June 26, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Mahwah Community can help conference meet challenge by Frank J. McMahon In an effort to qualify for a $500,000 grant from the Bolger Foundation of Ridgewood, the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference is working to raise $1 million in additional funds to restore and expand the Darlington Schoolhouse. The building is located on Ramapo Valley Road at the end of Darlington Avenue in Mahwah. Edward Goodell, the executive director of the trail conference, has advised that about $1.2 million of the estimated $2.5 million needed for the total renovation of the building has been raised thus far. The Bolger Foundation has challenged the trail conference to raise another $1 million by Nov. 1. If the conference raises that amount of money on its own, the foundation will make a $500,000 gift to complete the funding of the renovation project. The plan, Goodell said, includes the restoration of the structure and the architectural elements of the building to create a 21st century workplace for the trail conference, which will operate out of this site. Goodell pointed out in a recent press release that the trail conference engages thousands of trained volunteers to maintain trails in 20 counties in New Jersey and New York. He said those volunteers donate 70,000 hours annually working with public agency land managers to protect public open space and make it accessible. “Many people are surprised to learn that state and local governments rely on the nonprofit trail conference to help maintain park trails,” Goodell explained, adding that the organization currently does not have adequate space to train its volunteers. “The Darlington Schoolhouse will serve as an indoor and outdoor training center and a gateway to the vast network of accessible trails,” Goodell stated, “and it will help us serve more than one million people who rely on the trail conference for maps and other services.” Goodell is seeking the public’s help in this effort. He said, “We are asking everyone who values conservation service learning, access to open space, and the preservation and re-use of historic buildings to join with us to meet the Bolger Challenge. The response to our efforts to date has been enormously positive and we are confident we will meet this challenge.” According to Goodell, all gifts are fully tax deductible and naming gift opportunities at the restored schoolhouse are being made available. “We welcome your help to reach out to your friends and neighbors to help us meet this challenge,” Goodell told the public. The Mahwah Zoning Board of Adjustment recently approved a use variance and several waivers from the requirements of the township’s zoning ordinance, along with a site plan, to permit the trail conference to transform the schoolhouse into a headquarters. (continued on page 17)