Hopkins Pond Walking Path: What Haddonfield's Safe Routes to School Grant Would Build

Haddonfield is applying for a Safe Routes to School grant to build a pedestrian path of nearly $1 million near Hopkins Pond. The path would give students and neighbors a safer way to reach Anniversary Field, the high school area and the Woodmont redevelopment. The application is due in mid-November, and if it's funded, construction would most likely start in 2028.

The problem it's trying to fix

If you've driven that stretch near Hopkins Pond at practice time, you know. Commissioners said at their Oct. 5 work session that the road is narrow, has steep slopes in places, and gets heavy use at certain times by young drivers. Right now students and other walkers go along the road or cross it to reach fields, parking and the high school, according to The Retrospect's report on the session.

What the path would look like

The early concept puts the path in the trees on the county park side of the road, not as a sidewalk along the homes. A sidewalk on the residential side would be hard because of mature plantings, terrain and drainage, officials said.

The plan, as described at the work session:

• The path sits back from the road, with trees as a buffer between walkers and traffic.
• It ties into an existing access point.
• It crosses near the Hopkins Pond parking area, where a crosswalk would lead toward Anniversary Field and the schools.
• It would connect with sidewalks planned through the Woodmont development toward Kings Highway.

Who pays for what

The project is estimated at close to $1 million. The grant could cover construction. The borough would still pay for engineering and design. That's the honest trade: a grant isn't free money, but it can turn a local design bill into a finished path.

Where it stands

• Oct. 5: Commissioners reviewed the concept at their work session.
• Oct. 26: The commissioners' final agenda included formal authorization to submit the Safe Routes to School application.
• Oct. 29: The Board of Education's agenda included a resolution supporting the borough's grant application. Board minutes confirming the vote haven't been posted yet.
• Mid-November: Application due. The borough also planned to seek support from Camden County.
• About six months later: Grant decisions could take that long.
• 2028: Most likely construction start, if funded.

Nothing is built or guaranteed yet. This is the application stage. We'll report the decision when it comes.

The same Oct. 26 meeting also moved forward three new stop signs near schools. Here's what commissioners decided.

Sources

• The Retrospect, Oct. 8: Haddonfield Seeks Grant for Hopkins Pond Pedestrian Route to School Fields
• Borough of Haddonfield: Oct. 5 work session agenda (PDF)
• Borough of Haddonfield: Oct. 26 commissioners agenda (PDF)
• Haddonfield Board of Education: Oct. 29 agenda (PDF)

Grants, projects and what they mean for your street: the Friday newsletter keeps track so you don't have to. Get it here.