A long and winding conservation effort has been realized.
On January 16, 2026, South Jersey Land & Water Trust finalized the permanent preservation of the woodland along Laurel Lake where Walt Whitman once found inspiration, and where generations of local families have spent time exploring the timeworn trails and shoreline. Protecting the Laurel Springs, New Jersey, property from future development ensures that this small yet meaningful parcel is now formally open to the public, and its ecological, historical, and community values are preserved.
Set along the lake’s edge in Camden County, the 3.5-acre tract represents one of the few remaining examples of the Inner Coastal Plain forest that once defined much of the surrounding region. Mature trees frame the waterline here, and wildlife presence continues to increase — including almost-daily sightings of Bald Eagles. Residents of Laurel Springs, Lindenwold, and Stratford have long regarded the woods and glen that comprise what is now known as “Laurel Lake Preserve” as a quiet place to walk, reflect, and reconnect with nature. During the isolation of the 2020 pandemic, for example, the privately owned tract served as an informal refuge for many, underscoring the importance of establishing open space within built-out towns and suburbs.
Now saved from development, the woodland also carries deep literary significance. Whitman spent extended periods in Laurel Springs during his later years, writing significant portions of Specimen Days here, and expanding Leaves of Grass. In his correspondence with friends, he frequently described Laurel Lake and the glen, springs, and woods that bordered it with admiration, crediting the landscape with providing both inner calm and creative energy. Preserving this environment therefore protects natural habitat and public access, and also sets aside in perpetuity the last of the Laurel Springs woods that influenced one of America’s most enduring poets.
For decades, the privately owned property functioned in practice as a passive park, even without formal designation. In the Kuehner family since 1925, it was the third generation that set out to find an ideal open space steward for what had become an urban wildlife oasis as the borough became built out. “Achieving conservation via South Jersey Land & Water Trust is an idyllic solution to our long-sought mission,” says family spokesperson Elizabeth Smith, who led the epic quest. “They’re amazing! We couldn’t have scripted it any better!” The site’s recent conservation now secures the only dedicated public lake access along the entire perimeter of Laurel Lake, and transforms what had long been uncertain into a permanent community resource.
The hard-won outcome formalizes a role the land has quietly played for half a century — open, welcoming, and shared.
Laurel Lake Preserve’s creation reflects years of advocacy and cooperation among local supporters, advisers, patrons, and conservation partners. South Jersey Land & Water Trust led the final acquisition and protection effort, with funding from Camden County Open Space and New Jersey Green Acres, and the blessing of local borough leaders committed to open space preservation. North American Land Trust contributed early planning support and remained an advocate for the project over time, offering assistance in the closing stages that helped ensure the woodland’s long-term protection.
“It’s our privilege to protect this special place for the people and wildlife who spend time here,” says South Jersey Land & Water Trust Executive Director Christine Nolan. “But we simply couldn’t have established Laurel Lake Preserve without the tremendous support of our funding partners, who recognized that this small but mighty woods have served as a precious gem to generations of area residents. It’s been barely a month since we established Laurel Lake Preserve, and there’s already an outpouring of folks letting us know how happy they are to have the woods protected.”
Laurel Lake Preserve now stands as a testament to persistence, collaboration, and the shared belief that even modest parcels of land can carry outsized meaning. What was once a vulnerable private holding is now a permanently protected public asset — a landscape where history, ecology, and community intersect along the quiet banks of Laurel Lake.
North American Land Trust is proud to have played a small part in achieving conservation, alongside the many partners and community advocates who helped carry the vision forward and bring the project to completion.
Read our previously published Stories from The Land articles about Laurel Lake Preserve:
- Reflection: Finding Peace at a Small Oasis in Laurel Springs, New Jersey
- Whitman Woods: Preserving a Beloved Lakefront Sanctuary
Written by NALT President, Steven Carter
