'Hidden Gem' Woodland Area Of Camden County To Be Officially Preserved

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A 3.5-acre area of land along Laurel Lake is now officially being preserved, thanks to funding from Camden County and the State of New Jersey.

On May 1, local leaders joined the South Jersey Land and Water Trust for the grand opening of "Laurel Lakes Preserve."

The stretch of land, with ecological significance and historical ties to famed American poet Walt Whitman, is one of the last reminders of the Inner Coastal Plain forest that once inhabited much of the region.

"Laurel Lake Preserve is truly a hidden gem," said Commissioner Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Parks Department.

According to the county, Whitman drafted portions of multiple works while at the lake, and once called the area "the prettiest lake in America or Europe."

Before the South Jersey Land and Water Trust took over its maintenance, the land was privately owned by the Kuehner family.

The family has aided in its conservation efforts for the last 20 years.

"Entrusted by our parents to see the woods conserved, we know they would be pleased with the outcome, and we believe the "Good Gray Poet" (Whitman) would be jubilant," added Elizabeth Kuhner Smith.

The county gave more than $200,000 through the Open Space Preservation Fund towards the effort. The remaining funding was provided by the New Jersey Green Acres Program.

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