Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • March 7, 2012 Franklin Lakes New trails await hikers at nature preserve by Frank J. McMahon The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has cleared and blazed the two main trails at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve. The property is located at the corner of Ewing Avenue and High Mountain Road, with its entrance on High Mountain Road. One of the trails, the Preserve Shoreline Loop, is a 1.5-mile trail that circles the entire upper basin of the nature preserve. The other path, the Island Bridges Trail, is a half-mile trail that starts at the Preserve Shoreline Loop and extends into the scenic island areas. Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart advised that the NY-NJ Trail Conference, which has its main office in Mahwah, agreed to blaze and maintain the trails at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve so hikers could walk the perimeter of the upper basin of the property. He also told the council at a recent work session that a budget proposal for the construction of two pedestrian bridges along the Island Bridges Trail has been submitted. He is looking to obtain Bergen County Open Space Fund financing in order to move forward. Hart advised that those people using the trail will also find another new feature located adjacent to the dam and parking area: the informational kiosk that will contain maps and other nature preserve information. John Moran, who is chairman of the North Jersey Trails Committee of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, was instrumental in blazing the new trails. “Helping to build the trails at Franklin Lake Nature Preserve has been a wonderful experience, with more improvements to follow,” Moran said. “The preserve is truly an amazing crown jewel amid attractive surrounding suburbs. The big beautiful lake is an eye catcher, with fishing, birding, and picnic opportunities along with plenty of scenery for photography. The forests, islands, dikes, dams, and smaller ponds provide a wide variety of terrain and habitat to amble along with family and friends.” According to Moran, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has partnered with parks since 1920 to create, protect, and promote a network of 1,800 miles of public trails in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region. The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, formerly known as the Haledon Reservoir, was acquired by the Borough of Franklin Lakes from the Borough of Haledon in 2006. The property was opened to the public in June 2011. The preserve is a 120-acre site dedicated to hiking, fishing, and birding, and is open from dawn to dusk every day. Councilman William Smith, who is the chairman of the borough council’s Recreation and Parks Committee, encouraged the public to experience the new trails at the nature preserve. “When one considers the potential alternative uses of this property by private developers, I believe the permanent preservation of these beautiful 120 acres in Franklin Lakes was essential to maintain the character of this community. I am thankful for the foresight of former Mayor G. Thomas Donch and the public officials who negotiated the purchase and obtained the state and county grants which financed the majority of the cost. “I encourage everyone, especially anyone who still questions the decision, to spend a few hours on one of the trails now available to the public.”