Minutes 2/5/2004

Trails Council Meeting
February 5,2004

1. Trails Council Chair Gary Haugland called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. at the Trail Conference office in Mahwah , N.J. Present were: Gary Haugland - Chair, Larry Wheelock - Trails Director, Ed Goodell - Executive Director, Richard Benning - Trail Lands Acquisition Specialist, Naya Barahona - , Bob Boysen, Larry Braun, John Blenninger, Jim Canfield, Ken Card, Daniel D. Chazin, Ellen Cronan, David Day, Walt Daniels, Duncan Douglas, Jack Driller, Jakob Franke, Suzan Gordon, Martin Grossman, Pete Heckler, David Hogenauer, Bob Jonas, John Mack, Bob Marshall, John Moran, Sandy Parr, Trudy Pojman, Monica Resor, Trudy Schneider, Ike Siskind, Brian Sniatkowski, Phyllis Stewart, Pete Tilgner, Bob Ward, Dick Warner.

2. Minutes . The minutes of the Trails Council meeting of December 4, 2003 were approved as submitted.

3. Announcements . The following announcements were made:

a. Trail Maintenance Workshop . Gary Haugland announced that a Trail Maintenance Workshop will be held on April 17 th and 18 th at Hubbard Lodge, in the northeast quadrant of Routes 9 and 301, in Fahnestock State Park .

b. Training for Supervisors . Gary Haugland announced that training for supervisors will be held on Sunday afternoon, March 7 th at the Trail Conference office. He asked all trails chairs to inform him of the names of supervisors who could benefit from this training.

c. Trail/Road Head and Crossing Survey . Larry Wheelock announced that more volunteers are needed to assist in the trail/road head and crossing survey being conducted by Lanny Wexler.

d. "Visibility Volunteers ." Walt Daniels noted that the Trail Conference is a founding member of the group entitled Hikers for Clean Air, which was formed to deal with problems of air pollution in hiking areas. He pointed out that he recently attended a conference on this subject in Washington , D.C. , at which he was informed of an effort by another hiking club to recruit "visibility volunteers," where hikers wave special sheets of paper into the air, which change color depending on the extent of air pollution in the area. Walt Daniels stated that this program is being expanded, and that additional details will be provided to the Trails Council when they become available.

4. Hasenclever Iron Trail . John Moran noted that this trail had been proposed by the late John Deeks. He explained that the trail - named for ironmaster Peter Hasenclever - largely follows historic roads that connect Ringwood Manor with Long Pond Iron Works, including the Peter's Mine Road , and that it passes various historic sites and ruins. He stated that the trail is about six miles long, that it would be blazed yellow, and that a major portion of the trail crosses the section of Sterling Forest purchased by Passaic County as parkland and now administered by the New Jersey office of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. John Moran also noted that interpretive signs would be posted to highlight points of historical interest along the trail.

John Moran outlined the proposed route of this trail. In response to a question, he pointed out that, at present, there is some illegal use of the trail route by ATV's and mountain bikes, and that park officials would have to deal with this improper use. In response to concerns raised by several delegates regarding open mine shafts near the trail, Larry Wheelock stated that none of these shafts are immediately adjacent to the trail. Concerns were also raised regarding the possible disturbance of bats in caves near the trail. Larry Wheelock commented that we have obtained natural heritage data for tracts along the trail from the state, and that the trail route would be walked by our Science Director, Edwin McGowan, in the spring. John Moran noted that the Friends of Long Pond Iron Works group has been in contact with residents in the Peter's Mine area, that the trail does not approach their homes, and that they are cooperating with the planning for the trail. Larry Wheelock commented that the local residents should be involved so that they can help prevent illegal uses in the area.

Concerns were raised regarding the enforcement of regulations by the various parks traversed by the trail, and comments were made that these enforcement considerations should be addressed while planning the construction of the trail. John Moran stated that we have been working closely with Ringwood State Park to address such concerns.

After discussion, the proposal to establish this trail was approved by an overwhelming vote, with one negative vote and one abstention.

5. Trail Lands Acquisitions in New Jersey . Richard Benning, Trail Lands Acquisition Specialist, outlined the Trail Conference's efforts to create trail corridors which would connect various parks in northern New Jersey . He reported that he recently met with officials of the New Jersey Green Acres program and stated that they were very supportive of our proposals and indicated that they would be able to supply matching funds towards this project. Ed Goodell noted that the Green Acres program has compiled maps showing open space corridors that are undeveloped and could be used to connect trails, and that this has formed the basis of our program to protect these trail corridors. Richard Benning showed the Trails Council details of several specific proposals and stated that we are requesting $500,000 from Green Acres towards this project (which sum has to be matched by contributions from the Trail Conference or other sources).

Comments were made that efforts should be made to ensure that parking areas are provided for hikers on the new trails being planned.

6. Multi-Use Trails . There was a general discussion regarding multi-use trails and the Trail Conference's relationship to such trails. Duncan Douglas commented that most trails in Morris County parks were constructed by bicycle groups rather than hikers, and that there has been cooperation between various trail user groups in Morris County . Walt Daniels stated that an important reason for hikers and bicyclists to work together is to counteract ATVs. Bob Jonas expressed the view that it is difficult for hikers and bicyclists to work together, and he stated that he is opposed to the Trail Conference adopting any multi-use trails. Bob Boysen commented that although High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest allow bicycles on many trails, there is very little use of trails in these parks by bicyclists. Larry Braun noted that bicyclists have not been caused problems on trails in West Hudson North, and he also stated that the use of carriageways in Minnewaska by bicycles has not led to abuses. Larry Wheelock commented that most bicyclists want to ride on trails near their homes, with the result that the most significant conflicts between hikers and bicyclists have occurred in heavily populated areas.

After further discussion, it was agreed that a committee, consisting of Walt Daniels, Duncan Douglas, Peter Heckler and Brian Sniatkowski would be asked to review the Conference's proposed multi-use trail policy and report back to the Trails Council.

7. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel D. Chazin

Secretary

V3 Last updated: July 21, 2005   Copyright © 1996-2008  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.