The Camden County Freeholder Board’s Division of Environmental Affairs will hold a public input session to solicit feedback from Camden County citizens, commuters, and visitors regarding the formation of a multi-use trail spanning from the Camden waterfront to the Atlantic County line.
“We know as a community that the more options to get outside and enjoy our green space and parkland the more we can enhance the quality of life for our residents,” said Freeholder Jeff Nash, liaison to the Division of Environmental Affairs. “The Freeholder Board has made advocating and expanding parks and trails throughout the region a priority. This public policy initiative is another opportunity for residents to get out of their cars and back into nature on foot or a bike. Whether it’s a daily commute to work or riding for recreation, these trails will provide a sustainable option for residents.”
Camden County will host an open house public input session on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lindenwold Municipal Building, 15 N. White Horse Pike, Lindenwold. At the open house, residents may stop by at any time to view maps of the county’s preliminary route, and comment on the various alternatives being reviewed. Surveys will be on hand for attendees to do on-site or take home and there will also be an interactive map, where citizens can leave geographic-specific notes on routes or potential concerns.
In 2015, Camden County adopted a Bicycling & Multi-Use Trails Plan, which depicts approximately 500 miles of multi-use trails and on-street bicycling facilities in every borough and township in the county. In order to jump start the implementation of this ambitious plan, county officials have tentatively established a “Cross County Trail,” which will start in the city of Camden on the Delaware River waterfront, and run approximately 32-miles to the Atlantic County line.
The Cross County Trail would act as a “spine” to which future trails and bike lanes can connect to and off of. Camden County has hired a planning and design team led by The RBA Group to assist the county with the trail feasibility study, which will include determining final design and construction costs, potential user demand, and economic impact analysis. The county has identified a route that uses as many existing trails and as much publicly owned lands as possible.
“Gathering input from our residents and commuters will be crucial as we determine the final location of the Cross County Trail,” Nash explained. “This trail will be owned by the people of Camden County. We want the vested interest of the people as we finalize the route, so gathering their input now will be important moving forward.”
Camden County will also host two “pop-up” input sessions throughout December. The pop-up sessions will be held at the WinterFest Ice Skating Rink at 5300 N. Park Drive in Pennsauken on Sunday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m.
More information regarding the Cross County Trail can be found at www.camdencounty.com/trails. Information from the public meetings, as well as links to the survey will be posted to the website after Dec. 1 for those who cannot attend.
