You are now entering John A. Roebling Memorial Park. This portion of the Abbott Marshlands was preserved as a wildlife sanctuary through the dedicated efforts of local citizens beginning in 1937. Today the 486-acre park is owned by Mercer County. Roebling Park is a window into the storied history of the area's past. Here is where Charles Conrad Abbott (1843-1919) lived and wrote of his natural history observations, illustrating the New World to Europeans. Remains of his "Three Beeches" estate can be seen from one of the trails along the bluff here. Farther north lies Spring Lake, which was a favored destination for Trenton residents in the late 1800s for leisurely trail walks, boat rides and picnics. Later the site was developed into the famous White City Amusement Park that offered roller-skating, dancing, a merry-go-round and other attractions. White City Park closed in the 1920s, but a grand staircase and other remaining structures, such as part of the park's log ride visible from the trail, hint at the location's past. As suburban development rapidly spread into the neighboring area, the park entered a new stage of its history. A group of local citizens formed the Broad Street Civic Association in order to preserve some of the land along the edge of the marsh. Through fundraising, with substantial donations from the Roebling family, the Civic Association was able to purchase Spring Lake and surrounding lands that they eventually turned over to Mercer County as Roebling Memorial Park. Today the park is home to the Tulpehaking Nature Center. The nature center serves as the educational gateway to the Abbott Marshlands, with exhibits, programs, trail information, restrooms and other amenities. The nature center is the result of a cooperative effort between Mercer County and the D&R Greenway Land Trust with funds from the NJ Green Acres program. Take a short walk up the hill to visit the nature center or check out current events at www.abbottmarshlands.org. Help us protect and preserve other places like the Abbott Marshlands by tapping on the orange button to donate to D&R Greenway! D&R Greenway would like to thank the following Abbott Marshlands experts who volunteered their time to make this tour a success: Mary and Charlie Leck, Kelly Rypkema, Gregory Lattanzi, Mike MacEwan, Stephanie Fox, Michael Skelly, Michael Stewart, Richard Veit, and the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands Education Committee. Their dedication to the marshlands is an inspiration and we hope you will join them in appreciating and protecting these lands.