Tell NJ Department of Environmental Protection to Prioritize Developing and Connecting Trails for Recreation and Active Transportation

The Department of Environmental Protection is updating its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP provides direction on funding policies and priorities, supports funding requests, and guides statewide, regional, and local strategic planning across New Jersey. This is an opportunity for advocates to have our voices heard on how the state plans and prioritizes funding for trails, parks, and outdoor recreation.

Open space, particularly trails and greenways, are essential infrastructure in providing safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable ways for New Jerseyans to move about their communities, engage socially, and recover mentally. They are also an increasingly essential piece of critical infrastructure as our region adapts to the worsening effects of climate change. This is especially important for residents in overburdened communities, many of whom do not have access to a motor vehicle.

Overall, we are asking for DEP’s plan to prioritize some of the following recommendations:

Develop a statewide strategic trails plan
Increase state funding for trails projects
Prioritize projects with active transportation elements (such as walking, cycling, micromobility devices, or public transit)
Establish universal design standards for open space circulation
Expand tree shade along circulation paths in at-risk communities
Prioritize the design of safe biking and walking trails which connect to public transit and town centers
Partner with secure bicycle parking and electric bike charging providers
Include shared-use trails in planned open spaces to promote environmental education and community engagement

We encourage you to include any additional comments you would like to add to the pre-written letter below.

Who You're Contacting

Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

P.O. Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625 US

Phone: 609-777-3373

What You’re Saying

Subject

Salutation

Dear members of the NJDEP Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee, [Decision Maker]:

Body

Priority Request -

In the SCORP, trails were the number one response to the survey question, “Which of those same features would you like to see more of in your local area?” Therefore, the plan should:

- Update the New Jersey State Trails Plan to enable government, nonprofit, and private land managers to better serve the needs of New Jersey’s trail users and local communities, improve community connectivity, and increase outdoor recreation and active transportation opportunities. 
 - Increase funding for trails.
 - Increase prioritization of projects with active transportation elements, such as an emphasis on accessibility via sustainable modes of transportation as a criteria for evaluating project priority.
 - Establish a stronger partnership with NJDOT on access to open space assets.

Comments on Principle 1 - Expanding high-quality open space and recreational opportunities for all New Jersey residents and visitors

- Replace the phrase “drive” with “bike ride” or similar phrasing.
 - The stated action “prioritize the removal of expansive impervious surfaces in the creation of parks” should be amended to include existing parks. 
 - Emphasize bicycle connections for areas with concentrated populations of young people (e.g. under the age of 16). 
 - Establish design standards for open space circulation that accommodate New Jerseyans with mobility impairments. 
 - More funding for trails, park and open space development, maintenance and improvement.

Comments on Principle 2 - Enhancing Climate Resilience and Sustainability Through Acquisition and Development of Open and Green Space

- Consider a goal or action to expand tree shade along circulation paths in at-risk communities.
 - Expand bicycle parking, repair stations, and/or electric bicycle charging and bike share stations.

Comments on Principle 3 - Empowering communities through investments in ecotourism
and outdoor recreation

- Include an action item emphasizing sustainable access and circulation plans for how ecotourists will reach sites.
 - Collaborate with NJDOT and NJTRANSIT to prioritize the design of safe biking and walking trails which connect to public transit and town centers.

Comments on Principle 4 - Embracing the role of technology in conservation and outdoor recreation

- The annually updated Statewide Trails Dataset is missing data, especially in the southern counties Cape May, Gloucester, Salem).
 - Include non-State-managed open space assets (especially trails and greenways) in DEP’s online trail map. 
 - Partner with secure bicycle parking and electric bike charging providers.
 - Install bicycle and/or pedestrian counters.
 - Partner with NJTRANSIT to provide better bicycle accommodation and universal access on buses, trains and stations.
 - An overlay of NJ Transit Bus Stops and rail stations should be added to outdoor recreation maps.

Comments on Principle 5 - Furthering equity and environmental justice through outdoor recreation

- Include an action item to evaluate accessibility options for state parks with regional significance.
 - Mention that Cramer Hill Waterfront Park is part of a larger envisioned 30-mile regional shared-use trail in New Jersey called the Delaware River Heritage Trail and the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway.
 - Create a statewide plan and priority list for new trail development, emphasizing Overburdened Communities, and actively pursue those localities to connect them with funding and planning assistance programs.

Comments on Principle 6 - Continuing commitments to stewardship and the conservation and restoration of biodiversity

- Include shared-use trails in planned open spaces as an accessible, low-impact way for park goers to experience natural habitats up-close.
 - Educational programming should partner with local community organizations and utilize inclusionary and equitable trail planning processes and programming to cultivate a sense of partnership and ownership for local residents.

Thank you for your attention to these important matters. Let’s remember that all of this occurs within the context of climate change. Ultimately, we need to reduce energy consumption, sequester carbon, restore habitats, cool our landscape, and absorb more stormwater.

Open space represents land that can be used for active transportation trips instead of driving, if it’s planned and designed well. This would pull more people into New Jersey’s public parks, with all the health and social benefits they offer. We look forward to working with NJDEP as it updates and eventually implements this exciting plan.

[Your name]
[Your email address]

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Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
1500 Walnut Street, Suite 1107, Philadelphia, PA 19102

215-BICYCLE (215 242-9253)

Tell NJ Department of Environmental Protection to Prioritize Developing and Connecting Trails for Recreation and Active Transportation

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