77 cross jersey trail and greenway

Andropogon Associates} Ltd. Ec% ,(?ical Pla/lllill,,! & Des~~"

37451111/'5 Lilli/,

Phi/lldelp"ill PA 19128

A Cross Jersey Trail and Greenway Utilizing Portions of Columbia Gas Transmission Company's Pipeline Right-of-Way Through Hunterdon and Morris Counties, New Jersey

Prepared for Columbia Gas Transmission Company Charleston, West Virginia 31 January 1990

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Arc"ileClS, LlIIlIlsCllpe Arc"ilecrs & PIII/II/ers

(215) 487-0700

FllX: (2'/5) 483-7520

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A Cross Jersey Trail and Greenway Utilizing Portions of Columbia Gas Transmission Company's Pipeline Right-of-Way Through Hunterdon and Morris Counties, New Jersey

Prepared for Columbia Gas Transmission Company Charleston, West Virginia 31 January 1990

By Andropogon Associates, Ltd. Ecological Planning & Design Architects, Landscape Architects & Planners 374 Shurs Lane, Philadelphia PA 19128 Phone: 215-487-0700 FAX: 215-483-7520 Project Director: Carol Franklin Associate Directors: Leslie Sauer and Rolf Sauer Project Manager: Marita Roos Project Staff: Erik Karlsson, Clare Billett, and Mitra Noorani

Table of Contents

Regional Map: Cross Jersey Trail & Greenway ............................................

Executive Summary

2

................................................................................................... 3

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................ 9 Section I: North County Trail 1.

2.

3.

4.

Lower Musconetcong Valley ...............................................................................

James River Canal ...................................................................................................

M usconetcong Footslopes .............................. ................................. ......................

High Bridge Loop ..... ............. ........... ...................... ............ ........ .................. ..... ......

13 17 23 27

Section II: High Bridge Line 5.

Old High Bridge Line ....... ................................. .............................. ............ ............ 35

Section III: Patriots' Path 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Fox Hill Range ......... ............ ....... .................. .............................. .............................

Black River Marsh ..... ................ .............. .......... ............ ............ ............ ........... ......

Morristown Reservoir ...........................................................................................

Mount Freedom Link .............................................................................................

Whippany River .....................................................................................................

Bee Meadow.... ......................... ................................................... .............................

Troy Meadows ...................................................... ...................................................

45 49 52 55 59 62 64

Section IV: Lenape Trail 13. Passaic River Floodplain .......................................................................................

14. Second Watchung Mountain ...............................................................................

15. First Watchung Mountain ....................................................................................

16. Urban Essex ...............................................................................................................

Cross Jersey Trail & Greenway

67 70 73 76

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LEGEND

Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide the framework for coordinated action on the part of local, county, and state agencies as well as concerned individuals to assist in realizing the vision of a cross-Jersey trail for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or other non-motorized linear recreation. The report is divided into four sections; the North County Trail, the Old High Bridge Line, Patriots' Path and Lenape Trail. For descriptive purposes, each section of the trail has also been divided into subsections, each with a distinct landscape character.

Section I, the North County Trail, covers 26.5 miles in the northwest portion of Hunterdon County. At present, no portion of this trail is realized, and it's future will depend on the prompt and coordinated actions of agencies with non-profit groups and interested citizens as they begin to take steps toward land acquisition.

It was, unfortunately, not within the scope of this report to specifically address

ways that this coordination might develop. The necessary actions may include direct acquisition, securing easements from private landowners and developers, and developing local ordinances that regulate shared rights-of-way for public use.

The Hunterdon County Park Commission shares our concern that timely research be directed toward developing recommendations in this area.

The subsections for North County Trail are: 1. The Lower Musconetcong Valley, a river journey along the Delaware and Musconetcong River Corridors.

2. The James River Canal, which travels along an old canal at the base of the Musconetcong Ridge to the town of Bloomsbury.

3. The Musconetcong Footslopes segment, which travels along the New Jersey Central railroad right-of-way through open farmland.

4. The High Bridge Loop, which encircles the town of High Bridge and connects Voorhees and Spruce Run State Parks.

Section II, the Old High Bridge Line, covers 15 miles in northeastern Hunterdon County and southwestern Morris County. The trail is on the railbed of the former High Bridge railroad line, following the South Branch of the Raritan River upstream through spectacular scenery in Ken Lockwood Gorge, and along woods, fields, and floodplains leading to the town of Bartley in Morris County.

Columbia Gas Transmission Company acquired this property for a pipeline rightof-way, and will give the land to the park systems of Hunterdon and Morris counties as partial compensation for pipeline construction through Green Acres

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land. Columbia Gas will provide a completed trail system on the old rail bed after construction of their pipeline, which will be available to the public by 1991.

5. The Old High Bridge Line, a former railbed that follows the winding South Branch of the Raritan River through rural countryside.

Section III includes Patriots' Path, with alternative routes, leading east across Morris County. The main alignment will eventually cover some 38 miles and is already developed with signage in a number of places. The Morris County Park Commission is continuing an aggressive program to fill in the remaining gaps.

There are seven subsections in the Patriots' Path section: 6. The Fox Hill Range, connecting the South Branch of the Raritan and Black Rivers in western Morris County.

7. The Black River Marsh segment, which parallels the Black River through a protected bottomland forest and marsh.

8. The Morristown Reservoir segment, leading through wooded land that surrounds the public reservoir.

9. The Mount Freedom Loop, a partly residential route that connects Brundage and James Andrews Memorial parks.

10. The Whippany River segment, which traverses the Whippany river floodplain through an urban landscape.

11. The Bee Meadow segment, a suburban route that travels through wetlands and alongside a series of ponds located in a former clay pit site.

12. The Troy Meadows segment, a mostly wooded route that crosses a major swamp and ends at the Joseph Minish Center for Environmental Studies in Essex County.

Section IV lies on the portion of the Essex County Lenape Trail between the Center for Environmental Studies in Roseland and Military Park in downtown Newark. The largely completed 24 mile route uses some 8 miles of Public Service Electric and Gas Company transmission line rights-of-way to connect twelve County and municipal parks and other points of interest. The subsections are: 13. The Passaic River Floodplain, which travels a powerline right-of-way from the Passaic River in the west to Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell.

14. The Second Watchung Mountain segment, which heads along a low ridge running northeast to southwest through a suburban residential community.

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15. The First Watchung Mountain segment, leading across a second ridge parallel to the first ridge, connecting three wooded parks along the trail.

16. The Urban Essex segment extending through parks and built-up areas in Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, and Belleville to the trail's end in Newark a few blocks from the Passaic River.

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Introduction The idea for a Cross Jersey Trail and Greenway linking the Delaware River to Newark Bay was first proposed at least 20 years ago, and has been a long-term goal of state, county, and municipal agencies in New Jersey. The proposed Cross Jersey Trail will bring the visitor to an unparalleled panorama of north central Jersey through a diversity of landscapes: gentle rolling mountains; highly dissected river gorges; broad shallow floodplains; large expanses of wet meadow; and finally, in the east, urban parks, utility rights-of-way, and residential districts. Today, with increasing pressure for development, it is critical that remaining open lands suitable for trails and green ways be preserved, for once gone these links can never be made.

In 1987 Columbia Gas Transmission Company planned 52.5 miles of pipeline crossing north central New Jersey. The pipeline will run from the Delaware River, south of Carpentersville in Warren County, north and east to connect with the Algonquin Gas Transmission Company's pipeline to New England, just west of the boundary of the Troy Meadows Natural Area in Morris County.

Columbia Gas was fully aware of the state-wide committment to trail acquisition.

Under the New Jersey Green Acres program, any party seeking to divert park land must provide additional property acceptable to the state for conservation and recreational use. Columbia Gas was acquiring approximately 15 miles of abandoned railroad ROW for use as a pipeline corridor. This land, previously owned by the Achter Kol Corporation, extends from High Bridge in Hunterdon County to the intersection of Bartley Road in Washington Township, Morris County. Columbia decided to donate the surface rights of the railroad ROW to the park systems of Hunterdon and Morris counties, in compensation for disturbance of various public lands. Columbia has also agreed to provide the counties with an installed path, ready for public use. Improvements will be undertaken to bring the trail up to a safe standard and will include bridge repairs, new path surfaces, gates and stiles at road crossings, and path signage. The path surface in Hunterdon County will be gravel, siutable for hiking or horseback riding, while the section through Morris County will be paved and usable for jogging, walking or cycling.

The addition of some 200 acres of county park land will form the pivotal portion of the proposed Cross Jersey Trail and Greenway system. In concert with the existing . portions of Patriots' Path and Lenape Trail, almost 40 miles of completed trail will be in place, creating a strong impetus for the continued acquisition and development of the remaining sections. Although the pipeline route provided an opportunity to evaluate the pipeline ROW for suitability as a possible Cross Jersey route, further study revealed that the issues involved were quite complex.

While the Achter Kol portion of the proposed Columbia Gas route was indeed well suited to become a multi-purpose trail, with its flat railroad bed along wild or rural countryside with scenic vistas, it rapidly became apparent that the rest of the Columbia Gas ROW would make a poor trail. Much of the pipeline route is Cross Jersey Trail & Greenway

6

characterized by steep slopes and major stream or road crossings without street lights, overpasses, or bridges. Large portions of the pipeline are also on the existing Central Jersey Power & Light ROW, placing it under high-tension lines. The greatest difficulty, however, is that much of this ROW crosses small parcels of privately held land, the acquisition of which would be long and litigious.

Another factor that changed the initial proposals was that, in Morris County, large sections of Patriots' Path are established or are in the process of being developed. It would be redundant to propose another path, duplicating costs for a similar recreational opportunity, since the Patriots' Path is already recognized and enjoyed by many people. The Morris County section of the Cross Jersey Trail is, therefore, based largely on proposed or existing sections of the Patriots' Path.

This report has also been revised to include Essex County's Lenape Trail. Although Lenape Trail is not contiguous with the Columbia Gas pipeline, its inclusion extends the trail from the Morris County line to the City of Newark, thus completing the connection from the Delaware River to the Passaic River and Newark Bay. The proposed Cross Jersey Trail is divided into four major sections: (I) the North County Trail in Hunterdon County; (II) the Old High Bridge Line in Hunterdon and Morris counties; (III) Patriots' Path in Morris County; and (IV) Lenape Trail in Essex County.

Section I. 1.

2.

3.

4.

North County Trail Lower Musconetcong Valley James River Canal Musconetcong Footslopes High Bridge Loops

Section II.

Old High Bridge Line

5.

Old High Bridge Line

Section III. 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Patriots' Path Fox Hill Range Black River Marsh Morristown Reservoir Mount Freedom Link Whippany River Bee Meadow Troy Meadows

Cross Jersey Trail & Greenway

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Section IV. Lenape Trail 13.

14.

15.

16.

Passaic River Floodplain Second Watchung Mountain First Watchung Mountain Urban Essex

Each trail section is introduced with a photograph and a diagrammatic map. A description of the proposed trail follows, along with possible connections to nearby parks and trails. General suggestions for upgrading the trail to a quality suitable for public recreation are included. It should be apparent that it is not the intent of this report to work out specific solutions for the challenges created by a greenway of this magnitude. We do make suggestions for action on the local planning level wherever possible.

The comments to the initial version of this report included the following general suggestions: It is intended that the trail be compatible with the surrounding environment and

adjacent land uses. Where necessary and appropriate, vegetative buffers can be used to screen the trail from incompatible adjacent land use. Vegetative management plans may be useful for protecting habitat and view sheds and for enhancing the hiking experience.

Trail development should particularly avoid encroachment upon small, privately held lands, especially those that have been developed. Landowner consent to easement or fee simple purchase would likely be difficult to obtain because of concerns over privacy intrusions, liability, vandalism, and misuse by motorized vehicles.

In some places continuity of the trail may depend on the use of short segments of road. Concerns for safety are paramount in these instances. Road improvements such as sidewalks or regrading shoulder width are desirable wherever township and municipal budgets permit. Other concerns include anticipated development of land adjacent to the road and willingness on the part of local government to implement land use controls to help maintain the trail experience.

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Acknowledgments Andropogon worked closely with, and wishes to thank, Columbia Gas personnel as well as the following state, county, and local officials. We would like to extend a special thanks to Dave Ennis, Land Fund Director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Tom Rosol and Peter Buell of the Hunterdon County Parks Commission, and Caroline Swartz of the Hunterdon County Planning Commission for their timely comments, many of which have been incorporated in this revised report.

Al Kent, Patriots' Path Coordinator, is the author and photographer of the Lenape Trail section. Al made numerous and detailed contributions to this report, and we are particularly grateful to him for the support he has shown throughout this project.

STATE OF NEW JERSEY Department of Environmental Protection Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources Assistant Commissioner Helen C. Fenske Jim Hall Deputy Assistant Commissioner Katie Charette Executive Assistant for Legislation Kerri Ratcliffe Director of Planning and Policy Tom Wells Director, Office of Environmental Services John Tyrawski Principal Environmental Specialist Gary Stone Special Assistant for Historic Resources Dorina Frizzera Special Assistant Geoffrey Cromarty Special Assistant Green Acres / Recreation Program Bonnie Hammerstedt Administrator Dennis Davidson Deputy Administrator Robert Beck Supervising Environmental Specialist David Smith Compliance Officer Michael Heenehan Compliance Inspector Jeanne Donlon Chief, State Land Acquisition Kevin Richardson Principal Planner Lisa Lubow Principal Planner, Bureau of Green Trust Management Division of Coastal Resources Steven Whitney Assistant Director for Planning Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife Tony Petrongolo Planning Coordinator Bob McDowell Assistant Director Cross Jersey Trail & Greenway

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Division of Parks and Forestry Frank Guidotti Assistant Director, State Park Service Olin D. White, Jr. State Forester John Garcia, Jr. Chief, Capitol Planning and Programming, Office of Resource Development Senior Planner, Office of Resource Development Mark Joseph Senior Planner, Office of Resource Development Kevin F. Kinckle Nancy Zerbe Administrator, Office of New Jersey Heritage Tom Hampton Administrator, Office of Natural Lands Management Celeste Tracy Supervising Planner, Office of Natural Lands Management Larry Miller Principal Planner, Office of Natural Lands Management STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS David Ennis

Director, Land Fund, New Jersey Conservation Foundation

HUNTERDON COUNTY Board of Recreation Thomas J. Rosol Bill Clothier John A. DeMarrais Eleanor Todd Robert B. Manners Robert Tatton Joe F. Shanahan Robert C. Bogart David Hay

Director County Park Manager Chairman Vice-Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

Planning Board John W. Kellogg Caroline J. Swartz

Director Senior Planner

Board of Chosen Freeholders George B. Melick Freeholder Director Harrie E. Copeland, III Deputy Freeholder Director Robert W. Anderson Freeholder Borough of Califon James A. Ball

Mayor

Clinton Township Hermia M. Lechner

Mayor

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Borough of High Bridge Carl J. Lewis Mayor MORRIS COUNTY Morris County Park Commission Quentin Schlieder Secretary Director Al Kent Patriots' Path Coordinator Morris County Planning Dudley H. Woodbridge Raymond Zabihach Sabine von Aulock James D. Woodruff Arne Goy til Greg Perry

Board Planning Director Assistant Planning Director, General Planning Senior Planner, General Planning Assistant Planning Director, Development Review Supervising Planner, Development Review Senior Planner, Development Review

Morris County Board of Transportation

Richard Wisneski

Senior Planner

Hanover Township Sazerio Iannacone Joseph A. Giorgio Richard Bannon Michael Pucilowski

Mayor Township Administrator Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Acting Municipal Engineer

Mount Olive Township Charles H. Johnson Greg Hill Barbara Swasey Eric Schulte Frank Dolan Mark Pasilowsky Lisa Lashway Jeff Stiles Charles Sprangler Lee Hutchins

Mayor Township Administrator Council President Director, Parks and Recreation Township Engineer Assistant Business Administrator Township Clerk Planning Supervisor Town Councilman Member, Recreation Advisory Board

Randolph Township John van Brunt Jay Peter Braun

Director, Parks and Recreation TownShip Manager

Washington Township Carl Denzler

Township Engineer

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ESSEX COUNTY

Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Carmine Capone Director Kathleen Gallop Assistant to the Director

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1.

Lower Musconetcong Valley

Canal adjacent to Delaware River, Riegelsville

PA.

'I' N

I The trail begins where the Riegelsville Bridge crosses the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The trail journey is entirely within the broad floodplain of the Musconetong River, skirting the edges of agricultural or abandoned agricultural land. On the north side of the river, crossroad villages and small farms provide a backdrop for pleasant unhurried walking and scenic views.

This section of the trail ends where the steep flank of Musconetcong Mountain closes in on the river valley near Hughesville.

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Trail Route Description The proposed trail begins at the town of Riegelsville at the bridge which crosses the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The route follows Route 627 south over the Musconetcong River into Hunterdon County and turns east, traveling along the south edge of the river through the town of Finesville, ending at the site of the Riegel paper plant on property belonging to the James River Corporation.

Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands The Delaware-Raritan Canal State Park, operated by the State of New Jersey and the Delaware-Raritan Canal Commission, is a sixty-mile linear park with a paved surface for bicycle and pedestrian travel. This park presently ends north of Frenchtown, New Jersey, near an abandoned railroad that parallels the D&R canal, heading north. If the railroad could be acquired as a public right-of-way, the D&R path would provide a north-south link along the Delaware River.

A connection could also be made through the town of Riegelsville where there is a bridge across the Delaware River to the Delaware Canal State Park, a sixty-mile linear park and path along the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Canal.

Site Improvements At present, there are rudimentary, unconnected trails along the river. A new trail would have to be constructed in some form over the entire length of this trail section and, although relatively flat, the surface would require some im prove men t.

Action Plan Currently, there are no ROWs, publicly held easements or public land along the Musconetcong River. The entire stretch is private land and would require acquisition of land or the purchase or donation of easements. Residential use of the riverbank around Finesville would likely preclude locating the trail immediately adjacent to the river, although there is a road alternate for this area on Musconetcong Street.

Hunterdon County's concern for protecting the river floodplain could become the basis for creating conservation areas and acquiring easements in

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order to implement this section of trail. As the larger agricultural tracts of land are developed, Holland Township could require developers to donate easements to the township as a condition of sale or development. The county should also closely monitor existing residential lots adjacent to the river and, when they come up for sale, try to acquire either the whole property, the floodplain portion of the property, or an easement along the river prior to sale completion. The physical nature of the riverbank, ownership, and the present extent of residential development should be investigated before beginning the acquisition process.

The status of the abandoned railbed along the Delaware and Raritan Canal should be investigated so as to secure a link along the Delaware River.

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Musconetcong River near Finesville

Musconetcong River near Riegelsville

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2.

James River Canal

Canal adjacent to Musconetcong Nature Preserve

The steep, forested sides of Musconetcong Mountain define a narrow floodplain corridor along the Musconetcong River. The path here is located above the river on the bed of a former railroad spur that crosses two abandoned canals -- all remnants of an intricate 19th-century transportation network. The path then connects to the active Lehigh Valley Railroad ROW. The hiker walks beside an overgrown canal, passing over old sluiceways, gradually moving away from the river as the valley becomes steeper and more wooded. This section of trail ends at the town of Bloomsbury, a Victorian town which developed at the intersection of several railroad lines.

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Trail Route Description The proposed trail uses the bed of an abandoned spur of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The tracks have been removed and there is a small existing trail.

The route begins at a grassy area at the rear of the Riegel paper plant property and parallels a small canal for much of its length to Route 519. The path crosses Route 519 to a point just below Dennis Road, reconnects to the abandoned railroad, and enters a second large industrial property, the Warren Glen Paper Mill, also owned by the James River Corporation.

At the rear of the Warren Glen paper plant, the trail continues on the old railbed, crosses two bridges, and enters the Musconetcong Nature Preserve for the remainder of its length. The railroad bed parallels the canal -- sometimes as much as eighty feet above it -- for about two-thirds of its length and ends at the boundary of the Musconetcong Nature Preserve where it meets the ROW of the active Lehigh Valley Railroad.

The trail follows this Lehigh Valley Railroad ROW (or adjacent property) for approximately 1/2 mile to the Milford Road-Willow Avenue bridge. It then follows a town road, Willow Avenue, north into Bloomsbury for several hundred feet until it joins a railroad, the old New Jersey Central line, now maintained by Conrail and used occasionally for freight transport.

Connection's to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands The route connects to two existing trails in the Musconetcong Nature Preserve. One is a dirt road that leaves the ROW after crossing a sluice near Warren Glen and heads uphill into the preserve. The other is a narrow path that begins near the intersection with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

Site Improvements Signage at both paper plants would be needed, as well as signs for pedestrians and vehicles at Route 519. As a gravel trail, much of the railbed could be used as is, with improvements needed at all bridge crossings, and clearing, grading, and new surfacing required on those portions adjacent to and west of Route 519. In some places, improvements to this gravel surface would be needed; for example, there is one area of erosion caused by inadequate surface drainage of the trail that would require drainage improvements. Much of the railbed is clear to above head height for a width of three to five feet. Overgrown portions, where adjacent hedgerows encroach on pedestrian passage, would have to be cut back. The maximum width of usable, flat railroad bed could be up to twelve feet.

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The obvious access points are at Cyphers Road and Warren Glen at Route 519.

The ROW could also be reached from within the Musconetcong Nature Preserve from Dennis Road. Parking for ten or so cars appears feasible at the old quarry on 519 near the pipeline crossing. Parking for a smaller number of cars is planned within the Musconetcong Nature Preserve, where the Columbia pipeline departs from Dennis Road. The options for access and parking are shown in greater detail on Figure 2A .

A significant grade difference of approximately thirty feet between the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Willow Avenue bridge will require a long switchback path and the associated extra easement area to accommodate it. The connection at Willow Avenue to the old New Jersey Central line would require a ramp, steps, or a switchback path to navigate a grade change of approximately 10 feet. Parking and signage options are shown in Figure 2B. Action Plan

The Musconetcong Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad is the critical acquisition recommended here. The abandoned railroad is about 3 miles long and is presently owned by James River Corporation. The two properties owned by the James River Corporation are also key acquisitions, providing parking and trail access from the network of county roads. Without these two links, the trail could only be reached from within the Musconetcong Nature Preserve.

Safety issues are of paramount concern for the portion of the route that runs alongside an active railroad. The Lehigh Valley railroad is presently operated

by Conrail, and trail use of the service road may not be acceptable to Conrail while the railroad is in use. The width of the ROW should be determined to see if there is physically suitable trail space at a safe distance from the tracks. It is also be necessary to determine whether easements on private property are required at the locations of proposed switchback trails.

Two alternative routes could be used to avoid use of the active railroad ROW. The first of these alternatives would begin at Dennis Road and use the trail through the Musconetcong Nature Preserve to connect with small county roads which would bring the walker to Bloomsbury via Staats Road and connect to the old New Jersey Central at Willow Avenue. However, these county roads are narrow, winding, and dangerous for pedestrian traffic and some modifications would be needed in the form of sidewalks or easements across private residential property. A second alternative would cross the Lehigh Valley railroad at the eastern boundary of the Musconetcong Preserve and double back along the ROW to the Musconetcong River bridge. This route would continue east along the south bank of the river and enter

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Bloomsbury along a dirt road, connecting with the old New Jersey Central at Willow Avenue. (See Figure 2B). Easements would have to be obtained for this stretch since this route is proposed entirely along private lands.

?- •• /

p

.--------

HUhterdoVl

CoLAni11

KEY • P

o

2A.

Proposed Route Parking Trail Sign

Abandoned Lehigh Spur Access from Warren Glen Paper Plant and Dennis Road

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-,

l' •• KEY •

o P

o 2B.

Proposed Route Alternate Route Parking Trail Sign

Bloomsbury Parking and connection to old New Jersey Central Railroad ROW

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Lehigh Valley Railroad and ROW

Abandoned ROW adjacent to Musconetcong Nature Preserve

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3.

Musconetcong Mountain Footslopes

Pohatcong Mountain and Musconetcong River Valley

One hundred feet above the broadest section of the Musconetcong River valley, the trail follows the bed of the New Jersey Central Railroad line. The steep, forested side of the Musconetcong Mountain defines the southern edge, while across the river to the north, the view is of broad flat agricultural fields interspersed with wooded hills. At the town of Hampton, the trail turns away from the Musconetcong Valley and threads its way through a narrow gap in the mountains, descending into the Spruce Run Valley, where the town of High Bridge is nestled in the complex topography.

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Trail Route Description The route uses the service road paralleling the New Jersey Central Railroad line (CRRNJ) from Bloomsbury to the town of High Bridge, a distance of approximately twelve miles. The railroad crosses several major roads including Interstate 78 (via a tunnel) and Route 173 (via a bridge) just outside Bloomsbury. The other crossings, including bridges, are in good condition. A single-rail track is in place along the whole length of the line. The line is well maintained and vegetation is managed to allow good clearance for the railbed. Access to the service road is blocked to vehicles at several of the ongrade crossings, usually by a pile of railroad ties, boulders or junked parts. The line is presently in use once a week or less between Bloomsbury and Hampton. From the town of Hampton heading south toward High Bridge, the line is used for freight on a once per day basis, servicing the lumber yards just north of High Bridge.

The present owner of this line is New Jersey Transit, which operates the section south of High Bridge as a commuter line to Newark and New York City. New Jersey Transit does not operate the line north of High Bridge, but has given Conrail permission to use it to move freight.

Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands Significant public lands are in close proximity to this proposed trail route.

Connecting trails to Tower Hill Park, Charleston Reservation and Hampton Borough Park are feasible. Trails to Spruce Run Park, and Voorhees State Park have been proposed by the Hunterdon Park System Trail Study Team (TST) in an unpublished study completed in 1979.

Site Improvements The CRRNJ service road is at least 10' wide, with a surface of mostly compacted cinders or gravel. Drainage tends to be poor, with a good deal of puddling. An improved trail surface of gravel or asphalt will have to be designed and installed. Road crossings at grade offer trail access and parking opportunities, provided parking is located a minimum of fifty feet from the rails. The obstacle piles that currently restrict vehicular access could be removed and, if regulation of vehicles is still an issue, bollards or gates and stiles which allow passage of pedestrians and bicycles could be used.

The views, surroundings, present condition of the service road, and the potential connections to public lands make the CRRNJ ROW a desirable trail route. The principal obstacle is conflict with the active, unscheduled use of the rails. The Park System Trail Study was unable to determine an exact train

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schedule, since the rail is mostly used for unscheduled freight shipments. The TST group was told by Conrail that trail use of a service road would require, at a minimum, an eight to ten foot high chain link fence at a minimum distance of ten to twelve feet from the rails.

Action Plan The frequency of use of the CRRNJ needs official confirmation by NJDOT. No viable alternatives exist for this section of the trail, so negotiating a solution for dual use with the owners is critical to trail continuity. It is possible that the two uses can coexist, but fencing together with appropriate signing may be necessary to insure safety. The alternative is outright purchase of the ROW at the state level for public use. The property could be land banked for transportation use if this was a state goal and, in the interim, used as a public trail. Although this solution can only be achieved over the long term, the state should place investigation of the CRRNJ ROW high on its list of priority acquisitions.

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New Jersey Central Railroad and ROW

New Jersey Central Railroad at Glen Gardner

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4.

High Bridge Loop

The trail circles the valleys of Spruce Run and the South Branch of the Raritan River, crisscrossing rivers, streams, and small country roads on abandoned rail lines with picturesque stone bridges. The hiker's experience is varied, a mix of meandering river footpaths, wooded trails, and small town sidewalks. A trestle bridge at the town of High Bridge and a stone building near Lake Solitude along the South Branch of the Raritan River are among several important cultural features of this area. This section of trail ends where the Old High Bridge line enters the Ken Lockwood Wildlife Management Area.

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Trail Route Description The High Bridge Loop section connects Spruce Run State Park to Voorhees State Park via the towns of Clinton and High Bridge. The route is mapped in greater detail in Figures 4A-4C. This proposed trail begins at the New Jersey Central Railroad crossing at Main Street in High Bridge and travels northwest, crossing under Cregar Road to Willoughby Brook. The route follows the brook southwest for a short distance to the intersection of Route 31 and Cregar Rd., crossing at the intersection. Once on the west side of Route 31, the trail heads south along Spruce Run River within the Spruce Run State Park. The route continues into the town of Clinton to the Clinton Community Center via Halstead Street.

Crossing Halstead Street at Evergreen Cemetery, the trail then follows the South Branch of the Raritan River back into High Bridge Borough. The proposed route passes through a tunnel at Arch Street and connects to a town park, either via Arch Street and Washington Avenue, or by easements along the river. At the northeast end of the park, the trail follows the river upstream through a large tract of privately owned land before entering the wooded development of Solitude Village and coming out underneath Lake Solitude dam. From the spillway, several existing trails lead up a steep wooded ridge to the old High Bridge railroad ROW. To continue the loop, the route would head into High Bridge along the Old High Bridge line, crossing Main Street between MacDonald Street and Church Street and meeting up with the New Jersey Central line about an eighth of a mile west of High Bridge. Alternately, the route could head into High Bridge from an abandoned spur, beginning at the northeast end of the town park and crossing WaShington Avenue by means of an existing rail trestle. The route connects to the New Jersey Central immediately south of the connection described above.

The route retraces the New Jersey Central to just beyond Cregar Road to a point where the trail can depart at grade. From here the trail heads north for 600 feet along the property line of a small farm to connect to the southwest corner of Voorhees State Park.

Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands The abundance of parks and public lands suggests possibilities for a network of trails linked to High Bridge and the Old High Bridge line. North of High Bridge, there are the wooded hills of Voorhees State Park and the rugged banks of the Ken Lockwood Gorge. A large reservoir and state park, Spruce Run, is located east of High Bridge. Cushetunk Mountain and Round Valley

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Reservoir are situated to the southeast, several miles away. The South Branch of the Raritan River, winding southward through High Bridge, is preserved as a linear county park south of the town of Clinton.

Site Improvements Route 31 is a very busy state highway and must be crossed at a controlled intersection signed for pedestrians. The Hunterdon Park System TST has determined that the Route 31 bridge over Willoughby Brook would be suitable for an underpass.

The two trestle bridges and the abandoned railroad spur would require modification before they could be used for the trail. The railroad ROW requires management of the vegetation, the rails taken up, and a suitable trail surface installed. The bridges require planking and fencing.

An attractive stone building, apparently unused, sits near the proposed trail on a tract of private land, about 100 feet from the river. If it could be purchased for trail use, it could serve as a youth hostel, bed & breakfast, or information center for the trail. Connections with the trail loop are good since a small woodland path leads from the back of this property along the river toward the Lake Solitude spillway.

Options for parking and sign age, especially for the crossing points for the trail on town roads, are shown in Figures 4A-4C.

Action Plan Easements will be required for all the trails, notably across the private land of the engineering company and through Solitude Village estate. Investigations should also be made to determine the potential of obtaining and refurbishing the abandoned stone building for public use.

The Spruce Run State Park should be contacted to ascertain if a trail through their property is a viable option and whether restricted access is required. At present, the public is charged for entrance to this recreational facility.

Similarly, negotiations will have to be undertaken with Union Forge Nature Preserve and the Hunterdon County Park system to determine the most appropriate route through this sensitive environment.

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High Bridge Loop Town of High Bridge and connection to Old High Bridge Line

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Spruce Run State Park

Clinton Community Center

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Town of Clinton

Stone building at South Branch of the Raritan River, High Bridge

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5.

Old High Bridge Line

Ken Lockwood Bridge over South Branch of the Raritan River

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This section of trail along the Old High Bridge line begins in a spectacular setting, where the railroad ROW is cut into the steep wooded sides of the Ken Lockwood Gorge, allowing magnificent views of the river far below.

Leaving the gorge, the trail runs directly alongside the South Branch of the Raritan River as it meanders through a broad floodplain. The route follows the abandoned railroad bed as it crosses open riverine wetlands on an embankment, passing through the historic districts of several Raritan Valley towns. The last section of this path is bordered by farm hedgerows and opens onto low lying agricultural lands, ending just beyond the town of Long Valley.

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Trail Route Description

The Old High Bridge line begins at Main Street within the town of High Bridge and travels northeast along the old track bed adjacent to the floodplain of the South Branch of the Raritan River. This section of trail will be completed in 1991 with a gravel surface throughout its length in Hunterdon County.

The most dramatic portion of the Old High Bridge line trail is the 1.8 mile section that runs through. the Ken Lockwood Wildlife Management Area. The route follows the railroad ROW, crossing the South Branch of the Raritan River on a spectacular bridge seventy feet above the river. The path continues on the east side of the river, high above the gorge until the river leaves the gorge south of the town of Califon. There are several road crossings at grade.

The Old High Bridge line enters Morris County just south of the town of Middle Valley and heads northeast within the floodplain of the South Branch of the Raritan River. The railbed will be provided with a paved surface throughout its length in Morris County. At the town of Long Valley, the Old High Bridge line crosses County Road 517, several town roads at grade, and two small streams, and enters the property of a dairy facility, Welsh Farms.

The Columbia pipeline deviates from the Old High Bridge line here, detouring around the dairy plant, and following the property edge through an open meadow. The proposed path would trace the pipeline route, traveling along the edge of the open field and rejoining the Old High Bridge line near the Frazier Steel plant. The ROW passes directly behind the steel plant through an area that is presently used as storage.

Once beyond the steel plant, the line resumes its typical character as it continues northeast to the town of Bartley in Mount Olive Township, a distance of about fifteen miles from the town of High Bridge.

The pipeline route through the Welsh Farms property could probably accommodate the trail as discussed above. If this route is not feasible because of property and safety concerns, an alternative route using town roads is also proposed. This route would, from Long Valley, take Fairview Avenue north, bypassing the industrial properties, and rejoin the Old High Bridge line approximately one hundred and fifty feet east of Frazier Steel by the use of a dirt road (see Figure 5D).

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Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands Schooley's Mountain Park, approximately 1/4 mile north of Long Valley, is a county park offering additional hiking trails and facilities, easily accessible from the path.

The major trail connection is to Morris County's proposed Patriots' Path, much of which is already in place, connecting the towns of Long Valley and Ralston in the western part of the county to the Essex County Center for Environmental Studies Center. Patriots' Path begins at the Old High Bridge line where it passes through the rear edge of the Frazier Steel facility. This connection is somewhat problematic, and is dealt with in the following section in greater detail.

Site Improvements This pivotal section of the Cross Jersey Trail should be in place by 1991, since the Columbia Gas Transmission Company has purchased the Old High Bridge line from High Bridge to Bartley and donated this property to Hunterdon and Morris counties as part of the Green Acres compensation package. As additional compensation, Columbia Gas has undertaken to meet all costs involved in upgrading the existing path to a usable pedestrian trail and bike path.

In Hunterdon County, the path will have a gravel surface suitable for pedestrian and equestrian traffic. The Morris County portion will be paved with asphalt for a walking and cycling surface. The work includes an improved trail surface, repair of all bridges and gates, and stiles at all road crossings. All trail bridges are in structural! y good condition, with only planking and fencing required for trail use.

Warning signs will be required at all road crossings at grade, for the benefit of trail users and vehicles.

The only section of this trail not presently owned by Columbia Gas is the property belonging to Welsh Farms and an adjacent corner of the Frazier Steel plant. Easements will therefore be required for complete trail continuity.

Access and parking options for this section of the trail are shown in figures 6A-6D. Access and parking for several cars is possible near the Ken Lockwood Wildlife Management Area, near the old train depot at Califon, at Middle Valley, and at Long Valley.

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Action Plan

Since the Old High Bridge line has already been purchased by Columbia, no vital connections by way of easements are required on this section of the trail, except those that may be required in the Welsh Farms-Frazier Steel areas. If it proves impossible to propose a safe trail route across these two facilities, further investigations should be undertaken to determine whether a detour along Fairview Avenue is feasible (see Figure 5D). Fairview Avenue is a two-lane county road, with a limited shoulder and two bridge crossings, where the narrowed width would force hikers to walk in the traffic lane.

Detailed proposals for upgrading the Old High Bridge line are given in the appendix to this report.

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South Branch of the Raritan River through Ken Lockwood Gorge

Train Depot at Califon

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South Branch of the Raritan River near Califon

South Branch of the Raritan River near Long Valley

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6.

Fox Hill Range

Schooley's Mountain from the abandoned rail ROW near Bartley Road

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Leaving the Old High Bridge Line near Long Valley, this section of trail follows another abandoned rail line east through an agricultural valley with scenic views of Schooley's Mountain to the north. Dappled upland woods with tiny streams form the setting for the trail before it enters the lowland forest of the Black River valley, with its large trees and thick understory of shrubs and ferns.

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Trail Route Description

This section of trail is very similar to the route proposed for Patriots' Path. The trail leaves the Old High Bridge line and heads due east along a dirt road that crosses the railroad ROW approximately one hundred and fifty feet east of the Frazier Steel facility (see Figure 5D).

This road crosses the South Branch of the Raritan River on a bridge used mainly by farm vehicles. The path would follow the road, circling around the farm fields to connect with the abandoned Chester Branch railroad line on the east side of the river (the railroad bridge is missing). The path then follows the abandoned and overgrown line to Bartley Road. From this point, the route is better cleared and identical to the proposed Patriots' Path (see Figure 5D).

Near Bartley Road there are fine views of Schooley's Mountain to the north. At this point, the trail enters a gap in the Fox Hill Range, passing through a dappled maple-birch woods, thick with ferns and herbaceous species, and travels east toward the town of Chester. The railroad track bed is well worn by dirt bikes here, and the road crossings and individual houses become more numerous as the railroad ROW skirts older subdivisions.

From Coleman's Road to Tanner's Brook the route is overgrown and passage is extremely difficult. The terrain becomes flatter as the route enters the the floodplain of Tanner's Brook just north of Chester. The abandoned railroad ROW disappears and the trail must follow the edges of a farm property until the route crosses Tanner's Brook Road and enters the Black River Wildlife Management Area.

Site Improvements Improvements would be needed throughout the western section of the proposed Patriots' Path. Those mentioned here are typical and by no means an exhaustive list. Vegetation along the overgrown Chester Branch rail line would need to be cleared and the trail surface graded where necessary. Improvements to the trail surface are needed along the abandoned railroad ROW. Beyond trail surface improvements, provision of an actual trail will be necessary in the section from Tanner's Brook to Tanner's Brook Road.

If the road crOSSing at the South Branch of the Raritan River cannot be

used, then an alternative crossing will be necessary. There is one other crossing of the river near here, an AT&T ROW, which would require a cantilevered boardwalk with rails on both sides over the existing telephone cable. There is also a major highway crossing at Route 206

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and smaller crossings at Tanner's Brook Road, Hillside Road, and Pleasant Hill Road. The crossing at Route 206 might require a detour of several hundred feet to the intersection of Furnace Road. Signage and some clearing of vegetation is needed at all road crossings.

Action Plan A thorough feasibility study of this section is needed with particular attention to the crossing of the South Branch of the Raritan River and each of the road crossings, especially Route 206. Top priority should be given to purchasing the abandoned ROW. Easements would also need to be acquired in Washington and Chester townships, where the proposed route is located on private land.

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Woods adjacent to abandoned rail ROW within Fox Hill Range

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7.

Black River Marsh

Black River and wetlands

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The Black River valley is a magnificent wetland under protection by the State of New Jersey. Lush marshes border both edges of the meandering river. Rich shrub meadows framed by bottomland forests surround these marshes. The area is recognized not only for its diversity of wildlife but also for its scenic beauty.

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Trail Route Description East of Tanner's Brook Road the trail enters the Black River Wildlife Management Area, once again following the cinder track bed of the abandoned Chester Branch rail line. After crossing a stone arch bridge 25 feet above the Black River, the path drops down an embankment and follows northeast through lowland woods to pick up a former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railbed that eventually leads along a terrace between the marshes along the river and the uplands to the southeast. Eventually the trail breaks away to the right to climb the hill to a country store in the hamlet of Ironia at the northeastern end of the Black River tract.

Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands South of the Black River Wildlife Management Area, existing paths lead to a series of public conservation areas along the lower Black River, including the County operated Cooper Mill, Black River Park, and Hacklebarney State Park.

At Hillside Road, toward the southwestern end of the Black River Wildlife tract, there is a link along country roads to Flanders Valley Golf Course, and at the northeastern end there is the possibility of a connection to land owned by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority. The latter offers a continuation of the very diverse and picturesque wet meadow landscape of the Black River valley, but the specific route would have to be chosen carefully and developed largely on boardwalks.

Site Improvements Most of the existing cinder trail along the abandoned railroad is in good condition for foot traffic. Woodland connections at both ends of the tract will require cutting of encroaching vegetation.

Action Plan Trail development, signing, and maintenance within the Black River tract will require an agreement with the State Department of Environmental Protection.

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Abandoned railroad bridge over the Black River

Floodplain forest, Black River

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8.

Morristown Reservoir

Clyde Potts {Morristown} Reservoir

;t; I Leaving the Black River Wildlife Management Area, the trail moves east through woods and fields currently under heavy development pressure to enter land of the Southeastern Morris County Utility Authority. Here the path travels through a handsome birch and red maple lowland forest with an occasional tall stand of hemlock. The trail emerges from the woods on to the banks of the Clyde Potts Reservoir and the view opens to the forested hills across the lake. The path continues around the lake to Harmony Brook and a short connection to Dismal-Harmony Brooks Natural Area.

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Trail Route Description From the country store at the intersection of Route 513 and the IroniaMendham Road, the trail follows a few hundred feet along Route 513 and then turns right at a firehouse to pass through a series of privately owned lots, old fields, woods and farmland to reach Coombs Hollow.

At Coombs Hollow the path crosses India Brook and shortly enters a tract of the Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, passing through wooded land to the Clyde Potts Reservoir.

The route circles the northern edge of the reservoir along an unimproved foot path and follows Harmony Brook to a road crossing at the bottom of the valley. At this point, the proposed trail would follow Woodland Road east a short distance to enter Dismal-Harmony Brooks Natural Area, maintained in part by Morris County and partly

by Mendham Township.

Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands A quarter of a mile from Route 513 the trail passes close to a Hebrew cemetery. A connecting path near here could lead to nearby Heistein Park, a large, developed, municipal athletic and recreational area of Randolph Township.

Site Improvements There are several unspanned stream crossings, such as Dawson's Brook, and some small streams near the reservoir which would require some improvement. Wetland portions of the trail should be improved as provided for under the State's wetlands legislation.

Action Plan Negotiations with developers, other private land owners, and the Utilities Authority for the acquisition of trail and conservation easements are the first priority in realizing this path link.

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Wooded road through municipal utility property

Woodland Road near Clyde Potts Reservoir

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9.

Mount Freedom Loop

Forested area adjacent to Dismal Brook

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The trail heads north from Dismal-Harmony Brooks Natural Area travelling above the wooded valley of Dismal Brook. Residential roads are the only connections available to reach James Andrews Park; from here the setting is wooded through Brundage Park. From Brundage Park the route turns south, reconnecting with the Morristown Reservoir Path via the floodplain of India Brook.

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Trail Route Description This section of the trail is notan existing or proposed piece of Patriots' Path. The suggested route exits Dismal-Harmony Brooks Natural Area near an older development of vacation homes, crosses Dismal Brook over an existing bridge, and crosses Mount Pleasant Road to reach a township conservation easement. The route follows a dirt road parallel to Dismal Brook for a quarter mile to reach a new residential development on Knightsbridge Road. At this point the brook enters a culvert and the route continues on local roads, taking Musiker Avenue north, crossing Sussex Turnpike at Mount Freedom Road to reach the southern boundary of James Andrews Park.

At the eastern end of James Andrews Park, the trail doubles back through the park on the Central Jersey P&L ROWand crosses a large tract of privately owned land, entering Brundage Park where it continues on the Central Jersey P&L ROW to the headwaters of India Brook. At India Brook, the trail turns south and follows the floodplain on private land until it joins the Morristown Reservoir path section.

Connections to Other Trails and Proximity to Public Lands Connections should be developed to the planned Mount Freedom town center.

Site Improvements The bridge at Dismal Brook near Mount Pleasant Road would need planking as well as joists laid over the steel beams. Signage is needed at Mount Pleasant Road, Sussex Turnpike, and throughout the Knightsbridge Road development. The entire piece of path along India Brook will require clearing and path surface.

Action Plan Randolph Township should be encouraged to require the future developer of the tract adjoining Dismal Brook just north of Mount Pleasant Road to provide an easement north to Knightsbridge Road.

The area immediately south of Sussex Turnpike and James Andrews Park Knightsbridge development area must be checked to see if there is access to the park other than through the Knightsbrdge development.

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Bridge over Dismal Brook near Mount Pleasant Road

India Brook crossing at Doby Road

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10.

Whippany River

Speedwell Lake

The trail follows the Whippany River floodplain through a largely urbanized area with much of the floodplain filled or crisscrossed by highways and developed areas. In a number of places, Patriots' Path is in place, paved, and signed.

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Trail Route Description This section of the trail is a part of the northwestern section of the proposed Patriots' Path route. The trail follows an existing unimproved foot path through Dismal-Harmony Brooks Natural Area to join the Ralston-Morristown portion of Patriots' Path at Lewis Morris Park. At the park, the proposed trail follows the floodplain of the Whippany River along private land. Throughout this stretch the trail is partially in place, with paving and signage. The trail ends at Central Park on Jefferson Road in Hanover Township.

Trail Connections and Proximity to Public Lands Existing park trails connect Patriots' Path to Lewis Morris Park and Morristown National Historical Park. In Morristown, there are existing park connections to Washington's Headquarters and the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

Site Improvements Upgraded path surface and gates and stiles at road crossings are needed where these improvements are not yet in place.

Action Plan The new Route 24 will intersect Patriots' Path in several places and run parallel to it in others. Possible new trail route alignments should be considered to avoid road crossings and the noise and visual encroachment associated with the highway.

A vigorous effort should be made to secure installation of highway sound barriers wherever the trail is unavoidably and seriously affected by routes 287 or 24.

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Patriots' Path adjacent to the Whippany River, Morris Township

Patriots' Path, Morris Township

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11.

Bee Meadow

Bee Meadow Park

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The Bee Meadow portion of the trail is largely open wetlands, along the floodplain of the Malapardis Brook and along the Central Jersey P&L ROW. The central portion of the trail, within Bee Meadow Park and directly adjacent to the west, winds through a floodplain forest of beech, oak, ash and red maple where old backwater channels crisscross the forest.

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Trail Route Description The trail begins at Patriots' Path where it leaves Central Park in Hanover Township. The trail follows the proposed Patriots' Path route from here, crossing Route 10 at an intersection to join the Central Jersey P&L ROW on private land. The proposed route continues on the power line ROW through the lowland forest adjacent to the pond at Bee Meadow Park where there are existing foot paths. The trail continues around the pond at Bee Meadow Park on grass to cross Reynolds Avenue and join an improved path beyond the school parking lot. This existing trail connects to Reynolds Avenue Park which connects to existing trails in Old Troy Park. The trail ends at the eastern boundary of Old Troy Park.

Site Improvements Upgrade trails through private land and within the parks to asphalt for all- weather walking and use by bicycles.

Action Plan Acquisition of easements on private lands to ensure trail is continuous.

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12.

Troy Meadows

Troy Meadows

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t/ The trail begins in Old Troy Park and follows a woodland trail through a beech-oak forest. Unfortunate connections through dense residential areas near Troy Hills lead into Troy Meadows, one of the few remnants of the vast expanse of Passaic River wetlands. The landscape here is an open wet meadow with occasional islands of stunted trees on higher ground. The trail leaves the preserve and crosses the Passaic River, ending at the Essex County Center for Environmental Studies which is the terminus of Patriots' Path.

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Trail Route Description At the eastern boundary of Old Troy Park, the trail crosses a small piece of private land to join West Brook on township property. At South Beverwyck Road, the trail must follow the road for several hundred feet to pick up West Brook again on township land and from there into Troy Meadows Natural Area. Within the preserve the trail follows West Brook until it meets Troy Meadows Road, a dirt track that shortly peters out and becomes overgrown and mucky. The proposed trail would follow the route of this abandoned road across Smith's Ditch to Klinger Road. The trail then turns left to continue on Ridgedale Avenue approximately 300 feet to pick up Patriots' Path, a signed and blazed forest footpa tho This trail crosses the Passaic River at the Eagle Rock Avenue Bridge and ends at the Essex County Center for Environmental Studies a quarter of a mile from the river.

Site Improvements A boardwalk or other improved path will have to be installed in much of Troy Meadows to create a passable route.

Action Plan Easements should be sought for the small pieces of private land to be crossed, particularly along South Beverwyck Road which is winding and particularly unsafe for pedestrians. Trail improvements are critical to establish a viable path and will require a boardwalk in many places.

A small bridge will be required to cross West Brook.

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Path through Old Troy Park

Patriots' Path near Eagle Rock Avenue

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13.

Passaic River Floodplain

Wetlands, West Essex Park

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This 3.5 mile section begins at the Essex County Center for Environmental Studies and follows the eastern edge of West Essex Park and the Passaic River floodplain north to Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell.

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Trail Route Description

Leaving the Environmental Center, the route passes through open fields in the Charm Acres section of West Essex Park, crosses relocated Foulerton Brook, goes under Interstate Route 280 next to the Passaic River and then east along 280 to the Public Service Electric and Gas Company power line right-ofway, and then runs north to Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell. The Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs has secured a license from Public Service for trail use of the raised service road along the right-of-way. The wooded wetlands and open marshes and meadows of the Passaic River floodplain immediately west of the power line are part of West Essex Park offering intimate views of wetland flora and fauna.

Connecting Trails

A 10-mile section of the Lenape Trail to the east and south of the Environmental Center leads to and through Essex County's largest park, South Mountain Reservation, and ends next to New Jersey Transit's Millburn railroad station.

Site Improvements

The presently marked temporary way from the Environmental Center to the powerline north of Route 280 is awkward and, in wet weather, often impassable. Construction of pedestrian bridges across Foulerton Brook on both sides of the interstate highway, an all-weather connection to the power line north of 280, bridging of other minor tributaries of the Passaic River, and cleanup of trash in certain areas will be necessary to make this segment of the LenapeTrail a quality pathway more accessible to the public.

Action Plan

The temporary license from Public Service for trail use of its right-of-way must be upgraded to a permanent easement to justify needed site improvements. Emphasis will then have to be placed on bridging Foulerton Brook. This appears to be the responsiblilty of the Department of Transportation which broke the continuity of the pathway when Route 280 was constructed some 20 years ago. A passageway under 280 was constructed

by DOT (indicating its acknowledgement of its responsibility for access across the highway) but the bridges and other improvements were never provided despite repeated requests from the County.

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Trail near crossing of Foulerton Brook and Route 280 underpass

Essex County Center for Environmental Studies

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14. Second Watchung Mountain

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This 4.5 mile undedicated section follows the Public Service powerline up the western slope of the Second Watchung Mountain and down its east side to the Peckman River in Cedar Grove.

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Trail Route Description The trail leaves the Public Service powerline at Bloomfield Avenue and after crossing at the nearby traffic light, heads north for 0.3 miles along Passaic Avenue to rejoin the powerline and go east up the slope of the Second Watchung Mountain. This exposed portion of an ancient basaltic sill rises gently to the east and then drops off sharply to Route 23 and the Peckman River. A license agreement for trail use of this portion of the Public Service line is now being negotiated by the County. This is a suburban residential area with a solid development of homes on typically 1/4 to 1/2 acre lots. The powerline right-of-way is 150 feet wide providing a pleasant swath of open field terrain with views to the west over the floodplain to the hills beyond.

The Second Mountain and the adjacent and parallel First Watchung Mountain are prominent features of Essex County geography. Across Route 23 at the eastern base of the ridge, the trail is proposed to pass through the Courtney Morgan Historic Farm site, a municipal preservation project, to reach the Peckman River by way of the power line, and finally along the edge of a small industrial village, crossing the river into Cedar Grove Community Park.

Site Improvements In addition to securing a trail use license and ultimately a permanent easement from Public Service on this section, several stream crossings under the power line should be bridged or otherwise improved for less than athletic walkers. At the Peckman River, a steep drop from the powerline to the adjoining lawn of the industrial village must be made more negotiable -probably by steps. Overall, the tread way needs better definition and clearing.

Action Plan While the trail is suitable at present for serious hikers used to rough terrain, in the long run the noted site improvements must be undertaken to serve a broader range of users. Permanent easements will be needed to justify such investments.

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15. First Watchung Mountain

Cedar Grove Community Park

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\ This 4.5 mile section traverses the First Watchung Mountain passing through Cedar Grove Community Park, the City of Newark's Cedar Grove Reservoir property, Essex County's Mills Reservation, and Montclair's Mountainside Park to reach Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair. An alternative route uses the Public Service power line for part of this distance.

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Trail Route Description The trail starts on Little Falls Road and begins the gentle ascen t of the First Watchung Mountain by passing through Cedar Grove Community Park to Bowden Road. Here it enters a wooded tract owned by the City of Newark that carries the path to Ridge Road. The trail follows Ridge Road north to pass around the north end of Cedar Grove Reservoir on Newark property and then south through woods along the edge of a townhouse development to Mills Reservation. Here it makes a long loop through the reservation, passes along the crest of the mountain with broad views of the New York City skyline and then descends quickly through Mountainside Park to Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair. An alternative route from the beginning point would go north up Little Falls Road to the power line, following it to join the main route at the north end of Cedar Grove Reservoir at Ridge Road.

Connections to Other Trails At Bowden Road the trail crosses the abandoned Caldwell Branch of the Erie Railroad now owned by Essex County from the Passaic County line to a point near Bloomfield Avenue, Verona. This line was intended to become a 5 mile bikeway between Community Park, Cedar Grove and Grover Cleveland Park, Essex Fells, but limited funds and rising acquisition costs prevented purchase of the entire line. The existing County portion by itself has the potential of a useful pedestrian and bicycle way, but extensive clearing, clean up and maintenance will be required. At present it is derelict land accumulating trash and abused by motorbikers. Its future as a desirable public pathway is therefore problematic.

At the north end of the railbed at the Passaic County line a connection exists to a potential 13 mile trail leading north along the Wanaque Aqueduct to mountain woodlands in the Wanaque-Greenwood Lake Area.

Site Improvements Physically, the main route of this portion of Lenape Trail is a largely well marked, fully accessible primitive trail. Some minor improvements in upkeep would be helpful.

Action Plan The main path here is dedicated and marked, but formal easements are necessary on the Public Service and City of Newark portions to provide permanent routings.

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View east from Mills Reservation lookout

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16. Urban Essex

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From Montclair to downtown Newark, the trail uses residential streets and part of an aqueduct to connect a series of municipal and County parks in a mature, densely populated urban area. It extends for 11.5 miles.

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Trail Route Description From Upper Mountain Avenue the trail uses short sections on residential streets to connect with Northeast School, Yantacaw Brook Park and Brookdale Park in Montclair; Clarks Pond, Demarest School, and the Garden State Parkway pedestrian overpass in Bloomfield; the Newark Aqueduct in Nutley and Belleville; Belleville Park in Belleville; and Branch Brook, Washington, and Military Parks in Newark. The portion on the Newark Aqueduct is over a mile in length and 99 feet wide. It is an open footpath that has been used by the public for nearly 100 years. In many parts ownership lies with adjoining homeowners, and in two places fences have been erected across the right-ofway by these landowners. Adjoining streets provide easy connections for walkers. Public Service powerlines could provide an alternative to the aqueduct route although the utility company does not wish to give a trail license here at this time.

Branch Brook Park, a main feature of this route, has lost some of its earlier glory, but is still a classic turn-of-the-century landscape design. It was laid out in the late nineties by Olmsted, Vaux and Company. Extensive cherry trees given by the Bamberger family in the twenties give the park a special beauty in mid-April and provide the focus for many events. The Gothic towers of the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral rise in great beauty above the tree line at the south end of the park. The terminal point of the trail in downtown Military Park, Newark is close to many points of interest including the preRevolutionary War Trinity Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Newark Museum, the restored home of brewery heir John Ballantine, and the famous "Wars of America" sculpture of Gutzon Borglum in Military Park itself.

Connections ÂŁ0 Other Trails At the corner of Franklin Avenue and Harrison Street in Nutley, one may leave the Lenape Trail and follow up along the Yantacaw Brook through a series of four linear parks - Booth, Yantacaw, Memorial, and Kingsland - to the Kingsland House, an 18th-century brownstone mansion, now home of the Nutley Historic Restoration Trust. This path extends about 2 miles.

Site Improvements Little improvement other than better signage is needed on this section which is already largely on maintained public land.

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Action Plan

Permanent access should be diligently sought for all sections not protected by public ownership. This applies particularly to the aqueduct and the powerline alternative.

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Newark Aqueduct

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark

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