Residents rally against trail proposal

Leslie Grant did not know many of her neighbors in Laverock until she began circulating a petition against the Cresheim Trail.

Opposition to the proposal has given the residents an excuse to get reacquainted, and it might even resurrect the Laverock Association, a civic group that has been inactive for years.

"It's bringing us together, very much so," Grant said Aug. 11 at her home on Newbold Lane.

About 20 Laverock residents appeared before the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners Aug. 9 to express their opposition and to ask questions for which there seemed to be no answers.

"Nobody has talked with the people of Laverock about this at all," Grant said. "We're not aware of anything. Nothing."

The residents' questions involve parking, access to the trail from the street, hours of operation, lighting, policing and eminent domain.

But information is scarce because the trail is in its very early planning phase. Campbell, Thomas & Co., the Philadelphia architectural firm retained by the Cresheim Trail Committee to handle the project, is preparing a feasibility study that is not due for completion until the late fall.