New Jersey News
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Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program U.S. Department of the Interior Current Projects Northeast Region New Jersey News State Capital Paddlers on the Passaic River, New Jersey PROJECTS AND PARTNERS 2012 1. Blue Raritan Water Trail Recent Successes Rutgers University, Middlesex County, Association Passaic River Blueway of NJ Environmental Commissions, Raritan River Collaborative, and Crossroads of the American The NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the Revolution National Heritage Area Federal Highway Administration have awarded a National 2. Delaware River Resource Protection Strategic Plan Recreational Trails Grant to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Delaware River Greenway Partnership Commissioners (PVSC) and their local project partner the Lower Passaic Watershed Alliance (LPWA) to implement the 3. Farnham Park Wetlands Restoration Cooper’s Ferry Partnership next phase of the Passaic River Blueway project. PVSC and LPWA will work with municipalities along the Passaic River to 4. Morris Canal Greenway develop signage and a map & guide of the water trail. County of Passaic and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park The Passaic River 5. Rutherford Bicycle Ring Blueway works to Rutherford Green Team establish 25 public 6. September 11th National Memorial Trail access points on the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance 32-mile lower Passaic Find out more about each project starting on page 2. River Blueway water trail. Flowing out ABOUT US of the Great Swamp National Wildlife The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program is the community assistance arm Refuge, the upper of the National Park Service. RTCA staff provides Passaic River is less technical assistance to community groups and developed than the local, state, and federal government agencies lower portion, and working to protect natural areas and water will provide paddlers resources and enhance close-to-home outdoor with a contrast from recreation opportunities. We help communities the urban experience plan, organize partnerships, and achieve on-the- of the lower 32 miles ground success on projects they initiate. of river. Passaic River, New Jersey Current Projects 1. Blue Raritan Water Trail Project Goal Project Partner: Rutgers University, A 5-year strategic plan for the Middlesex County, Association of NJ Delaware River Greenway Partnership, Environmental Commissions, Raritan focused on its role in protection and River Collaborative, and Crossroads of the stewardship of the natural, cultural American Revolution National Heritage and recreational resources of the Area Delaware River region in New Jersey RTCA Contact: Sherry Peck and Pennsylvania. Location: 18 municipalities in Somerset and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey RTCA Role Congressional Districts: NJ-6, 7, 11, 12, Facilitate a strategic planning process 13 John Pralls Jr. House at the Prallsville Mills, Dela- and assist with producing an action ware River Mill Society, Stockton, NJ Project Goal plan; assist with capacity-building of 31-mile water trail linking greenways long-time NPS partner organization. RTCA Role along the Raritan River; educational Assist with developing a restoration and outdoor recreation opportunities 3. Farnham Park Wetlands plan for lower Farnham Park, including for families; enhanced appreciation Restoration public access, trail connections, and and stewardship of environmental, educational opportunities. Project Partner: Cooper’s Ferry recreational, and historic resources. Partnership RTCA Contact: Sherry Peck RTCA Role 4. Morris Canal Greenway Location: Cooper River, Camden, New Project Partners: County of Passaic and Assist with development of public Jersey Paterson Great Falls National Historical access management plans and river- Congressional Districts: NJ-1 Park based recreational programs. Project Goal RTCA Contact: Sherry Peck Location: Municipalities of Pompton 32 acres of restored and enhanced Lakes, Wayne, Little Falls, Paterson, 2. Delaware River Resource wetland habitat; improved health of Protection Strategic Plan Woodland Park, and Clifton in Passaic adjacent Cooper River; new waterfront County, New Jersey Project Partner: Delaware River access, nature education opportunities, Congressional Districts: NJ-8 Greenway Partnership and connections to the regional RTCA Contact: Sherry Peck trail network for urban community Project Goal Location: Delaware River watershed members. A safe, contiguous, 25-mile pedestrian (Delaware Water Gap to upper and non-motorized bicycle trail along Delaware Estuary) in New Jersey and the route of the original Morris Canal. Pennsylvania Congressional Districts: NJ-4, 7,12 RTCA Role Assist with developing a greenway implementation plan, including connections to Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. Exploring public access to the Raritan River page 2 We’re Here For You. Current Projects Could your project benefit 5. Rutherford Bicycle Ring 6. September 11th National from RTCA Staff Assistance? Project Partner: Rutherford Green Team Memorial Trail Contact us to find out. RTCA Contact: Jerry Willis Project Partner: September 11th Location: Bergen County, New Jersey National Memorial Trail Alliance Sherry Peck Congressional District: NJ-9 RTCA Contact: Peggy Pings Location: Seven state triangle including [email protected] Project Goal 215.597.6478 Shanksville PA (Flight 93 crash site), A five mile network that links bicycle New York City (World Trade Center), routes, bike lanes, and off road bicycle Washington DC (Pentagon). paths with future connections to other Congressional District: NJ-1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, Jerry Willis southern Bergen County attractions and 10, 13 [email protected] natural areas such as the Hackensack Project Goal 908.461.7596 Meadowlands. A 1,100-mile hiking, biking, and driving RTCA Role trail physically connecting the three national memorials commemorating Assist with organizing resident focus the tragic events that occurred in 2001. Peggy Pings groups and evaluating the needs and [email protected] concerns of the community; assist RTCA Role 304.293.7528 with route planning, constituency building and identifying funding, as Facilitate determination of trail route well as coordinating efforts with the through New Jersey and assist in the Passaic River Blueway, The Hackensack development of an interim Strategic Riverkeeper, The NJ Meadowlands Plan to improve organizational capacity Commission and other neighboring and ensure quality trail management. 2011 Nationwide organizations and municipalities. Partnership Success 1,991 Miles of Trail Developed 1,925 Miles of River Conserved 33,230 Acres of Open Space and Parkland Protected 94% Percentage of Community Partners Satisfied Find more information online at www.nps.gov/rtca EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ Public access to the Raritan River in Sayresville, NJ page 3.