Stobaeus-Briarwood Trail Among 13 Trail Projects Recommended to Morris Freeholders for Funding

MORRISTOWN, N.J.– A Freeholder Board-appointed committee recommended the funding of 13 trail projects in 13 Morris County towns as part of the new Trail Construction Grant Program, officials said.

The cost would be $661,000, according to Morris County Communications and Digital Media Manager Larry Ragonese.

The program was approved last spring, he said.

According to Ragonese, grants were recommended for trail projects in:

• Chatham Borough;
• Denville;
• Florham Park;
• Harding;
• Long Hill;
• Mendham Borough;
• Mine Hill;
• Morris Township;
• Randolph;
• Roxbury;
• Washington Township.

"This is a very wise investment in the improvement of our county’s recreational opportunities, which improves the quality of life for all residents, making Morris County a better place to live and work and
locate a business,’’ said Freeholder Christine Myers, who is the board’s liaison to Planning and Preservation.

The grants range from $7,384 for the Reilly Field Look and Crossover Trail in Montville to $132,696 for the Foote's Pond Wood Trail in Morristown, Ragonese said.

The grant for Florham Park's Stobaeus-Briarwood Trail is $24,060, according to Ragonese.

The money will come from a portion of the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund, according to Ragonese.

"...Residents of Morris County will have an additional 6-miles of trail to walk, run, hike, bike and horseback ride on, in the next few years as these projects are completed." said Morris County Park Commission Executive Director Dave Helmer.

Added Freeholder Doug Cabana, liason to the Park Commission: "This money will help provide good public access to many of those already preserved properties and connect some of the undeveloped lands to help create recreational greenways across the county.’’

The program will award grants annually to qualified applicants from the 39 Morris municipalities, according to Ragonese.

There is $705,000 to award this year from the trust fund and the freeholders are expected to formally vote on the grant approval at their Dec. 14 meeting, Ragonese said.

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Images courtesy County of Morris