JACKSON – Recreational users of the Purple Heart Trail in Jackson will soon have new amenities to enjoy.
A new information kiosk and a digital nature trail have been proposed for the Purple Heart Trail following the awarding of a $1,300 grant to the Jackson Environmental Commission by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), according to a press release.
The new kiosk to be funded by the grant will provide orientation and safety information to people using the Purple Heart Trail, which is in the township-owned Bunker Hill Bogs wildlife recreation area on East Veterans Highway.
The new self-guided digital nature walk will provide visitors with information about the history and wildlife of Bunker Hill Bogs, which is one of many former cranberry growing operations in Jackson.
A QR code on each sign will enable smart phone users to scan the code and link directly to the Jackson Pathfinders website (www.jacksonpathfinders.org) to read more while they are walking the trail.
The ANJEC Open Space Stewardship grant program provides grants of up to $1,500 each to New Jersey environmental commissions to support projects that advance local open space stewardship and raise awareness about the environmental commission’s role in the community, according to the press release.
The Jackson Environmental Commission is collaborating with the Jackson Pathfinders on the project. The Pathfinders is a community volunteer group that has been working to create, maintain and promote trails and open space in Jackson since 1999.
The ANJEC funded project will add new features to previous trail improvement work that was funded by a New Jersey Recreational Trail Program grant about 10 years ago. That project included the construction of a gravel parking lot, a birding platform, benches and a canoe/kayak launch area.
Construction of the new kiosk and digital sign stations will begin in the fall. Community members interested in helping with the project may contact the Jackson Pathfinders at [email protected] or attend a meeting on the third Thursday of the month (Aug. 18) at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building on West Veterans Highway.