Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to mark the completion of bollard project in Essex County, New Jersey

June 21, 2022
Cory Tiger, New Jersey Program Coordinator
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to mark the completion of bollard project in Essex County, New Jersey

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On Monday June 20, 2022, the Trail Conference celebrated the installation of new Lenape Trail bollards in Cedar Grove Park. In partnership with the Essex County Park System, 33 new bollards were installed along New Jersey's 36-mile Lenape Trail that connects 18 parks and 11 municipalities.

This projects represents the culmination of 10+ years of work by the Trail Conference to establish wayfinding bollards along the trail, connecting people in this densely-populated area with nature. Thanks to the dedication of our local volunteer committee, led by Supervisor David DeShazer, locations in need of navigational posts were identified, prioritized, and communicated to Essex County Parks.

In 2017/18, an award from Partners for Health supported efforts for increased trail planning, public workshops, and volunteer support for the trail – resulting in the first formal Trail Conference maps of the Lenape Trail and interactive digital guide. Organized by former Lenape Trail Field Manager, Debra Kagan, The Official Guide to the Lenape Trail acts as a key to exploring the Lenape Trail and the parks through which it traverses. The Guide includes detailed maps and expert input from local museums, historical societies, and nature centers to enrich the trail experience of county residents and attract new hikers, walkers, and volunteers.

The installations of the new bollards are the result of the ongoing dedication of Trail Conference volunteers, staff, and park partners to care for and improve the Lenape Trail.