A Journey Along the Towpath ... your quarterly dig on the Morris Canal Greenway Project Vol: 8
Passaic County Department of Planning & Economic Development
June 2012
Greenway hikes, Coming to a Neighborhood Near You!
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Photo credit: Ron Rice
he Morris Canal Greenway Feasibility Study was adopted as an element of the Passaic County Master Plan in October 2011. In spring 2012, Passaic County hosted two hikes along the route of the greenway illustrated in the Feasbility Study.
Representatives from the Canal Society of New Jersey, Warren County Morris Canal Committee, Sussex County Planning Department, and Passaic County Department of Planning & Economic Development presented a session entitled, “Utilization of a NJ Historic Transportation Corridor: The Morris Canal” at Sustaining the Past - Inventing the Future, the 2012 NJ Historic Preservation Conference. The session discussed the accomplishments and challenges faced by Morris Canal preservationists across the state, and efforts underway in many counties to create a Greenway along the historic route of the Canal.
Future Greenway Route along Broad Street, Clifton Photo credit: Ron Rice
Sustaining the Past - Inventing the Future
Recently Completed Greenway near Thomas E. May Park, Woodland Park Photo credit: Ron Rice
Recently Completed Greenway at Peckman Preserve, Little Falls
Over sixty people hiked along both completed and proposed segments of the Greenway. Joe Macasek, noted author and Canal Historian, guided hikers through the rich history of the canal as they discovered all the great parks, historical sites, and recreation areas that already exist along the future Greenway.
Upcoming Hikes: Wayne Sunday, August 5 10:00 AM - 12:00PM Start: Riverside Park on Farmingdale Rd. at Deerfield Rd. End: Pompton Aquatic Park on Maple Ln. at Cole St. Getting there: Park in Riverside Park Lot
The spring hike series kicked off in Clifton, beginning at the Morris Canal Park & Jack W. Kuepfer Sr. Nature Preserve on Broad Street, where hikers experienced a water fi lled section of the canal. Then, hiking north on Broad Street along the former canal route, hikers passed historic farm houses, arriving at the corner of Van Houten Avenue, once the village of Centerville and location of Cheap Josie’s hotel.
Paterson
The second hike followed the former route of the canal from Woodland Park into Little Falls. Along the way, hikers passed remains of the Morris Canal’s intact prism and towpath, aqueduct abutments, cornerstones from the Little Falls aqueduct, and Beattie Carpet Mill.
Pompton Lakes
The summer/fall hike series kicks off in Wayne, followed by Paterson, and Pompton Lakes. For full details on the upcoming hikes, please visit www.passaiccountynj.org/Morris-CanalGreenway-Study.
Sunday, September 16 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Start: Lambert Castle End: Great Falls National Historical Park Getting there: Park in Lambert Castle lot or NJ Transit Bus 192, 702
Sunday, October 14 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Start: Mathes Avenue Woodlands at Riverview Rd. End: Pompton Aquatic Park on Woodlawn Ave. at Birch Ave. Getting there: On-street parking on Mathes Ave. or NJ Transit Bus 197
Freeholders fund Greenway Trail Markers, Kiosks, and Brochure The Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders appropriated funds from the Passaic County Open Space Trust Fund to purchase trail markers for all off-road segments of the Greenway, design and construct six kiosks to be placed in existing parks along the Greenway, as well as design and print Morris Canal in Passaic County brochures.
Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders
The trail markers, left, are similar to Morris Canal greenway trail markers in Warren and Morris Counties. Brochure and the illustrative panels that will fill the kiosks are also similar to those in Warren County. Maintaining a consistent look and feel for all signage, logos, and marketing will help identify the Greenway as one statewide trail in any community. One ki-
osk will be placed in each of the six Passaic County towns through which the Greenway passes. County staff are working with municipal officials to identify proper locations and content for the kiosks. The brochure should be available by September, and the markers and kiosks should be installed by October.