New Lenape Trail Guide in the Works

November 05, 2018
News
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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New Lenape Trail Guide in the Works

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The Trail Conference is making the 34-mile Lenape Trail in Essex County, N.J., a destination for residents to explore the wide range of healthy outdoor activities found right in their own backyards. Thanks to generous support from the Partners for Health Foundation, over the last several years we have been able to make major trail reroutes that resulted in improved visibility, enhanced volunteer recruitment, and new partner connections all along the Trail. But that was just the beginning.

The multi-use Lenape Trail offers ample landmarks, destinations, and points of interest throughout Essex County. A simple trail sign cannot wholly describe these attractions; we found it necessary to create an in-depth guide to the Trail to motivate and inform users. In August, the Partners for Health Foundation renewed their support of our project with a $10,000 grant to create the Lenape Trail guide. With expert input from local museums, historical societies, and nature centers, the fully digital guide will enrich the Trail experience of county residents and attract new hikers, walkers, and volunteers. It is an essential tool for both promotion and consistent, stable management of the volunteer-maintained Trail.

We are looking forward to continuing our efforts to create a more sustainable, navigable, and well-maintained Lenape Trail. We thank the Partners for Health Foundation for allowing us to actively promote the wealth of usage opportunities along the Lenape Trail and make strategic infrastructure improvements to this unique semi-urban trail.