Camden Water Trail Brings Life Back to Rivers with 13-Mile Connection

The Camden Water Trail has become one of the most exciting projects in Camden, New Jersey, and it’s amazing to see how it all came together.

This 13-mile water trail, running along the Delaware River Back Channel and Cooper River, has completely changed how people in Camden experience nature.

The project took spaces that had been polluted and ignored for years and turned them into places people could enjoy and feel proud of.

If we look back at Camden’s history, the rivers were once a big part of the city’s industry.

Factories along the Cooper and Delaware Rivers created jobs and kept the economy strong.

But when those industries left, they left behind pollution and spaces no one wanted to use.

For decades, many people in Camden didn’t even think of the rivers as part of their city.

Fast forward to now, and things look completely different.

The Camden Water Trail connects parks and natural areas that have been fixed up or totally redesigned to bring people closer to the water.

Take Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, for example.

The park opened in 2021 and was built on top of an old landfill that had been closed for 50 years.

Before, it was just a dumping ground, but now it’s a beautiful park with trails, picnic spots, and even a place to launch kayaks.

But that’s only one part of the trail.

Petty’s Island Preserve is another highlight.

This island used to be full of industrial sites, but now it’s been cleaned up and turned into a place where people can enjoy nature and learn about local wildlife.

It even has a beach area, which is something you wouldn’t have thought possible a few years ago.

Pyne Poynt Park Beach also got a total redesign and is now a popular place for kayaking, fishing, and relaxing by the water.

Sadler’s Poynt Waterfront Park is another great spot since it has a floating dock that makes it a breeze to get out on the water.

So, naturally, it’s become a favorite place for paddlers, and it’s just one of many access points along the trail.

Sadler’s Marine Services was also turned into a community hub with a brand-new boathouse.

This is now a place where people can store boats and gather to enjoy the river.

One of the smartest upgrades to the trail was adding a fish and boat passageway at the Kaighn Avenue Dam.

It also helps migratory fish like American shad and river herring reach their spawning grounds, which is great for the environment.

Other spots along the trail, like the Cooper River Boathouse, Cooper River Yacht Club, and Gateway Park, were also improved to make the trail even better.

Gateway Park now has a new dock, and the Cramer Hill Nature Preserve was upgraded with picnic tables and great views, giving people more places to enjoy the outdoors.

As you probably expect, getting all this done wasn’t easy.

A lot of people and organizations worked together to make it happen.

Groups like the Camden County Parks Department and Upstream Alliance helped lead the way, along with Discover the Delaware.

Local leaders, such as Mayor Frank Moran and Commissioner Jeffrey Nash, also supported the project throughout its development.

They even went kayaking to show just how much they believed in it.

Funding from the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund also played a big role in making this possible.

One of the best parts of the water trail is how it’s been used for education.

Environmental educators like Ivana Quinones have taught people about the rivers and why they matter.

Many Camden residents didn’t even realize how close they were to the Cooper River or how much potential it had.

Thanks to the programs and outreach, more people now see the rivers as safe and fun resources.

Looking back, it’s incredible how much has been accomplished.

It brought pride to the community and allowed people to reconnect with nature.

What used to be seen as polluted and off-limits is now a centerpiece of life in Camden.

Today, the rivers are thriving, the parks are full of activity, and the community has a stronger connection to nature than ever before.