(08/55) TRENTON - The Department of Environmental Protection today announced that more than $1.7 million in federal grant money is available for maintaining and improving recreational trails throughout New Jersey.

The funds will improve public access to the state’s ever-expanding network of trails, enhance environmental resources, create urban and suburban corridors and provide additional hiking, biking and horseback-riding opportunities.

In the coming year, the DEP will award approximately $1 million in competitive grants for groups that maintain, develop and operate trails. Recipients are required to provide a 20-percent matching share for each project.

In 2008, 44 trail projects received a total $746,739 in funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. Those approved projects include a $25,000 grant to Millstone Township to develop a multi-use trail system that links public open space within the township. Also, the Ocean County Department of Planning will use $9,050 to purchase and install interpretive signs along completed sections of the proposed 15.6-mile Barnegat Branch Trail.

Using a $13,007 grant, the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife partnered with Natural Lands Trust Inc. and Watchable Wildlife Inc. to develop a series of interconnected water trails through Egg Island Wildlife Management Area and the Glades Wildlife Refuge. In Warren and Sussex counties, the National Park Service was awarded $13,700 to maintain, restore and upgrade several trails within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The nonprofit East Coast Greenway Alliance is using $25,000 to work with Hudson, Essex, Union and Middlesex counties to install informational kiosks at highly visible locations along New Jersey’s section of the long-distance, multi-state East Coast Greenway.

The DEP also will reserve money from the federal grant program for the development of future motorized trail projects. Thirty percent of each year’s funding must be allocated for motorized trail recreation.

The 44 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 nonprofit organizations have until Dec. 15, 2008 to apply for the 2009 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 2008 recreational trail projects, totaling $746,739:

Atlantic County
Atlantic County Park System, South River Bridge and Trails Connector: $25,000

Bergen County
Bergen County Department of Parks, Saddle River County Park: $23,000
Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Trails Clearing/Maintenance: $1,600

Cumberland County
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Egg Island - The Glades Water Trails: $13,007

Cape May County
Corson’s Inlet State Park, Rails to Trails Connector: $25,000
Wildwood Crest Borough, Bicycle/Pedestrian Path: $10,500

Essex County
Eagle Rock Conservancy Inc., Eagle Rock Reservation Trails Project: $20,100
South Mountain Conservancy Inc., Bridge Repair and Trailside Facilities: $24,150

Gloucester County
Gloucester County 4-H Association, Winslow Wildlife Management Area Trails: $22,844

Hunterdon County
Alexandria Equestrian Association Inc., Schick Reserve Trails: $25,000
D & R Greenway Land Trust Inc., Lambertville-Sourlands Connector Trail: $12,355
Readington Trail Association, Cole Road Trailhead: $13,500
Readington Township, Trail Mapping: $8,000
Round Valley Recreation Area, Trail Supplies: $9,600
Round Valley Recreation Area, Interpretive Signs: $2,000
Spruce Run Recreation Area, Americans with Disabilities Act Park Loop: $25,000
Union Forge Heritage Association, Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway: $24,500

Mercer County
Friends & Historical Society of Washington Township, Washington to Walnford Trail: $23,000
Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, A Park Near You: $18,975
Isles Inc., Trenton Spirit Walk Loops: $25,000
Lawrence Township, Lawrence Hopewell Trail - Dyson Tract: $25,000
Mercer County, Trail Maintenance and Equipment: $19,480

Middlesex County
Sayreville Borough, Nature Trails: $15,000

Monmouth County
Allaire State Park, Yellow Trail Restoration: $8,000
Millstone Township, Perrineville West Trail Project: $25,000
Poricy Park Conservancy, Handicap Trail: $20,344

Morris County
Schiff Natural Lands Trust Inc., Schiff Nature Preserve: $25,000

Ocean County
Beachwood Borough, Trail Maintenance: $25,000
Island Beach State Park, Canoe/Kayak Map: $13,300
Island Beach State Park, Recreational Trails Fencing Project: $16,600
Ocean County Department of Planning, Barnegat Branch Trail: $9,050
Plumsted Township, Crosswicks Creek Canoe/Kayak Trail: $25,000

Passaic County
Helping People Help Themselves Corp., Destiny’s Gate: $12,500
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Echo Lake Loop Trail: $25,000

Somerset County
Warren Township, Recreational Trail Maintenance: $4,500

Sussex County
Byram Township, Community Trails Network Project: $16,544
Heritage and Agriculture Association Inc., Lusscroft Farm Trails: $14,500

Warren County
Ridge and Valley Conservancy, White Lake Trail: $3,000

Multiple Counties
Appalachian Mountain Club (Sussex and Warren), Trail Maintenance and Restoration: $4,090
Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area (Sussex, Warren), Trail Maintenance: $13,700
Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area (Sussex and Warren), Trail Maps & Signage: $15,300
East Coast Greenway Alliance (Essex, Hudson, Middlesex and Union), Kiosk Project: $25,000
New Jersey State Park Service (Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean), Trail Guide Brochures: $24,700
Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee (Sussex and Warren), Trail Signs: $9,000