County helps Trailblazers connect paths in Millstone New route around golf course good for horseback riding, mountain biking BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer MILLSTONE - The Monmouth County Park System (MCPS) has opened up a new, multiuse trail near the Charleston Springs Golf Course, thanks in part to a local equine trail advocacy group. Ken Thoman, a manager in MCPS' acquisitions and design department, said Monmouth County's efforts to construct a trail near the Route 524 golf course could be linked to the Millstone Trailblazers' "impressive local effort" to develop trails throughout Millstone and the area surrounding Charleston Springs. "They had presented to us their plans, and it included links to our holdings," Thoman said. "Although they did not participate in the actual construction, they did influence the implementation of this plan." Thoman said it took county workers approximately one month to build the trail. He said this is the first of three phases in the creation of a planned trail that will eventually have northerly and westerly connections. He said the MCPS will expand the trail to the area near Primavera Pizza on Route 537. The trail will not interfere with those playing on the golf course, according to Thoman. Thoman called the Trailblazers an inspiration to the county. He said MCPS will look to the Trailblazers "for a lot of help in developing the trails within our parks within this region." Audrey Ginolfi, the Trailblazers' secretary and the liaison to the MCPS, said the Trailblazers originally contacted the county four years ago to offer to construct the trail on the county's acreage. She said the group had reached out shortly after Millstone adopted a trails element in its master plan. Ginolfi said the Trailblazers were "surprised, impressed and happy" when Thoman recently informed the group that the plan is done and the trail is in place. Shortly after she found out that the trail was completed, Ginolfi and a friend took their horses for a ride on it. She praised the footing and said that the fields are great for conditioning a horse. "The MCPS always does a terrific job," she said. The county is also working in conjunction with the township and the Trailblazers to put trails at Perrineville Lake Park near Baird Road. Thoman said the North Branch trail at Perrineville Lake Park will connect with some Millstone Township trails. Perrineville Lake Park trails should be open by spring, but possibly earlier, according to Thoman. While Thoman said trails are ordinarily designed to be more exciting for mountain bikers, he has found through research that equestrians and mountain bikers tend to prefer the same types of trails. Because of the increased popularity of carriage driving, Thoman said he would also like to include some carriage-accessible trails in the MCPS. When asked about the illegal use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on county trails, Thoman said MCPS has found that the best solution is to have park rangers track down the area the ATVs are coming from and confront people directly. He said the parents of ATV trespassers often claim they are unaware of what their children are doing. He said ATV use on public roads in Millstone is an issue for the New Jersey State Police. Thoman said the county is incorporating design elements in its trails that restrict ATVs. The Millstone Trailblazers need volunteers to help clear and mark trails. For more information, contact Audrey Ginolfi at (732) 446-6863. The MCPS is planning to hold a trail volunteer day at Perrineville Lake Park on Oct. 7. For more information, call (732) 842-4000 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.