OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLAN June 2020 Byram Township-2020 Update TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... IV INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................5 Open Space & Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 5 Current Conditions .......................................................................................................................... 6 Future Initiatives ........................................................................................................................... 11 Trails Master Plan .................................................................................................................................. 14 Current Trails ................................................................................................................................ 15 Additions to the System ............................................................................................................. 16 Maintaining the System .............................................................................................................. 18 Asset Management ................................................................................................................................ 19 Current State of Assets .............................................................................................................. 20 Management Strategy ............................................................................................................... 20 Economic Development ......................................................................................................................... 22 Opportunities ............................................................................................................................... 23 Strategy for Sustainable Economic Development ................................................................. 24 Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 26 OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLAN .................................................................................. 27 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Goals ....................................................................................................................................................... 27 Geography/Demographics ................................................................................................................. 28 Important Resources .............................................................................................................................. 29 Natural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 29 Historic Resources ........................................................................................................................ 30 Financial Resources ..................................................................................................................... 34 Consistency with Other Plans ............................................................................................................... 38 Prior Plans..................................................................................................................................... 39 Township Master Plan ................................................................................................................ 40 Highlands Regional Master Plan .............................................................................................. 41 Forest Stewardship Plan ............................................................................................................ 41 Preserved Open Space ........................................................................................................................ 42 Municipal ...................................................................................................................................... 43 State .............................................................................................................................................. 46 Private ........................................................................................................................................... 47 Recreational Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 48 Active Recreation ........................................................................................................................ 48 Indoor Facilities ............................................................................................................................ 52 Passive Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 53 New Initiatives ........................................................................................................................................ 54 Priority Land Acquisitions ........................................................................................................... 55 Potential Capital Investments .................................................................................................... 56 Financing Improvements ............................................................................................................. 64 Recreation Programs .................................................................................................................. 64 TRAILS MASTER PLAN ....................................................................................................... 67 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 67 Vision ........................................................................................................................................................ 68 Trails Vision Statement ............................................................................................................... 68 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 69 Existing Trails .......................................................................................................................................... 73 Byram Township Trails ................................................................................................................ 74 Other Trails .................................................................................................................................. 74 Highlands Trail ............................................................................................................................. 75 Trail Heads ................................................................................................................................... 75 Trail Development Initiatives ............................................................................................................... 77 New Trail Segments .................................................................................................................... 77 Land Acquisition ........................................................................................................................... 80 Priority........................................................................................................................................... 81 Way Finding, Signage & Trail Marking ................................................................................. 82 New Trailheads ........................................................................................................................... 85 Trail Crossings .............................................................................................................................. 86 Uses ................................................................................................................................................ 86 Construction & Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 87 Trail Maintenance & Management .......................................................................................... 87 Maintaining the Trail Network .................................................................................................. 88 Documenting Trail Conditions .................................................................................................... 89 Routine Maintenance .................................................................................................................