OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

CONTACT: Sharon A. Southard or Amy Collings
(609) 984-1795 or 609-292-2994

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Shinn announced today the dedication of $1.6 million in federal funds to improve and develop state and local trails.

More than $814,000 has been earmarked for 39 New Jersey trail projects from the 2001 federal Recreational Trails Program. Additionally, DEP is currently seeking applications for approximately $810,000 in federal funds that has been allocated to New Jersey for the year 2002.

"The money will help us continue to develop and maintain a premier statewide network of trails that will increase recreational opportunities throughout New Jersey as demand increases. These matching grants are important because they enable the state to offer greater access to the state's many open spaces, create urban and suburban corridors and enhance recreational areas," said Shinn. "We urge federal, state, county and local governments, and non-profit agencies to send us their applications by December 20, 2001."

The 39 projects currently being funded will allow for the development, construction and restoration of a variety of trail sites in the Garden State. The City of Pleasantville was awarded $25,000 to provide lighting, screening and fencing to help convert the abandoned Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Line railbed into a trail that will connect adjoining Northfield, Linwood, and Somers Point.

The 39 projects, recommended by the New Jersey Trails Council, were approved by the Federal Highway Administration under the Recreational Trails Program as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century. Grant recipients must provide a 20% match for each trail project. The Trails Council is comprised of representatives from hiking, mountain biking, motorized trail use, canoeing and horseback riding interest groups as well as several general trail advocates and representatives from state government. DEP's Office of Natural Lands Management in the Division of Parks and Forestry administers the program.

Worthington State Forest will receive $10,000 to expand its Delaware River interpretive program that would allow visitors to explore the river by canoe or kayak. In Monmouth County, the Horse Park of New Jersey will use $25,000 to improve old farm roads now used as trails in Assunpink Wildlife Management Area. Trail improvements to accommodate carriage riding as well as horseback riding will be made on three of those paths that connect with the adjacent horse park.

In another non-profit project, the Edison Greenways Group partnership will receive $1,950 for the restoration and enhancement of the Dismal Swamp trails in Edison. The trails will connect with the township's recently acquired Triple C Ranch and the developing regional Middlesex Greenway.

Launching the eastern section of the cross-state Liberty-Water Gap Trail, Hudson County will receive $25,000 to construct a path within Lincoln Park that will connect the proposed route for the trail to the Communipaw Avenue Bridge over the Hackensack River in Jersey City. The Liberty-Water Gap Trail will begin at Liberty State Park and end at the Delaware Water Gap.

Atlantic County was awarded $20,000 to continue the construction of the Swamp Trail in Estell Manor County Park. Boardwalking of the trail will permit wheelchair access along its 2.75-mile route.

A list of the 39 approved trail projects for the 2001 funding is below. For further information or to obtain an application, call DEP's Trails Program at (609) 984-1339.

Approved 2001

Related Links

• NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry
  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parknj/divhome.htm