Woodlands & Streams
The area south of the historic core campus and the entries into Princeton and the campus from the south once were characterized by natural woodlands that extended along tributaries draining into Carnegie Lake (originally the confluence of Stony Brook and the Millstone River). Restoration is strengthening the health of the woodlands and enhancing their presence on campus and in the stream valleys. As they mature, woodlands will become self-sustaining and link the campus to the larger natural habitat along the lake.
The old parking lot for the Armory (at left) has been replaced by restored woodlands and a nature path south and west of the new Frick Chemistry Laboratory (at right) as part of the Campus Plan and Landscape Master Plan.
Existing woodlands south and west of the Frick Chemistry Laboratory have been strengthened by removing invasive species and planting new trees and shrubs. Between Washington Road and the Frick Chemistry Laboratory, the Washington Road stream has been restored.
New plantings at the Streicker Bridge abutments and the approach walks are ensuring that woodlands will continue north, and plantings along both sides of the road are helping re-establish the woodlands that once filled this stream valley.
Elm Drive, in a photo shortly after some of the initial replanting with young trees (directly above) and in a rendering of how it eventually could look with more mature trees (above left).
Another tributary also follows Elm Drive, the main campus entrance drive, and the woodlands there have been restored and supplemented in a recently completed project. Both sides of Elm Drive have been replanted, linking to woodlands to the south and joining new woodlands to the north that wrap the south and west sides of Whitman College.