Trails master plan FOR DENVILLE TOWNSHIP MORRIS COUNTY Denville Township Trails Master Plan Prepared by: Benjamin L. Spinelli, Principal Frank T. Pinto, Principal Bob Canace, Associate Kenneth Campbell, Licensed Drone Pilot Zenon Tech-Czarny, GIS Mapping Nick Nassiff, GIS Story Maps Genevieve Tarino, Specialist Intern Assistance Team: Brian Corrigan Griffin Lanel Rena Pinhas Jennifer Schneider Trail Blitz Day Team: Carol Mendez Briana Morales Rena Pinhas Jennifer Schneider Justin Singleton Greener by Design, LLC Township of Denville 94 Church Street, Suite 402 1 Saint Mary’s Place New Brunswick NJ 08901 Denville, NJ 07834 Phone: (732) 253-7717 Phone: (973) 625-8334 https://www.gbdtoday.com/ http://www.denvillenj.org July 1, 2018 i Acknowledgements Denville Township Trails Advisory Committee Thomas Andes (Mayor) AnnMarie Flake Christopher Golinski Kevin Loughran Stephanie Lyden (Council Liaison) Maryjude Haddock-Weiler Steven Ward (Administrator) Mayor and Township Council Thomas Andes (Mayor) Brian Bergen Blenn Buie Gary Borowiec Douglas N. Gabel Stephanie Lyden John Murphy Nancy Witte ii Denville Organizations and Offices Mayor and Council Township Administration Beautification Committee Trails Committee Recreation Department Outside Organizations Boy Scout Troop 118 Estling Lake Corp Jersey Off Road Bicycling Association Borough of Mountain Lakes Morris Area Freewheelers Morris County Park Commission Morris County Planning Board Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Protect our Wetlands, Water and Woods Borough of Rockaway iii Table of Contents Table of Contents Chapter I .............................................................................................................................................................................. - 1 - Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... - 1 - The Existing Trails ........................................................................................................................................................ - 1 - Goals for Expansion ..................................................................................................................................................... - 2 - Maintaining the System .............................................................................................................................................. - 3 - Responsibly Financing Denville Trails ......................................................................................................................... - 4 - The Future of Denville Trails ....................................................................................................................................... - 4 - Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................................................................. - 6 - Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... - 6 - Public Outreach ........................................................................................................................................................... - 6 - Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................... - 6 - The Survey ................................................................................................................................................................... - 7 - Trails Vision Statement ............................................................................................................................................... - 7 - Purpose ....................................................................................................................................................................... - 8 - Statement of Principles ............................................................................................................................................... - 8 - Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... - 9 - Enhance recreational opportunities for Denville residents .................................................................................. - 10 - Enhance access to the downtown business district ............................................................................................. - 10 - Provide opportunities to gain access to the Rockaway River ............................................................................... - 10 - Provide residents with safe access to Denville’s numerous parks ....................................................................... - 10 - Promote health and fitness among Denville residents by means of outdoor recreation .................................... - 11 - Maintenance, upkeep, and expansion of the trails network ................................................................................ - 11 - Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................................................................... - 12 - The Landscape of Denville Township ............................................................................................................................ - 12 - Geography ................................................................................................................................................................. - 12 - Population Trends ..................................................................................................................................................... - 13 - Demographics ........................................................................................................................................................... - 13 - Built Environment/Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... - 14 - Natural Resources ..................................................................................................................................................... - 14 - Preserved Land .......................................................................................................................................................... - 15 - Surface Waters .......................................................................................................................................................... - 15 - Public Facilities .......................................................................................................................................................... - 16 - iv Historic Sites .............................................................................................................................................................. - 16 - Chapter 4 ........................................................................................................................................................................... - 17 - The Trail System ............................................................................................................................................................ - 17 - The Existing Trails ...................................................................................................................................................... - 17 - Access to Existing Trailheads..................................................................................................................................... - 18 - New Trails .................................................................................................................................................................. - 18 - New Trail Heads ........................................................................................................................................................ - 19 - Trail Segments ........................................................................................................................................................... - 20 - High Interest Trail Destinations & Linkages .............................................................................................................. - 22 - Land Acquisition ........................................................................................................................................................ - 24 - Priority ....................................................................................................................................................................... - 24 - Chapter 5 ........................................................................................................................................................................... - 26 - Way Finding, Signage & Trail Marking .......................................................................................................................... - 26 - Blazing ....................................................................................................................................................................... - 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