Grant Awarded To Improve Trails At Koehler's Pond In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Washington Township is home to one of eight trail projects recommended for funding by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners as part of the county's Trail Construction Grant Program.

The Koehler's Pond loop trail, located off of Flocktown Road and Rock Road in Washington Township, will be receiving $7,760 as part of the grant program, officials said.

The grant program's goal is to provide recreational trail use opportunities that benefit communities and improve the quality of life for Morris County residents.

Koehler's Pond is currently home to a public fishing spot and a picnic area. The pond is not well marked from Rock Road, but the township police have used it for its annual fishing derby for many years.

During the County Commissioners' open work session in Morristown, Betty Cass-Schmidt, chair of the Trail Construction Grant Advisory Committee, presented the grant recommendations for 2022 after some consideration.

The presentation went into detail about the planned alterations to the Koehler's Pond loop trail, which include adding a .55 mile gravel and soil trail around Koehler's Pond. The trail's addition is primarily intended to serve hikers, walkers, and fishermen, with connector spurs linking each area.

The County Commissioners will vote on whether to accept the grant recommendation at their Dec. 21, 2022 meeting.

Since its inception, the Commissioner-appointed advisory committee has recommended 47 grant awards totaling 28 miles, with 21 of the projects completed.

"The program continues to build momentum. Each year we see new municipalities who had not previously participated, apply to the program. There are also municipalities returning to the program who have had success in previous years. Nine municipalities have received more than one grant," Cass-Schmidt said.

Funding for trail projects comes from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund, which was established in 1992 and later amended with voter approval in 2002 to create the Historic Preservation Fund.

In 2014, voters approved a ballot measure by a vote of 3 to 1, which would have modified the trust fund once more, allowing trail development as an approved use for a portion of the funds.

"The trail network we have been developing throughout Morris County offers an easy and accessible respite to everyone looking to get outside, exercise or even just to clear their head – by walking, jogging and riding bikes through our bucolic towns," said Commissioner Stephen Shaw, the board liaison to Morris County’s Office of Planning and Preservation.

If the proposed projects are approved by the County Commissioners next week, Morris County will have committed nearly $5 million to the establishment of 28.37 miles of trails in just seven years since the Trail Construction Grant program's inception in 2016.