In 2011 and 2012, Hurricanes Irene and Sandy
impacted New Jersey with devastating force. With damage reaching proportions
that had never been realized in this region, recovery efforts have continued on
a large scale, years after the storms.
At the Somerset County Park Commission
Environmental Education Center (EEC), located at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking
Ridge, repair was required at one of the most beloved and biologically rich
stretches along the 9-mile trail system at Lord Stirling Park.
The 955-foot “Boondocks Boardwalk” trail was
severely damaged and remained closed to the public. The ‘Boardwalk’ is
considered by visitors to Lord Stirling Park as a treasure due to its
remoteness and solitude. It is also well known as an excellent spot for birding
and discovering wildlife.
Thanks to a cooperative effort that included
volunteer hands-on labor and significant support from the private sector, the
Boondocks Boardwalk finally re-opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the
morning of Thursday, April 26, 2018. As it winds through the Great Swamp, the
new structure is built in replaceable sections in the event of damage from
another catastrophic storm.
With labor contributed by the Somerset
County Volunteer Services “Handy Man Crew” and numerous others, and funding
from Investors Bank and the Somerset County Park Foundation, the “Boondocks
Boardwalk” is again open for public use. Additional support for the project
came from REI, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, United Way, and Enbridge.
The EEC is nestled within 500 acres of the western portion
of the Great Swamp Basin of the Passaic River. The variety of habitats of
floodplains, swamps, rivers, intermittent streams, marshes, meadows, and
natural and man-made ponds, fields, and forests provide homes for diverse plant
and animal populations in this environmentally sensitive park.
