10-23-2025 12:41pm

Eight Trail Projects Recommended for $1.24M in Morris County Grants

Chris Connors Editor

If approved in November, the 2025 Trail Construction Grant awards would mark a decade of public investment into expanding recreational infrastructure across 36 Morris County towns.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - The Morris County Board of County Commissioners is considering a recommendation to award over $1.24 million in funding for eight municipal trail projects through its 2025 Trail Construction Grant Program, now concluding its tenth year. The proposal includes six trail design and permitting grants and two trail construction grants, all aimed at expanding the county’s growing network of multi-use paths.

The recommendations, presented during an October 22 public work session by Betty Cass-Schmidt, chair of the Trail Construction Grant Advisory Committee, span eight municipalities: Jefferson, Long Hill, Dover, Florham Park, Hanover, Madison, Netcong, and Rockaway Township. Formal action on the grants is expected at the Commissioners’ next meeting on November 5, 2025.

The proposed awards include $738,860 in construction funding and $502,085.81 for trail design and permitting. If approved, the county will have awarded nearly $7.8 million in trail-related grants since launching the program in 2016, supporting the development of more than 35 miles of public trails across 36 of the county’s 39 municipalities.

“Tonight’s presentation provides an opportunity for questions and discussion. The board will not be taking any formal action until our next meeting, when we’ll consider the committee’s recommendations and vote accordingly. This presentation is for informational purposes,” Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, liaison to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation. “The work done by this committee, along with our dedicated volunteers and staff, is truly outstanding. Morris County residents can be confident that their Preservation Trust Fund tax dollars are being invested wisely.”

2025 Project Recommendations

Construction Projects

Jefferson – Compton Gobel Trail Extension
A $259,160 grant is recommended for the second phase of construction on a 1.25-mile gravel and stone dust trail. The path will expand access to thousands of acres of preserved lands and serve as a link to the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Long Hill – Central Park Loop Trail
A $478,860 grant would complete a 1.18-mile stone dust and boardwalk trail through environmentally sensitive wetlands. The trail would link businesses, the Municipal Complex, Kantor Memorial Park, and Patriot’s Path.

Design & Permitting Projects

Dover – Dover Mountain Trail
A $60,000 grant would fund the design of a 0.85-mile trail through the Dover Watershed Property. The trail would offer scenic views and connect neighborhoods to the business district. This is Dover’s first application to the program.
Florham Park – Spring Garden Lake Nature Trail
A $78,000 grant is recommended to design a 0.56-mile stone dust and boardwalk trail around Spring Garden Lake, offering a link between residential neighborhoods and local green space.
Hanover Township – Forest Way Greenway Trail
A $120,000 design grant would support a 1.59-mile gravel and boardwalk trail through the old Route 24 right-of-way. The trail would connect to Morris Plains, Hanover Avenue retail areas, and Patriots Path along the Whippany River.
Madison – Summerhill Park Trail Additions
A $44,800 grant would fund the design of 0.87 miles of porous pavement and stone dust trails expanding Madison’s existing park network. The project includes connections to Memorial and Central Green parks and features remnants of the borough’s rose industry.
Netcong – Morris Canal Greenway Trail
A $109,320 grant would support planning for 0.70 miles of trail, connecting the Netcong Train Station to Arbolino Park via street sidewalks, wooded trail sections, and a boardwalk along Lake Musconetcong.
Rockaway Township – Egbert Lake Greenway
A $62,880 grant would fund the design of a 0.80-mile stone dust trail along a portion of the old Wharton & Northern Railroad. The project would connect to existing trails around Egbert’s Lake and serve as an early phase of the proposed West Morris Greenway.

Program Background and Context

The Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program was launched in 2016 following a 2014 voter referendum, in which residents approved the initiative by a 3-to-1 margin. Funding comes from the county’s Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, originally established in 1992 and later expanded to include historic and trail preservation.

“A referendum for the program was passed in 2014 by a 3-to-1 margin. The first time the trail committee provided funding recommendations was in 2016,” said Cass-Schmidt. “To date, 36 of 39 municipalities have received grants. This year, there are two new applicants: Dover and Rockaway Township.”

Since inception, the trail program has approved 61 grants supporting nearly 23 miles of trail construction and 13 miles of trail design. In 2021, a Design & Permitting category was added to help municipalities develop more accurate project plans and better estimate costs before seeking full construction funding.

Of the 12 municipalities that submitted letters of intent this year, eight were deemed eligible for grant funding. The projects were reviewed through site visits, technical evaluations, and revisions in collaboration with consulting engineers. New applicants in 2025 include Dover and Rockaway Township.

In line with recent updates, the county has also extended the timeline for Design & Permitting grants from two to three years to accommodate delays in state-level permitting, particularly from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Additionally, a new project management system, Monday.com, was implemented to increase transparency and communication between applicants, staff, and committee members.

The Commissioners will vote on the grant awards during their November 5, 2025 meeting. More information about the trail program is available on the Official Website of Morris County, N.J.