“Whitman Woods” Mission
Distill Nature, Art, History & Science as a living legacy that honors the iconic poet Walt Whitman and forever preserves vital Open Space.
Walt Whitman took great joy in walking the banks of Laurel Lake in what is now Laurel Springs, New Jersey. The influences of the Natural World he encountered there resonate through the centuries in his most legendary works. Whitman Woods Project endeavors to save from development the last significant woodland where the legendary poet found enduring inspiration. Preserving the “green island” where Bald Eagles now forage as a passive park in perpetuity is the goal of the family that has owned the site since 1925. A towering canopy and idyllic lake views distinguish the 3.75-acre site. The 2020 Pandemic brought into sharp focus the basic human need to seek solace in Nature. Endowing the project and conveying this urban wildlife oasis to a Conservation Steward to protect in Whitman’s name is now more important than ever.
North American Land Trust serves as lead project advisor and chief conservation collaborator.