MONTGOMERY: Loop trail work expected to begin this month

By Geena Molinaro, Special Writer
MONTGOMERY — Construction for a loop trail at Skillman Park is expected to start later this month, according to Somerset County Freeholder Deputy Director Mark Caliguire.
Principle planner of land acquisition for the county Thomas Boccino said he is still in the process of finalizing the start date with the contractors.
Brennan Brothers Contracting will construct a two-and-a-quarter-mile paved, loop trail and three new parking areas, according to the board.
The project should conclude in late October, and Park Commission director Raymond Brown said he hopes to have a ribbon cutting ceremony after the construction to officially open the park.
Mr. Caliguire said, "we’re looking forward to the opening of this much-anticipated trail that will provide the public’s first significant access to this property."
Already the park has had some visitors, even if it is not officially open to the public.
In June, cyclists competing in the Special Olympics got permission from the county to use the park for their races, Mr. Brown said. And Village Elementary School is located within the park grounds, he said.
To prepare for the athletes, the county paved Main Boulevard in early June, Mr. Brown said.
Montgomery Mayor Rich Smith said he thinks residents will enjoy using the trail for running, hiking and nature walks.
"This park is a beautiful resource," Mr. Caliguire said. "Anyone who remembers it as a dilapidated old state institution will be amazed at what the county Park Commission has achieved over the past couple of years."
Previously the land was used as a "Village for Epileptics" from the early to mid 20th century, according to Montgomery Township, and operated as a self-contained town with hospitals, farms, schools and other facilities. After the discovery of medicines for treating epilepsy, the facility was used as a psychiatric care facility until 1998, according to the township.
Montgomery Township purchased the property in 2007 and then sold 247 acres of land to the county in October 2011 for approximately $15.9 million, according to the township.
A planning committee formed in spring 2012 to look into the park’s development, according to the township.
The committee includes Montgomery resident Lysa Wilson, Montgomery resident Emad Abou-Sabé, Montgomery Open Space Committee member Clem Fiori, Somerset County Freeholder Director Patrick Scaglione, County Administrator Michael J. Amorosa and Mr. Caliguire, according to the board of freeholders.
In addition to constructing the new trail, there are other ongoing projects for the park as well.
The county also has plans to install new fencing and trees at the entrance of the park and around the cemetery, according Mr. Brown.
Members of Girl Scout Troop 236 in Montgomery initiated cleaning up the cemetery for their silver award, Mr. Brown said. The scouts worked for over a year on the project, he said, and helped the county with its vision for the site. The cemetery now has benches and there is a complete inventory of the plots, Mr. Brown said.
The county and the township are working together on a reforestation project at the site of a former structure, Mr. Brown said. They have cleared the site and are moving forward with the project, he said.
The county is also developing a wetlands restoration planting plan for the former Sylvan Lake impoundment area, he said.
The planning committee is continuing to look at other possible uses for the park, Mr. Brown said, but there is nothing the group is specifically looking into at this time.
The site has a lot of potential, he said, and turning the land into a park makes it "a tribute to the people who live there."
Montgomery is "extremely thankful for all that Somerset County is doing to create such a park in our community," Mayor Smith said.