ORANGE : City’s Trail System to Get Aerial Study

The City Council has commissioned an aerial study of the city’s trails and taken the first step toward creating a master plan for the system.

The council unanimously approved spending $19,985 from the city’s reserve funds for aerial photography that will be used to update topographical maps of the city’s northern and eastern districts. The most recent maps of the areas date back to 1975 and city planners said new maps are necessary before a study of the trails can proceed.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of change in the last 16 years, particularly in East Orange,” said senior planner Mary Ann Chamberlain.

Residents have long complained that the city lacked a key to its trail system and warned that without a master plan, developers and private property owners could mistakenly build over the paths.

In January, the council directed staff to develop a master plan for all recreational paths in the city including horse, bike and hiking trails.

Chamberlain said there is no accurate record of the number or location of trails in the city.

This month, the council is expected to hire a consultant who will conduct the study at a cost of about $50,000, Chamberlain said. The consultants will check all trails and design new trails to fill gaps in the system.