FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2005

Contact: Elaine Makatura
(609) 292-2994

DEP Announces $1.6 Million in Federal Funds for Recreational Trail Projects

(05/120) TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today announced that the DEP is providing more than $1.6 million in federal funds to improve, maintain, and develop trails statewide.

"The Recreational Trails program provides the public with access to the state's premiere trail network for fun and adventure," said Campbell. "The grants will enhance open space and environmental resources and create urban and suburban corridors for more hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities. Autumn is a beautiful time of year to get out and experience nature at its best."

Examples of funded projects include a grant to Mercer County for $25,000 to develop a trail across the grounds of Mercer County Community College as part of the long-distance Capital to the Coast Trail. In Ocean County, Island Beach State Park will use $15,000 to upgrade their popular Sedge Island Kayak Trail. Sparta Township, Sussex County will receive $24,948 to restore the Sparta Glen Brook Trail that was damaged from severe flooding several years ago. The non-profit New Jersey Conservation Foundation was awarded $25,000 to provide access and develop trails at their new 9,400-acre Franklin Parker Preserve in the Pine Barrens.

DEP awarded almost $743,000 for the development, construction and restoration of 43 trail sites. The trail projects were recommended for funding by the New Jersey Trails Council and approved by the Federal Highway Administration under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. The Trails Council is comprised of representatives from hiking, mountain biking, motorized trail use, canoeing/kayaking and horseback riding interest groups, as well as several general trail advocates and representatives from state government.

DEP also has reserved $327,000 for the development of future motorized trail projects. In addition to projects already funded, the department will make available approximately $900,000 in additional federal grants in 2006. These grants will be administered through a competitive process, with recipients required to provide a 20 percent match for each trail project.

Governmental agencies and non-profit organizations have until December 15, 2005 to apply for the 2006 funding.

DEP's Office of Natural Lands Management in the Division of Parks and Forestry administers the program.

Interested parties can contact the DEP Trails Program at (609) 984-1339 or go to http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/njtrails.html.

See project listing:

2005 Recreational Trails Program Projects

Applicant Project Approved
Amount
Allamuchy Mt. State Park – Morris County Crown Towers Trailheads $10,700
Allentown Borough – Monmouth County Heritage Park Connector Trail $25,000
Bridgewater Township – Somerset County Middlebrook Trail $25,000
Cheesequake State Park – Middlesex County Green Trail Walkway $13,000
Children's Resource Center – Burlington County Trail Improvements $25,000
D & R Greenway Land Trust – Mercer County Sourland Foothills Trail $25,000
Delaware Water Gap NRA – Warren, Sussex Counties Trail Maintenance and Restoration $15,000
Division of Parks and Forestry – Multiple Counties Trail Map Brochures $25,000
East Coast Greenway Alliance – Somerset, Mercer Counties D & R Canal Signage $5,500
Essex County Dept. of Parks – Essex County Passaic River Trail Rehabilitation $12,500
Forest Resource Education Center – Ocean County Multi Use Trail Enhancements $6,955
Friends of Carson Road Woods – Mercer County Trail Improvements $5,000
Friends of Long Pond Ironworks – Passaic County Hasenclever Iron Trail Signage $10,500
Highland Park Borough – Middlesex County Lower Meadows Trail Restoration $10,000
Hunterdon County Parks Dept. – Hunterdon County Historical Interpretive Signs $12,000
Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance – Hunterdon County Mimi Upmeyer Trail $4,500
Island Beach State Park – Ocean County Sedge Island Kayak Trail $15,000
Jackson Township – Ocean County Bunker Hill Bogs Trail $25,000
Manasquan Borough – Monmouth County Kayak and Canoe Dock Project $20,000
Mercer County – Mercer County Capital to the Coast Trail $25,000
Mercer County – Mercer County Northwest Park – LHT $25,000
Middlesex County – Middlesex County Middlesex Greenway $25,000
Montgomery Township – Somerset County Van Horne Park Trails $25,000
Morristown National Historical Park – Somerset County New Jersey Brigade Trail $25,000
Morristown Town – Morris County Foote's Pond Wood Restoration $25,000
New Jersey Audubon Society – Burlington County Rancocas Nature Center Trails $13,000
New Jersey Conservation Foundation – Burlington County Franklin Parker Preserve Trails $25,000
North Bergen Township – Hudson County Bird Sanctuary Trail $15,000
Ocean Township – Monmouth County Joe Palaia Park Trail Extension $25,000
Parvin State Park Appreciation Committee – Salem County Trail Improvements $15,000
Passaic County – Passaic County Garret Mountain Reservation Trail $25,000
Poricy Park Citizens Committee – Monmouth County Trail Maintenance $3,100
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy – Multiple Counties Liberty-Water Gap Trail $25,000
Rocky Hill Borough – Somerset County Van Horne Park Trails $25,000
Round Valley Recreation Area – Hunterdon County Cushetunk Trail Project $6,000
Somerset County Park Commission – Somerset County Lord Stirling Park Trail Improvements $25,000
Sparta Township – Sussex County Sparta Glen Brook Trail $24,948
Voorhees Township – Camden County Stafford Farm Trail $15,000
Washington Township – Gloucester County Washington Lake Park Trail $25,000
Wawayanda State Park – Sussex County Maintenance Trailer $1,394
West Milford Township – Passaic County Bubbling Springs Bike Trail $25,000
Wharton State Forest – Burlington County Mountain Bike Trails $4,145
Whitesbog Preservation Trust – Burlington County Trail Maintenance and Enhancements $4,560
Total Approved Amount   $742,802

 

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