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NJ DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: 9/17/01
01/111

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

SHINN ANNOUNCES $1.6 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TRAILS

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 21st 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

Applicant   Project   Approved Amount
Appalachian Trail Conference   Appalachian Trail Crossing at Pochuck Floodway   $25,000
Atlantic County Park System   Swamp Trail   $20,000
Belleplain State Forest   Trails system mapping   $1,000
Cheesequake State Park   Green Trail stairway   $5,000
Edgewater Borough   Trolly Trail Restoration   $25,000
Edison Greenways Group/Edison Wetlands Assoc.   Edison Greenways   $1,950
Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League   Betsy Scull Trail Area trail development   $194,243
Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League   Ready to Ride Program, Ridge Avenue Site   $25,000
Essex County Dept. Parks, Rec. & Cultural Affairs   Eagle Rock Reservation Bridle Trails   $20,000
Farny State Park   Trail enhancements   $3,564
Forest Resource Education Center   Project Learning Trail   $11,000
Freehold Township;Freehold Borough   Lake Topanemus Trails   $25,000
Hackensack Meadowlands Dev. Comm.   Mill Creek Point Canoe Launch   $19,800
High Point State Park   Cedar Swamp Boardwalk   $24,975
Hillsborough Township   Take a Hike in Hillsborough   $10,500
Holmdel Township   Holmdel Recreational Trails   $21,500
Horse Park of New Jersey   Carriage Road Repairs in Assunpink Wildlife Management Area   $25,000
Hudson County   Liberty-Water Gap Trail connector   $25,000
Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association   Trails Maintenance   $5,840
Lacey Township   Lower Lake RR ROW Improvements   $20,000
Mendham Borough   Trail Development Project   $19,330
Montgomery Township   Campbell Farm Path   $21,000
Natural Lands Trust   Boardwalk Trail   $21,000
New Jersey Audubon Society   Plainsboro Preserve   $5,859
New Jersey ORV Park, Inc.   Trail closure and reconstruction   $39,000
New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg   Environmental Ed Trail   $15,000
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference   Appalachian Trail Relocation   $25,000
Pleasantville   Commuter Path - Phase 1   $25,000
Ringwood State Park   Trail maintenance   $9,000
Ringwood State Park   Patriots' Path in Troy Meadows   $7,638
Stokes State Forest   MacDonald Lane Footbridge   $25,000
Tewksbury Township   Gursich Property Pathway   $15,000
Urban Conservation Action Partnership   Brightwood Park Nature Trail   $20,000
Voorhees State Park   Trail construction   $6,500
Washington Crossing State Park   Five Senses Trail   $10,000
Waterford Township   Burnt Mill Road Trailhead   $14,371
Wharton State Forest   Trail maintenance vehicle   $9,761
Worthington State Forest   Dunnfield Creek Foot Bridge   $6,700
Worthington State Forest   Delaware River Resource Education   $10,000
Total Approved Amount   $814,531


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