By MICHAEL BAUTISTA
South Jersey Climate News
A proposed multi-use path dubbed the Dinosaur Trail is under consideration by Gloucester County and will connect the towns of Glassboro, Pitman and Mantua.
The trail will also serve as the backbone of the county’s broader network, with safer options for walking, jogging and biking. It would also connect to the nearby Glassboro-Elk,, Chestnut Branch and Glassboro-Williamstown trails and the larger Circuit Trails system throughout the Philadelphia region.
The trail’s name comes from pre-historic excavation sites in the area, including the Edelman Fossil Park and Museum in Washington Township and Ceres Park, where the first tyrannosauroid fossil was unearthed in 1866.
Dr. Kenneth J. Lacovara, founding executive director of the fossil park, said the trail represents more than just a transportation initiative.
“From our standpoint at the museum, what’s exciting is that it creates a different kind of connection,” he explained, “not just by road, but by bringing people through the landscape itself and connecting communities all along the way.”
Officials in the county – in partnership with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission – are developing three potential routes for a 3-to-5-mile trail. The project’s first public information meeting in March drew an engaged crowd that expressed both enthusiasm and concerns.
Planners behind the project say the trail will provide a wide range of benefits, including increased recreational opportunities, economic development and improved quality of life. For Rowan University students, the trail will offer a direct, low-impact route from the main campus to the fossil park, making it a more integrated part of campus life.
“I think it’s a nice idea to provide an alternate path to the museum, especially for those who are conscious of the environment,” noted Matthew Owens, an art education major at Rowan University.
One feature under consideration is the inclusion of educational elements along the route, which would turn the trail into an extension of the museum experience itself.
“I think that would be terrific,” Lacovara opined. “It would be wonderful if the story began before people even got to the museum.”
Residents at the March meeting also raised concerns about route options and their long-term impacts. Within particular neighborhoods, privacy – in particular from residents whose properties back up to the trail – was one of those concerns.
County Commissioner Matthew Weng said community concerns are already shaping the next phase of the planning process.
“That’s exactly the kind of local insight that helps us improve the plan,” he maintained. “The purpose of these meetings is to listen and learn from the community so we can refine the concepts.”
Residents also raised questions about environmental impacts on wetlands and wildlife habitats, and the accuracy of proposed tour maps.
Weng also said flooding concerns near the Chestnut Hill branch have already been discussed with local officials, including Pitman Mayor Michael Razze.
“From the start, we’ve taken a very thorough look at environmental factors,” Weng said. “That includes wetlands, streams, wildlife habitats, flood-prone areas, and even air and noise impacts.”
Safety concerns surrounding the Route 55 alignment have also been part of the conversation. Weng said the current conceptual design includes the possibility of a concrete barrier combined with fencing to separate trail users from highway traffic.
For those unable to attend the March meeting, county officials have made presentation materials publicly available and opened a 30-day feedback period, allowing residents to weigh in through an online survey. Weng emphasized that the county has not selected a final route for the project and still expects significant changes to be made based on public feedback.
The county plans to hold another public outreach this summer, including a second public information meeting in July. Updates and meeting dates are expected to be posted on the county website and the project’s Facebook page.
Weng believes the public process will help yield a positive result.
“The Dinosaur Trail has the potential to fill an important gap in our trail network,” he predicted, “and give residents more options for getting around, whether that’s commuting, exercising or just enjoying the outdoors.”
This story was originally published in South Jersey Climate News through the New Jersey News Commons.
