PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is distributing $4.55 million to eight counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for connected trail enhancements.
Burlington County is receiving nearly $500,000. The first grant of $85,000 will fund a feasibility study for a 9-mile segment of the Rancocas Creek Greenway Trail from Rowan College to Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton.
The second grant of $400,000 will fund a portion of the engineering design costs for a 4-mile trail segment through Mount Laurel.
Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel said they hope to connect Medford to Mount Holly and Mount Laurel to Smithville Park, among many other projects.
“We’ve got a 13-mile extension of the Delaware River Heritage Trail from Florence south to Burlington Township. Burlington Township, Burlington City, Edgewater Park, Beverly, Delanco, some of those what we call river towns along the Route 130 corridor.”
The key, Eckel said, is ensuring the trails are accessible to everyone.
“Whether you’re walking, whether you’re not walking, whether you want to have bicycles, whether you need to have wheels under you in order to make you go, we want to make sure you have access to these natural systems.”
The trails will eventually join the Circuit Trails network, which connects local communities.
It's one of eight counties in NJ and Pa. receiving grants
It's one of eight counties in NJ and Pa. receiving grants
