GROUND BROKEN FOR LINEAR PARK;
RECREATIONAL TRAIL CONSTRUCTED FOR WALKERS, BIKERS, JOGGERS
BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP - The start of construction of Ocean County's 15.6-mile linear park known as the Barnegat Branch
Trail was celebrated today with a groundbreaking ceremony.
"Today we mark the beginning of a great project," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly. "This is a project that
can be enjoyed by all of our residents."
Freeholder Deputy Director James F. Lacey, a staunch supporter of the project known as the rail trail, said the
linear park which will follow the route of the Barnegat Branch Division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey will provide
a unique recreational trail experience to thousands of residents and visitors.
"I am so pleased to be here today to mark the beginning of the construction of this park," Lacey said. "It has been
a long time in coming but I know the wait will truly have been worth it."
Joining with Freeholder Lacey to break ground were members of the Board of Freeholders, and officials representing
the towns along the trail.
The trail begins in Barnegat Township and will run through Waretown, Lacey Township, Berkeley Township, and proceed
north into Toms River Township.
The first section of the trail, which begins at Burr Street and Railroad Avenue, here, is expected to be completed
by the end of the year.
The first 6,000 feet of the trail is being constructed by Highway Safety Systems Inc., Hammonton. The contract in the
amount of $414,838 was awarded by the Board of Chosen Freeholders during its Sept. 5 regular meeting.
Under the contract, Highway Safety Systems Inc. is constructing a 10-foot wide recreational trail that can be used
by walkers, joggers and bicyclists. The contractor will grade the area and install a 6-inch thick trail consisting of
gravel with a stone dust surface. Safety crossings will be installed at Rose Hill Road and also at Barnegat Boulevard,
both here. The project also includes the installation of fencing, benches and bike racks.
"The trail follows the existing right of way of the former Barnegat Branch Division of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey," Lacey said. "The Barnegat Branch Trail will be a tremendous asset to Ocean County, providing residents and
visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the County's history, communities and culture."
Lacey recently unveiled the Barnegat Branch Trail conceptual plan prepared by Strauss and Associates, Trenton, and Melillo
and Bauer Associates, Manasquan. The plan recognizes that the Barnegat Branch Trail is a work in progress.
"Some segments of the trail will be open before the entire trail is complete and it's all connected into a linear park,"
Lacey said.
The trails southern terminus is at Burr Street in Barnegat Township and the northern terminus is near Water Street in the
vicinity of the bus station in Toms River Township.
For planning purposes the trail is divided into three segments - from Burr Street in Barnegat Township to Country
Lane, Waretown, consisting of about 2.6 miles; from South Street in Lacey Township to the Berkeley-Beachwood boundary,
which totals about 4.4 miles and from Country Lane, Waretown to South Street in Lacey Township totaling about 6.6 miles.
The primary surface finish will be a stone dust surface finish.
The plan also calls for a number of trail facilities including community centers, comfort stations, trail signage and
historical exhibits.
Any facilities constructed by Ocean County would be built in a style reminiscent of passenger and freight stations that
once served Barnegat Township, the Forked River section of Lacey Township, the Pinewald section of Berkeley Township and
Toms River. The plan also proposes several comfort stations, either co-located with community centers or as stand-alone
facilities stationed along the trail.
"This will be a tremendous addition to the Ocean County Parks Department," said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who
serves as liaison to the Parks Department. "It has such a tremendous value because of its proximity to many of our other
parks and recreational facilities."
Several Ocean County parks and county natural land areas are located within walking or bicycling distance of the Barnegat
Branch Trail including Lochiel Creek in Barnegat Township, Berkeley Island County Park, Wells Mills County Park in
Waretown and Enos Pond County Park in Lacey Township.
"This trail not only offers the user the opportunity to see nature at it's best in Ocean County, it offers access to Ocean
County's premiere park sites," Bartlett said. "It's a perfect combination."
In addition to the many ballfields, playgrounds and wooded parks located in proximity to the proposed trail, there are
also numerous public beaches, municipal piers and wharfs located nearby or within bicycling distance.
"I believe our residents and visitors will be happy with this recreational experience," Lacey said. "We also are planning
the trail with an eye toward safety. We want to make sure those using the trail can do so comfortably so we are making
sure that the plan includes security and safety measures."
In October 2002, Ocean County purchased 8.8 miles of the old railroad in three towns - Berkeley, Ocean and Barnegat
townships. This purchase was supplemented in 2004 when Lacey Township granted to Ocean County an easement over its
4.8-mile trail segment. Coupled with the existing bike path in Beachwood and the incorporation of a dedicated bike lane
along Flint Road in South Toms River, the completed trail will span 15.6 miles from Barnegat Township to Toms River
Township.
"The Barnegat Branch trail is readily accessible to the almost 170,000 residents of the seven host municipalities and
will be within a short drive of Ocean County's population of almost 600,000," Lacey said. "As the county's population
grows, the Barnegat Branch Trail will play an increasingly vital role in meeting recreational and alternative
transportation objectives."
Upon completion, the Barnegat Branch Trail will join the list of 43 existing and proposed rail trail projects across New
Jersey.
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