Paul Ligeti received his Eagle Scout award for his project featuring an 11-mile long bike trail featuring historic sites in West Windsor. A senior at High School North, Ligeti is a member of Troop 66.
Ligeti, a West Windsor resident, created the West Windsor Historic Bike Trail for his Eagle project. The ribbon cutting was held on July 30 at South Mill and Village roads, West Windsor. The trail includes descriptive markers in front of historically important sites in the township. The trail’s starting point is at the corner of Village Road East and South Mill Road.
The trail is a culmination of two years of planning, research, and execution. Combining his love of biking and deep interest in local history, Ligeti presented a brief history of the town, as well as a gallery of photos of the sites along the route.
The stops include Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, the Schenck Farmstead and Museum, Ladyfaire, Berrien City, Widow Bergen’s Tavern, Grovers Mill of “The War of the Worlds” fame, and homes that served as Underground Railroad stops. The trail ride takes close to two hours by bicycle. Visit wwhistoricbiker.weebly.com for information.
“As a resident of West Windsor, I’ve always liked to travel down historic roads, viewing all the old buildings,” says Legeti. “Each site contains a story of its own that is relevant to the history of West Windsor today. A great example of this is one of my favorite roads, Village Road, which traverses Dutch Neck, the geographical and historical heart of West Windsor. This single road gives one a view of what life used to be like in this town: quiet communities based around an agricultural lifestyle.”
Legeti joined Troop 66 in 2005 and has served as a patrol leader, scribe, troop guide, and assistant senior patrol leader. He has earned 39 merit badges, attained the Order of the Arrow, and attended National Youth Leadership Training in 2008, and the Rodney Scout Reservation summer camp six times. He has also attended Rodney’s High Adventure Sailing Camp and led a week-long hike in Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico.
When he turned 18, he immediately transitioned into the role of an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 66. He will be returning to Rodney, his seventh appearance, as an assistant scoutmaster.
A National Merit Scholarship finalist, he is interested in architecture and urban planning. His summer plans include helping to complete the restoration of a 500 year old fortified manor in Northern Spain. He is the son of Kathryn and Peter Ligeti of West Windsor.
