Seven Trail Projects Recommended for Morris County Funding
Published on October 10, 2024
Grant Program Concludes Ninth Year With Strong Submissions
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners received a recommendation at last night’s public work session to award more than $1.3 million in grants for the design of four municipal trails and the completion of three trail construction projects as part of the county’s nine-year-old Trail Construction Grant Program.
Betty Cass-Schmidt, Chairwoman of the Trail Construction Grant Advisory Committee, presented the 2024 recommendations, which include significant projects in Morristown, Mendham Borough, Morris Plains, Randolph Township, Denville, East Hanover and Montville.
“The evolution of this program has been truly impressive. At the end of each cycle, the Trail Grant Advisory Committee conducts an assessment meeting to develop refinements to the application process. 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,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, the board's liaison to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation.
Design Project Recommendations:
- 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 Borough): 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:
- 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.
Review the Project Recommendations in Detail
Funding for the trail projects is derived from Morris County’s voter-approved Preservation Trust Fund, established in 1992 and modified in 2002 to include a Historic Preservation Fund. In 2014, voters approved a measure, by a 3-to-1 margin, allowing a portion of the fund to be allocated for recreational trail development.
Since the program's inception, the Commissioners have approved 54 grants, resulting in the authorization to build 28.5 miles of new recreational trails, most of which have been completed. The board is expected to vote on the 2024 recommendations at its Oct. 23 meeting.
If approved, these new projects will bring the county's total investment in public trails to more than $6 million, establishing and enhancing nearly 29 miles of trails since 2016.
Find out more about the Morris County Trail Construction Grant program by clicking here.
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Photo 1: Liffy Island Boardwalk & Trails in Jefferson Township, fully funded in 2017.
Photo 2: A trail in Loantaka Brook Reservation.