The Island neighborhood of Trenton is set to host its annual garden tour June 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents say that Trenton’s Island neighborhood, set along the banks of the Delaware, is a mix of natural beauty, vintage architecture and historic charm.
Organizers say the annual garden tour is an opportunity for visitors to see one of the city’s best kept secrets during one of its loveliest seasons. With a joyful mix of landscaping, hardscaping and personal style, the neighborhood’s gardens are in full swing come mid-June, with annuals, perennials, bushes and trees in various stages of bloom. Some offer showy displays of flowers in sunny curbside plots, while others provide shady retreats in hidden back yards.
Visitors will be provided with information about the neighborhood itself, which was once only accessible by foot bridges over the canal, hence its name. In the 1950’s, the canal was replaced by Route 29, but the physical geography and natural boundaries continue to reinforce its draw as a destination and urban oasis.
They will also have the opportunity to explore the adjacent Stacy Park, which begins at the neighborhood’s southern end, where the tour ends. The park’s log basin, a popular fishing spot, speaks to Trenton’s regional and commercial history as a place where timber from upstream would be sent down the river during the Spring melt and corralled in the pond before being sent to the mills.
At the far end of the park, John Roebling’s suspension-style prototype of the Brooklyn Bridge (the “shaky” bridge) crosses a small inlet before giving way to the Water Works building.
The self-guided tour begins at 308 Colombia Ave., Trenton. Directions: Route 29 to Mount Vernon. Turn towards the river. Street parking is available. Sponsored by the Island Civic Association. $10 at the Door, No Advance Purchase. Organizers say proceeds will benefit community beautification projects.
