Burlington County is beginning to study another addition to its growing network of regional trails.
The County Commissioners voted last month to accept a $50,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to conduct a feasibility study of a 3.25-mile extension to the existing Kinkora Trail, one of the first regional trails the County created.
Currently, the Kinkora Trail travels 2.15 miles from Island Road in Mansfield’s rural farm belt to Mansfield Community Park in the village of Columbus. The study will examine extending the trail from the municipal park to the township’s Hedding section, where it will connect with a segment of the County’s Delaware River Heritage Trail through Florence, Mansfield and Bordentown.
Most of the new trail is expected to be 10-foot wide, asphalt, off-road paths reserved for walkers, runners, cyclists and wheelchairs.
“Burlington County already has one of the best trail networks in New Jersey with more than 50 miles of regional and interior parks trails, so we’re excited about this opportunity to further expand our system,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, the liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “Extending the Kinkora Trail will provide a direct link between Mansfield Community Park and the village of Columbus to the Heritage Trail, Crystal Lake Park and historic Roebling. It will enhance all these destinations and provide residents more options to safely move around our county and benefit from outdoor recreation.”
Like the existing Kinkora Trail, the proposed extension would predominantly follow the path of the former Kinkora Railroad line that once crossed Burlington County to carry soldiers and freight to Fort Dix during World War I and World War II. Burlington County completed the first segment of the trail using the old railroad right of way in 2016.
The County plans to extend the trail the full 13 miles of the former rail line’s right of way through Mansfield, Springfield and Pemberton Township.
“The Kinkora Trail was one of the first additions to our County trail network and we’re excited to move forward with planning and design to extend it further through Mansfield,” said Commissioner Randy Brolo. “Trails are smart investments that enhance quality of life, mobility, and pedestrian and bicycle safety in our county and communities. They are also proven to help boost economic growth and increase property values.”
The Kinkora Trail is one of several projects the County has undertaken to grow its network of safe, accessible pedestrian and bicycle trails and other accommodations throughout the county. More than $19 million in grants have been received and invested for these projects.
Some of the recent completed projects include:
- The first 4-mile segment of the Rancocas Creek Greenway Trail between Amico Island Park in Delran and Pennington Park in Delanco;
- A new 5.5-mile segment of the Delaware River Heritage Trail between Roebling and Bordentown City;
- A 2.2-mile accessible, asphalt trail around Arney’s Mount in Springfield, plus nearly 2.5 miles of equestrian turf trails and gravel “challenge trails” through the woods along the base of the mount.
There are also several more trail projects in various stages of planning and design. These include:
- An extension of the Rancocas Creek Greenway Trail from Pennington Park in Delanco across Route 130 to both Willingboro Lakes Park and Rainbow Meadow Park in Delran;
- A new trail in Willingboro to connect Willingboro Lakes Park with the municipality’s Mill Creek Park;
- Extension of the Delaware River Heritage Trail from Roebling through Florence, Burlington Township, Burlington City, Edgewater Park, Beverly and Delanco;
- A new segment of the Rancocas Creek Greenway Trail from Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton across Route 206 to the Birmingham section of Pemberton Township.
In addition to these projects, the County has also started studying possible routes for another 50 miles of trails through Mount Laurel, Moorestown, Evesham, Maple Shade, Medford, Tabernacle, Southampton and Shamong.
“Burlington County is a leader in preserving open space and we know the importance of having outdoor spaces that people of all ages can visit to relax, play, exercise and experience the beauty of our natural world and surroundings,” said Eckel. “Trails make these spaces accessible for everyone.”