OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

(07/47) TRENTON – Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson today announced that more than $2.1 million in federal grant money has been earmarked for maintaining and improving recreational trails throughout New Jersey.

“Recreational trails enhance our environment, economy and quality of life while offering health and fitness opportunities, outdoor classrooms for nature study, greenways for wildlife conservation and links with our historic past,” Commissioner Jackson said. “With these funds, great trails throughout New Jersey will be even better.”

In the coming year, the DEP will award approximately $1 million in competitive grants for groups that maintain and operate trails. Recipients are required to provide a 20 percent matching share for each project. More than $1.1 million from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program already has been approved for 48 trail projects.

Projects approved for funding include a $25,000 grant to the Bergen County Department of Parks to restore trails at Saddle River County Park. Also, Camden Greenways Inc. has partnered with the City of Camden to receive $25,000 to connect existing parks and open space as part of the Camden Greenway Trail.

In Burlington County, Wharton State Forest will use $6,425 to develop a water trail maintenance program on several rivers in the Pinelands. Randolph Township in Morris County received $25,000 to construct a trail bridge over Dawson Brook in Heistein Park as part of their township bikeway.

The non-profit Atlantic Off-Highway Vehicle Park Inc. was awarded $338,218 to establish a new riding area in Ocean County for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts. Thirty percent of each year’s funding must be allocated for motorized trail recreation.

The 48 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 DEP’s Office of Natural Lands Management administers the program. The Trails Council comprises interest groups for hiking, mountain biking, motorized trail use, canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding as well as several general trail advocates and state government representatives.

Government agencies and non-profit organizations have until Dec. 15, 2007 to apply for the 2008 funding. Those interested in additional grant information and the application form should call the DEP Trails Program at (609) 984-1339 or visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/njtrails.html.

Following is a list of approved recreational trail improvement projects, totaling $1,125,093:

Atlantic County
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Stockton Community Trails Project: $7,000

Bergen County
Closter Borough, Trail System Upgrade & Maintenance: $6,500
Bergen County Department of Parks, Saddle River County Park: $25,000
Bergen County Improvement Authority, Overpeck Area III Improvements: $25,000
Lodi Borough, Saddle River Linear Trail Extension: $25,000
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners, Lower Passaic River Canoe/Kayak Trail: $10,261

Burlington County
Wharton State Forest, Water Trail Maintenance Program: $6,425
Whitesbog Preservation Trust, Trail Maintenance and Enhancement: $8,535
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Run Lake Trail: $9,075

Camden County
Camden County Parks Department, Slim’s Ranch Trail Improvements: $25,000
Camden Greenways Inc., Phase 1 Loop Greenway Trail: $25,000

Cape May County
The Nature Conservancy, Delaware Bayshores, Lizard Tail Swamp Preserve: $25,000

Essex County
South Mountain Conservancy Inc., Trail Restoration Projects: $17,700
Irvington Township, Eastern Parkway Trail Maintenance: $13,268

Gloucester County
Elk Township, Recreational Rail-Trail: $25,000
Washington Township,Washington Lake Park Trail Restoration: $25,000

Hudson County Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc., Hackensack River Water Trail: $25,000

Hunterdon County
Delaware Township, Delaware River to Wescott Preserve Trail: $19,500
Round Valley Recreation Area, Trails Maintenance Utility Vehicle: $8,640
Round Valley Recreation Area, Trails Maintenance Equipment: $16,000
South Branch Watershed Association, South Branch Raritan River Water Trail: $16,676
Voorhees State Park, Trail Mapping: $1,275

Mercer County
Friends of West Windsor Open Space, Zaitz Preserve Woodland Trail: $17,000
D & R Greenway Land Trust Inc., Trails Access: $15,000
Lawrence Township, Brearly-Great Meadow Trail: $25,000
City of Trenton, Stacy Park Trail: $25,000
Washington Crossing State Park, ADA Trail at Washington Grove: $12,500

Middlesex County
Sayreville Borough, Nature Trails: $7,000

Monmouth County
Millstone Trailblazers, Connector Trails: $25,000
Horse Park of New Jersey, Assunpink Trail Restoration: $25,000

Morris County
Chester Township, Tiger Brook Park & MacGregor Preserve: $5,650
Morris County Park Commission, Loantaka Brook Equestrian Trail: $25,000
Randolph Township, Dawson Brook Bikeway Bridge: $25,000
Roxbury Township, Veterans Park Trail Phase II: $23,133
Warren Township, Glenhurst Recreational Trail: $21,500
Wharton Borough, Morris Canal Rail-Trail: $25,000

Ocean County
Atlantic Off-Highway Vehicle Park Inc., Off-Highway Vehicle Park: $338,218

Passaic County
Newark Watershed Construction & Development Corp., Trailhead Parking and Signage: $10,500

Salem County
Pilesgrove-Woodstown Recreation Association, Marlton Park Walking Trail: $15,000

Sussex County
Heritage and Agriculture Association Inc., Lusscroft Farm Restoration: $8,000
Wawayanda State Park, Bicycle Route Completion: $25,000
Wawayanda State Park, Trail Blazing/Marking:$3,800
Wawayanda State Park, Trail Inventory and Park Mapping: $1,082

Multiple Counties
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset), Trail Markers: $2,700
Jersey Off-Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Maintenance Equipment: $24,250
Jersey Off-Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trails Maintenance & Repair Tools: $21,740
New Jersey Audubon Society (Bergen, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Ocean), NJAS Sanctuary Trail Project: $7,165
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Morris and Passaic), Highlands Trail/Central Jersey Trails Crew: $25,000