Bayshore Trail Opens

Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast officially opened the Bayshore Trail at a ribbon cutting ceremony held in conjunction with the towns Earth Day activities, on Saturday April 25th at the trail’s opening at the eastern end of the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor.

The 1.8 mile trail which is open to both foot and bike traffic provides a level passage between Atlantic Highlands and Highlands without subjecting travelers to the daunting obstacles that are the hills of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands. The scenic trail makes its way from the Atlantic Highlands Harbor, runs along the waterfront, and ends at Pompamora Park, more commonly known as Murray’s beach, in Highlands After 22 years of planning, revision’s, more planning, construction, and finally completion, Rast stood side by side with the 4 previous town mayors whose diligence and perseverance paved the way through many a obstacles, and made the ribbon cutting possible. “I’m just the lucky guy who was at the helm when it was finished” said Rast. Rast commended the hard work of Former Mayor’s, Helen Marchetti, Bob Schoeffling, Mike Harmon, and Pete Donoghue. “There was a lot of effort and coordination over the 22 years.” The trail opening ceremonies included a plaque presentation from Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, which dedicated April 25th as Bayshore Trail day of Monmouth county “Could you ask for a more beautiful day to celebrate Earth Day and the opening of this beautiful trail?” asked Burry as the sun shone brightly and temperatures rose to the mid eighties. “This is the only part of the Henry Hudson trail that runs directly along the water, and it will be part of the scenic highways of Monmouth County.” Former state assembly man Joe Azzolina was attended there for event. The trail is a reinvention of a route he took while in school. “Over the years I’ve commuted by train along this same route from Highlands to Atlantic Highlands High School” said the Highlands native “later I took the train to the boat into the city for college, I’d study on the boat, it all has come full circle.” The trail’s surface consists mostly of crushed quarry stone, but also includes 6 wooden footbridges, the longest of which measures 600 feet in length, and a ¼ mile paved surface section located at the mouth of the Atlantic Highlands Harbor. It makes its way through varying landscapes, including wooded wetlands and both sandy and rocked beaches, and provides views of Sandy Hook, the Verrazano Bridge and the boats at mooring in the harbor. “There’s nothing like this on the bay shore”, said former Atlantic Highlands town councilman Steve Noonan, “you’re really out in nature here.” Noonan worked with Marchetti on the initial trail plans back in the 1980’s “It’s great to see it finally completed.” Paul Boyd, Chair Person of AH’s environmental commission coordinated the Earth Day events “this morning we had a 30 person cleanup” the major prize of which were numerous tire’s pulled from along the trail way. “After wards we will hold a Beach Event, which includes a shell talk and seining, as well as a Trail Event, waterfront walk 6 guides, ½ the trail, learn about the historical events from 50 years ago and ½ million years ago.” The ceremonies drew hikers and bikers from both near and far. Bicycle rider Johnny Edwards is a frequent user of the Henry Hudson trail system and on this day made the 3 hour trek from Freehold, “it was a nice ride, I use the trail all the time on the southern extension, from Freehold to Marlboro, I know most of it already and I’m looking forward to the connection.” Rast hopes that the trail will be yet another aspect of the town which will draw in visitors to Atlantic Highlands. “It’s all part of us trying to make Atlantic Highlands a destination place” said Rast, “this is another attraction with which we can draw people into town in the future, whether it be bikers from Keyport or tourists from places like New York City.” The trail will also hold more practical benefits as well. “We’ve been waiting for it” said Gateway National Park employee Bob Wood who was on bicycles along with his two children Kyle and Kylee, “it will be my mode of transportation this summer.” The trail will enable Wood to avoid the beach traffic that has been compounded by the Sandy Hook bridge construction, “it’s a nightmare trying to get out of there.” The cost for the project totaled $1.2 million. $566K thousand came via a DOT grant, $300k from a Monmouth County bike way grant, $125K Monmouth county open space program, and $300k from Atlantic Highlands taxpayers. Work on the trail was performed by Compass construction. “The project is complete, now Compass is just going through the punch list.” said Atlantic Highlands Town Administrator Adam Hubeny. The punch list includes “general cleanup, regrading portions of the trail prone to wet spots, and repair of the Hilton Station steps” a remnant of the railway on which the trail runs and which provides public access near the trail’s halfway point. Aside from a small section of the trail which will be maintained by the Atlantic Highlands Harbor commission the trail will be maintained and patrolled by the Monmouth County Park System.