-mile-long linear park, the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, on Saturday, Oct. 26 when two of four main activities are designed for taking a stroll or a run.
The events, organized by the nonprofit D&R Canal Watch, with support from the City of Trenton and the New Jersey Division of Parks, Forests, and Historic Sites are part of the “Tour de Towpath,” a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the D&R Canal Park.
Both foot-driven activities — a non-competitive half-marathon run/walk and a 5K fun run/walk — start at 10 a.m. at Cadwalader Park in Trenton. Walkers and runners in the half-marathon will walk 13 roundtrip miles to Washington Crossing State Park and those participating in the 5K walk/run will trek to Lower Ferry Road and back.
Two cycling activities in the Tour de Towpath, a flagship 50-mile bicycle route to Colonial Park in Franklin Township and back and a 20-mile ride to Princeton’s Turning Basin Park, also start at 10 a.m. A free festival at Cadwalader Park will greet participants upon their return with music, food and a community village featuring local non-profits.
Walkers, runners and cyclists can sign up for the events at https://www.bikereg.com/tour-de-towpath-2024. Advance registration is recommended, but those looking for healthy, fun activities by foot or wheel can also sign up that day. Registration fees will help underwrite the expenses of the events and restoration of parts of the D&R Canal in the Trenton area.
Those joining the free festival, which will run from 10 to 3 p.m., will enjoy food trucks, music, kids’ activities and interaction with nonprofit organizations that support the people of central New Jersey. The festival is free thanks to corporate sponsorships from Capital Health and New Jersey American Water.
It was 50 years ago when New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne signed legislation to create the D&R Canal State Park, which passes through central New Jersey counties.
“The walking, running, and cycling activities are a great way to celebrate the D&R State Park, the second most visited New Jersey State Park and one of the state’s best outdoor recreation resources,” said Linda Barth, president of the D&R Canal Watch, a nonprofit group that organizes volunteer projects and raises funds for the park.
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora encourages active participation in celebration.
“Whether you want to walk, run, ride or come to enjoy the festival activities, everyone’s welcome to join us at our wonderful 110-acre Cadwalader Park,” Gusciora said. “As we celebrate the D&R Canal Park’s 50th anniversary, we honor not only the beauty and importance of the canal but also the dedication of the community and the organizations that support it.”
The D&R Canal was built in the 1830s and operated for nearly 100 years, bringing coal, agricultural products, and other goods to New York City from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Before the days of steam engines, canal boats were towed by mules that used the towpath parallel to the canal. Once its work was supplanted by freight trains, the canal was abandoned and reverted to state ownership. After several decades, the state decided to preserve the canal and use it as a recreation resource and public water supply.
The D&R Canal State Park passes through the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset. The park’s 70-mile-long towpath is part of larger trail networks, including Circuit Trails, East Coast Greenway, and September 11th National Memorial Trail.
