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Quality Parks (Port Jefferson, NY) - Quality Parks submitted a grant, proposing the Port Jefferson Coastal Trail, which will add approximately 7.25 miles of trails to Suffolk County. They will also try to connect this Trail to the trails extending from Stony Brook to Wading River, including the 100 mile Paumanok Path to Montauk Point. And they hope to also connect this Trail, via ferry, to Connecticut trails, including trails from Florida to Maine.
The proposed Port Jefferson Coastal Trail would begin in Centennial Park and continue along the coast to Crystal Brook Hollow Road. From there, Quality Parks hope the trail will continue to Little Portion Friary to the Mt. Sinai school district property and then to the Port Jefferson-Wading River Trail.
For pictures and maps - go to www.qualityparks.org - Quality Parks Guide - Hiking Trails.
Tangible conservation and outdoor recreation results expected include: 1) the existing use of the Crystal Brook Hollow Road (narrow and dangerous) will be moved off road and on to the Port Jefferson Coastal Trail, 2) improved public parking access, 3) increased communication, coordination and cross-support partnerships among trail stakeholders and the public, and 4) improved natural resource conservation, from establishing a horseshoe crab sanctuary to invasive species removal.
Quality Parks is communicating with the following (and will add more as they continue to contact interested stakeholders):
* East Coast Greenway - Check out there trail system here.
* Ecological Research & Development Group - Horseshoe Crab Sanctuaries
* Little Portion Friary - The Society of St. Francis
* Long Island Greenways and Healthy Trails
* Three Village Community Trust - Friends of The Greenway - great map
* Town of Brookhaven, Highway Department
Time Sensitivity
Two trails are converging one from Stony Brook going east to Port Jefferson, and one from Port Jefferson going east to Wading River. As this is happening right now and is being funded, Quality Parks believes it is the right time to seek grant funding to enable Long Island hikers reach Connecticut, and beyond by ferry. Until the grant award decision is made, Quality Parks will be posting news, and seeking additional grants and donations for trail planning, logistics, and field equipment. Of note, some of the grant money awarded to Quality Parks will go to partners to cover their material resource needs in appreciation of their volunteer labor support for the Port Jefferson Coastal Trail.
Quality Parks applies quality resources to solve conservation challenges. Stories to stimulate, encourage, educate and involve the general public in natural resource stewardship practices. For additional information, contact Mindy Block - mblock@qualityparks.org
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
