- Central Jersey Archives

MARLBORO — Some residents are torn between the benefits of easy access to fitness and the fear of strangers having easy access to their backyards.

A public meeting was held recently at Town Hall during which a representative of the Monmouth County Park System updated residents on the county’s plan to build the Henry Hudson Trail Extension through a portion of Marlboro, roughly parallel to Route 79.

"Our privacy and safety are a real concern," said one resident whose home is 35 feet from the proposed trail. "It’s good to connect neighbors, but people have already experienced minor theft and trespassing."

At present, the 9-mile Henry Hudson Trail runs from Atlantic Highlands to Aberdeen Township. The county entered into a 20-year lease agreement with NJ Transit in February 2001 to extend the trail 12 miles from the Matawan-Aberdeen train station south to Main Street in Freehold Borough. The trail will be built on an abandoned rail line that formerly connected Matawan and Freehold.

"Rails to trails is very common in other areas [of the country] because it is already a level and obstacle-free design," said Laura Kirkpatrick, public information officer for the Monmouth County Park System. "We’ve been addressing a lot of concerns with people one-on-one and thought it would be a good idea to speak to everyone at once."

She said park system representatives contacted people who live near the trail and held the April 29 meeting in Marlboro to address questions and concerns.

According to Kirkpatrick, the trail surface will be 10 feet wide and will eventually be paved with asphalt to accommodate bicycling, bird-watching, in-line skating and cross country skiing. An additional 2-foot-wide shoulder will also be provided.

The project will be completed in sections, according to Kirkpatrick. The park system began removing the rail bed in October 2001 and finished in June 2002. The design and permitting of bridge work at 12 locations is under way and the bridge work is expected to begin later this year. It is anticipated that some sections of the extension will open in June 2004.

Park system rangers from the Bayshore section will expand their regular maintenance to the trail extension as it opens, according to park system officials. This includes litter and brush removal, replacing signs, enforcing county park rules and regulations and other duties as required. The trail will be open from dawn to dusk.

According to park system planner Faith Hahn, there are six cases of realignments and deviations from the original trail extension plan. The deviations are due to privacy issues, safety issues and neighbors living very close to the trail’s right of way, among other issues, Hahn explained.

"We can only move forward with deviations if an alternate route is available," she said.

One case of a deviation is near the intersection of Route 79 and Wyncrest Road. The crossing of the trail and Route 79 has been moved farther south due to poor sight distance at the originally planned spot. The trail will cross Route 79 at the traffic light at Wyncrest Road, Hahn explained.

According to Hahn, there are also 23 street crossings of the trail.

"Where this happens we will provide signs, road-striping, a traffic safety sign and bollards [to preclude vehicular traffic] to ensure people’s safety," Hahn said.

There are four existing parking areas provided along the trail to allow access for those who are not close-by. With the trail extension, additional parking areas will be created at the Monmouth County Care Center, John L. Montgomery Division, Freehold Township; at Big Brook Park, Marlboro; and at the Matawan Community Center.

Susan Levine of the Marlboro Public Information Office asked a question on behalf of Mayor Matthew Scannapieco, who was not present at the public meeting.

"How many rangers will be added to patrol the trail?" she asked.

Kirkpatrick said the number of rangers is not known yet and will depend on the budget. She said park system officials have been in contact with the Marlboro police. Kirkpatrick said the police department’s bicycle patrol could help to patrol the parts of the trail near their current assignments.

Safety issues remain a concern for some residents, who still had their doubts about the plan at the end of the meeting.

"I feel a little better because they detoured around my property," said Garfield Dunn, "but I would still rather not see a trail."

Stephen Dick, chairman of the township’s environmental commission, supported the trail plan and said he did not see it as a threat to residents’ safety.

"Having a trail behind your house is just as dangerous as having a street in front of your house," he said.

Kirkpatrick said she believed the public meeting was effective in communicating to residents the purpose of the trail.

"It’s a very complex construction process and I think we were able to spell it out for the people there," she said. "We hope to get everything done sooner than later."

Questions and comments regarding this project and other park system facilities may be addressed to Laura Kirkpatrick, (732) 842-4000, Ext. 4256; Monmouth County Park System, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft 07738; or by email at [email protected] issues, safety issues and neighbors living very close to the trail’s right of way, among other issues, Hahn explained.