Jungle Habitat Trail Revitalization Project Begins

December 01, 2020
News
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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Jungle Habitat Trail Revitalization Project Begins

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The New Jersey Park Service is revitalizing the trail network at the former Jungle Habitat in West Milford. The project will improve trail conditions and connectivity, as well as contiguous trails in Long Pond Ironworks State Park and northern Norvin Green State Forest. Project partners include the Trail Conference and the Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA).

The Trail Conference will work on blazing brand-new loop hike options to expand the trail network connecting Long Pond Ironworks and Norvin Green and will work alongside JORBA on the construction of a new connector trail. This plan preserves the majority of Norvin Green and Long Pond Ironworks as foot traffic only, with a new multiuse loop extending from the former Jungle Habitat site. This new multi-use loop mostly incorporates existing woods roads and a new section of trail to be built with bicycles in mind, so hikers should see little effect on the existing blazed trail network. “As New Jersey State Parks worked on a plan to integrate the multi-use Jungle Habitat trail network and the adjacent single-use trail networks at Norvin Green and Long Pond Ironworks, they included all the right stakeholders,” said Trail Program Manager Peter Dolan. “We’re happy to have had the opportunity to strategize and discuss every aspect of the plan with Trail Conference and JORBA representatives—both staff and volunteer leaders—at the table. The final plan, co-written by both organizations, results in expanded opportunities for all trail users and opens up a wealth of new hikes in the historically underutilized area. Special thanks to Trail Conference North Jersey Chair Chris Connolly, JORBA President Tom Hennigan, and JORBA/Trail Conference volunteer leaders Art and Ellen White for bringing this plan to fruition in such a cooperative fashion.”

Scouting of the new trail section has already begun, and reblazing of existing paths is underway.

To view the map of proposed changes, please click here.