Open Space & Recreation Plan Borough of Pompton Lakes Adopted: November 20, 2012 Prepared by: This Plan also incorporates the Borough’s Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), Updated 2003 Pompton Lakes Sustainable Open Space and Recreation Plan www.h2m.com 119 Cherry Hill Road, Suite 200 Parsippany, New Jersey 07302 P: (862) 209‐5900, F: (973) 334‐0507 575 Broad Hollow Road Melville, New York 11747 P: (631) 756‐8000, F: (631) 694‐4122 Pompton Lakes Sustainable Open Space and Recreation Plan Ac:knøwle.dgeme.ots Mayor Kathleen M. Cole, Mayor Council Richard Steele, Council President Wiliam Baig, Councilman Lloyd Kent, Councilman Terri Reicher, Councilwoman Michael Serra, Councilman Michael Simone, Jr., Councilman Administration Kevin Boyle, Borough Administrator Ed Merril, Environmental Officer Elizabeth Brandsness, Borough Clerk Open Space Committee Planning Board Kathleen M. Cole, Mayor Andrew Silverstein, Chairman Lloyd Kent, Council Liaison Ed Merril, Environmental Officer Kathleen, M. Cole, Mayor Maria Kent, Environmental Committee Chairwoman Kevin Boyle, Borough Administrator Mary Michunovich, Mayor's Alternate Bob Schwartz Andrew Silverstein, Planning Board Chair Russ Accardi, Zoning Board Chair Brian Otto Karen Murphy, Recreation Director Abby Novak Toni DeFrancesco, Recreation President Carl Padula, Flood Advisory Board Chair Robert Guggiari Erik De Line, Member Richard Fracaro Abby Novak, Member Richard Steele Lauren Venin, Member Julie Doncoes, Member Erik De Line With funding provided by a Smart Growth Planning Grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) The original of this Plan was Sign~ and sealed in accordance with NJ.5.A 45: 14A-12. D 9~~~L'- =- ~~GiQrg;;, P,P. #-33L100604300 Pompton Lakes Sustainable Open Space and Recreation Plan Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 9 OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................... 9 WHAT IS OPEN SPACE? ...................................................................................................... 13 WHAT IS OPEN SPACE? ...................................................................................................... 13 GOALS & POLICIES ............................................................................................................ 17 VISION ............................................................................................................................ 21 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 2. EXISTING OPEN SPACE & RECREATION INVENTORY ................................................ 22 SOUTHERN SECTOR (MAP 1) ............................................................................................... 23 CENTRAL SECTOR (MAP 2) ................................................................................................. 25 NORTH SECTOR (MAP 3).................................................................................................... 29 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER 3. OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION NEEDS ANALYSIS ................................................. 37 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 37 PARK & OPEN SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS.................................................................................. 38 RECREATION FACILITY NEEDS .............................................................................................. 49 CHAPTER 4. NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY “NRI” .............................................................. 58 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 58 WATER RESOURCES ........................................................................................................... 58 LIVING RESOURCES ............................................................................................................ 67 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES ......................................................................... 71 CRITICAL RESOURCE PROTECTION ......................................................................................... 73 CHAPTER 5. OPEN SPACE & RECREATION RECOMMENDATIONS................................................ 79 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 79 POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS ................................................................................................... 80 LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................................... 82 CREATING CONNECTIONS ................................................................................................... 86 CHAPTER 6. MAINTENANCE ..................................................................................................... 93 CHAPTER 7. ACTION PROGRAM .............................................................................................. 95 DECISION‐MAKING CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................... 95 PRESERVATION TOOLS ....................................................................................................... 96 ACTION PLAN ................................................................................................................... 97 APPENDIX A. OPEN SPACE & RECREATION INVENTORY BY MAP ID ........................................... 103 4 Pompton Lakes Sustainable Open Space and Recreation Plan Maps OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLAN MAPS MAP 1: SOUTHERN SECTOR ................................................................................................ 34 MAP 2: CENTRAL SECTOR .................................................................................................. 35 MAP 3: NORTHERN SECTOR ............................................................................................... 36 MAP 4: PARKS & OPEN SPACE BY NRPA CATEGORY ............................................................... 45 MAP 5: ¼‐MILE WALK TO MINI, NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY PARKS ................................. 46 MAP 6: RECREATION FACILITIES MAP ................................................................................... 51 MAP 7: POPULATION DENSITY & ¼‐MILE WALK TO ACTIVE PARKS ............................................ 57 MAP 8: TRAILS & GREENWAY NETWORK – EXISTING & PROPOSED ............................................ 91 MAP 9: TRAIL TYPE AND STATUS ......................................................................................... 92 NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY (NRI) MAPS NRI MAP 1: RIPARIAN & AQUATIC FEATURES ........................................................................ 64 NRI MAP 2: PROTECTED ANIMAL SPECIES ............................................................................. 65 NRI MAP 3: WELLS & WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS............................................................ 66 NRI MAP 4: LAND COVER .................................................................................................. 69 NRI MAP 5: ELEVATION & SLOPE ........................................................................................ 70 NRI MAP 6: HISTORIC SITES ............................................................................................... 72 NRI MAP 7: WATER RESOURCE VALUES ............................................................................... 77 5 Pompton Lakes Sustainable Open Space and Recreation Plan ON POMPTON LAKES The landscape of the Borough of Pompton Lakes has been the major determinant of its existence. The rich natural resource base allowed it to be a focal point in the history of the United States. The hills, rivers, flood plains, and unique habitats have been home to Native Americans long before European settlers came to the shores of New Jersey. Then, “back in the woods” iron furnaces forged the materials necessary for the Revolutionary War forces. Through here, too, runs a segment of Cannonball Road, which traces its way from Pompton Lakes, NJ, north through Suffern, NY, to West Point on the Hudson River, where the products of the iron furnaces held back the British. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the lands and people of Pompton Lakes participated in the industrial revolution, but ultimately, many of these facilities became obsolete, and left behind remnants of their former existence. Thus, today we look at the landscape as a new opportunity where three rivers meet to form one. The Ramapo, Wanaque, and Pequannock Rivers rush from their Highland sources to form the Pompton River. The divergent corridors along these watercourses provide a diversity of opportunities for additional lands to be dedicated to open space and recreation, both active and passive. Lands already preserved, and yet to be acquired, are a part of the water resource needs of this community and those around it. The forested lands of Pompton Lakes begin the formation of the vast network of greenways that become the