Madison Recreation Center Accessible Trail
County of Morris
Morris County Commissioner Stephen H. Shaw joined Madison Mayor Bob Conley, members of the Madison Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Committee (OSRHP) and others recently cut the ribbon for a new, ADA-compliant trail.
Known as the Madison Recreation Center (MRC) Accessible Trail, the project was made possible through funding from the Madison OSRHP Fund and the Morris County Planning and Preservation Trail Construction Grant Program.
The paved pathway dedicated on June 3, National Trails Day, invites senior citizens and people with disabilities to enjoy nature and join the community at the Madison Recreation Center. Located near Madison High School, the complex includes playing fields, hiking trails, a rain garden and community garden, all of which can be accessed by the trail.
Visitors are invited to walk—or roll—along the six-foot-wide paved pathway through the forested allee, a .53-mile-long loop complete with benches and information kiosks. The trail connects to a footpath located in the wooded section of the park that was installed by Madison Borough in partnership with a local Boy Scout troop and corporate volunteers in 2016.
Access starts from Ridgedale Avenue at the main entrance of the Madison Recreation Complex or via the main parking lot located at the fields. The new trail exists among a handful of accessible trails throughout the county that offer access to nature for members of the community whose circumstances may limit them from fully utilizing the recreational lands.
“The trail was designed to be ADA-compliant with consideration for Madison’s senior citizens and residents who use wheelchairs at the neighboring Rehabilitation Center. It is also in close proximity to historical sites including Summerhill Park, Luke Miller House and Bottle Hill Historic District,” saidDenise Chaplick, Director of Park Planning and Development for the Morris County Park Commission.
The MRC Accessible Trail is one of three trails the Morris County Trail Grant program has supported in Madison, with the Commissioners awarding $130,540 in trail grants for this project in 2018. The board also approved $42,400 towards Summerhill Park trail (.93 miles) in 2017, as well as $196,000 towards Memorial Park trail phase 1 improvements (.37 miles) in 2021. To date, $368,940 in grants have funded 1.83 miles of Madison’s trails.
The county has issued more than $4.7 million to build and enhance a growing network of more than 28 miles of local trails since 2016, after voters overwhelmingly approved dedicating a portion of the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund annually toward recreational trail development.
