newjerseynewsroom.com

State DEP funding 48 projects with federal matching funds

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Parks and open-space groups looking for presents to unwrap could find federal aid headed down the trail to them, and bringing improvements.

The New Jersey state Department of Environmental Protection announced it will funnel $1 million in matching funds next year to improve trail access to open space, enhance environmental resources and create corridors fro more hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Government agencies and non-profit groups have until Dec. 15 to apply for the aid, administered through the DEP's Office of Natural Lands Management. Those interested in additional information and applications can call the trails program at (609) 984-1339 or visit www.trails.nj.gov.

The DEP will require applicants to provide 20 percent matches as part of their competitive proposals.

These funds will follow the release of $833,109 this fall to 48 trail projects around New Jersey through the Federal Highways Aministration's recreational trails program. Recipients got up to $25,000 for work ranging from trail extensions to handicapped access.

Projects included $25,000 to Monmouth County Parks to develop a trail between Hartshorne Woods Park to a newly acquired section bordering Claypit Creek.

The non-profit New Jersey Youth Corps of Plainfield got $25,000 to work with the Union County Parks Department to improve and maintain a trail through Green Brook Park.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received $23,774 to develop a two-mile, disabled-access beach boardwalk trail in Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. In Merchantville, $25,000 will go to extend and upgrade the Chestnut Avenue pedestrian path and bikeway along an abandoned railroad right-of-way to provide regional connections.

As required by law, the DEP is reserving 30 percent of the federal funds for future motorized recreational trail projects.

The complete list of this fall's 48 projects:

Bergen County

Meadowlands Conservation Trust, Richard P. Kane Natural Area: $21,880

Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Southern Trails Extension: $21,070

Camden County

Cooper's Ferry Development Association, Wiggins Park Trail Restoration: $25,000

Merchantville Borough, Chestnut Avenue Pedestrian/Bikeway Extension: $25,000

Cape May County

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, Two-Mile Beach Unit Boardwalk Trail: $23,774

Essex County

Livingston Township, Trail Maps and Signage: $9,150

South Mountain Conservancy Inc., Trail Repairs and Signage: $24,875

Hudson County

Hudson County, Hudson River Waterfront Walkway: $25,000

Hunterdon County

Alexandria Equestrian Association Inc., Schick Reserve Trails: $12,500

Readington Township, Trail Network: $19,600

Mercer County

Friends of Howell Living History Farm, Baldpate Mountain History Trail: $25,000

Mercer County Equestrian Center, Mercer Educational Gardens Trail Linkage: $13,746

Mercer County Park Commission, Signage and Mapping: $21,000 Princeton Township, Quaker Road Pathway: $10,000

Middlesex County

Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, Mapleton Preserve/Princeton Nursery Trails: $6,865

Middlesex County Parks and Recreation, Trail Mapping: $2,500

South Brunswick Township, Freedom Trail Improvements: $24,000

Monmouth County

Atlantic Highlands Borough, Trail Improvements 2009: $25,000

Monmouth County Park System, Claypit Creek Connector: $25,000

Wall Township, Capital to the Coast Trail: $1,260

Morris County

Denville Township, Muriel Hepner Park: $25,000

Morris Township, Jockey Hollow Trails: $25,000

Wharton Borough, West Morris Greenway Trail: $25,000

Ocean County

Brick Township, Trail Restoration and Maintenance: $17,725

Double Trouble State Park, Multi-Use Trail Restoration: $7,458

Passaic County

Newark Watershed Conservation & Development Corp., Echo Lake Accessible Trail: $21,972

Passaic River Coalition, Waterview and Highland Meadow Trails: $14,860

Wayne Township, High Mountain Park Trails: $11,250

Salem County

Parvin State Park Appreciation Committee, Trail Improvements: $25,000

Somerset County

Bedminster Township, River Road Trail Restoration: $24,400

Sussex County

Andover Township, Andover Trail/Bikeway: $25,000

Newton Town, Sussex Branch Trail Rehabilitation: $25,000

Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee, the Park at Sparta Junction: $25,000

Stokes State Forest, Trail Marker Replacement: $4,000

Wawayanda State Park, Double Pond Trail: $3,072

Wawayanda State Park, Livingston Trails Rehabilitation: $4,010

Union County

New Jersey Youth Corps of Plainfield, Green Brook Park: $25,000

New Providence Borough, Oakwood Park Trails: $9,000

Warren County

Allamuchy Mountain State Park, Allamuchy Pond Trail: $16,000

Multiple Counties Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon and Somerset), Podcast Trail Tours: $4,330

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Sussex, Warren), Trail Maintenance and Restoration: $25,000

East Coast Greenway Alliance (Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union), Education and Awareness Project: $19,160

Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Equipment Storage and Transport: $13,000

Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Maintenance Equipment: $19,400

Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Tools and Supplies: $15,161

New Jersey Audubon Society (Bergen, Cape May, Hunterdon, Ocean, Sussex and Warren), Trail Improvements: $4,395

New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Skills Workshop Series: $24,696

Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union), Passaic River Blueway: $12,000