Seven trail projects in Morris County could receive a combined $1.3 million in county funding before the end of the month.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners is expected to vote on Oct. 23 to approve the latest round of awards from the county’s Trail Construction Grant Program. This year’s list includes “significant projects” in Morristown, Mendham, Morris Plains, Randolph Township, Denville, East Hanover and Montville.
The commissioner board received the recommendations last week from Betty Cass-Schmidt, chairwoman of the county Trail Construction Grant Advisory Committee.
Funding for the projects comes from the county Preservation Trust Fund, established in 1992 and modified in 2002 to include a Historic Preservation Fund. In 2014, voters approved allocating a portion of the fund for recreational trail development.
Morris County’s recreational trails
Since the program’s inception, the commissioners have approved 54 grants and authorized building 28.5 miles of new recreational trails, most of which have been completed.
If approved, these new projects will bring the county’s total investment in public trails to more than $6 million.
“At the end of each cycle, the Trail Grant Advisory Committee conducts an assessment meeting to develop refinements to the application process,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, the board’s liaison to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation. “This is crucial because building a trail is more complex than it might seem. Proper engineering is key to ensuring its durability and preventing erosion from rain or other environmental factors.”
New Morris County recreational trails
This year’s recommendations include four design projects:
- Burnham Park Trails (Morristown): A $107,445 grant to design a 1.03-mile stretch of pavement and boardwalk, providing access to ponds, athletic fields, and recreational areas in Burnham Park, Washington Street, and Fosterfields Living Historical Farm.
- Borough Park and Arboretum Trail (Mendham): A $28,000 grant to design a 0.55-mile paved trail connecting Main Street to local parks, ball fields, and recreation areas.
- Community Park Trail (Morris Plains): A $31,278 grant to design a 0.75-mile gravel trail with lane striping, creating a loop around recreational facilities and the community pool.
- Rosenfarb-Guerin Farms Trail (Randolph): A $93,148 grant to design a 1.14-mile gravel and boardwalk trail connecting Dover Chester Road to Calais Road and Veterans Community Park, and nearby recreational areas, community gardens and Patriot’s Path.
Construction project recommendations include:
- Knuth Fields Walking Trail (Denville): A $304,000 grant to complete the second phase of construction on a 0.6-mile paved trail, providing access to recreational areas and schools.
- Lurker Park Walking Path (East Hanover): A $212,000 grant to complete phase two, adding 1.06 miles of mulch, gravel, and boardwalk bridges, linking River Road to Patriot’s Path and recreational amenities.
- Waughaw Valley Trail (Montville): A $537,638 grant to finalize construction on a 1.31-mile gravel and bridge trail, offering biking and hiking access around Route 202 and Towaco Center.
More details on the program and each project are available on the program website.
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