Commission hears Summit findings on accessible trails; debate over 10-foot federal standard

Commission staff summarized the outcomes of the Pinelands permanent land protection summit, which this year focused on creating accessible trails.

Tamara Malm, a land specialist, told the committee the summit drew roughly 14 organizations and included presentations from Green Acres, the PPA’s 'Access for Everyone' pilots and the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference. She said organizers offered Zoom participation to expand attendance and that the summit included a case study from Stafford Township, which built an accessible trail under a memorandum of agreement.

Roundtable discussions covered trail materials (from low-impact raking trails, crushed stone and local gravel to more engineered options such as boardwalks or pavement), natural-resource impacts (erosion, stormwater, watershed context) and accessibility documentation. Tamara summarized the purpose: “how could we ask the applicant to demonstrate that they considered accessibility or demonstrate that the project is to accomplish, to to improve accessibility,” recommending community engagement and use of census or DEP overburdened-community data.

Commissioners pressed staff about federal funding that can require a 10-foot paved trail. One commissioner said such standards “are excessive” for wetland settings and risk creating road-like corridors; staff said forest-service guidance cited a 4-foot minimum with bump-outs as an alternative. The committee discussed whether the commission should draft clear standards or a CMP amendment to clarify when paved, wide trails would be allowed.

Staff said they will compile the summit feedback into a formal summary and consider whether a CMP amendment is appropriate to enable accessible trails without harming wetlands.