Boondocks Boardwalk at the EEC Re-opens

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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.