Sandwiched between two sports complexes at the corner of Church and Hartford roads in Medford is a large, undisturbed wooded area.
The area may not look like much from the road, but for a group of local residents, it is the perfect place to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the outdoors.
A group of volunteers has begun construction of a trail system known as the Hartford Crossing Trails. Once completed, the system will provide local residents with a place to walk, hike and ride bikes.
Larry Macdonald, owner of the Wheelies bike shop in Medford, came across Hartford Crossings a few years ago.
“I was riding my bike through there one day and thought this would be the perfect place for trails,” Macdonald said.
Matthew Keane, the chairman of the township’s Environmental Affairs Advisory Committee, and Macdonald have been planning the trails for more than two years. The first work on the trails began on Nov. 9.
“That was the first kickoff clean up,” Keane said. “We had some individuals out there laying out the trails. We had a little over 20 people come out.”
Macdonald said he would like residents to have a wooded area for hiking and biking since there are very few in the area.
“I’ve always been looking for places to ride around here,” Macdonald said. “There are a few, but a lot of them are restricted to private property.”
The Hartford Trails project is something Keane is also passionate about. Keane had previous experience with laying out trails in areas of the Pine Barrens.
“We used to lay out courses, and as part of laying that out, we had to mark some of the trails,” Keane said.
Keane has mapped out a trail system to wind through the Hartford Crossing area in between the two Medford Youth Athletic Association sports complexes. He got some help from deer trails running through the woods. There is also a path through the area connecting the Church Road sports complex to the Hartford Road complex.
“You could see deer trails and that’s how cutout trails start,” Macdonald said. “Matt had more experiences with the woods. He was able to lay out a nice intertwining trail system.”
So far, the group has completed three-quarters of the northern section. Once the section is completed, work will begin on the southern section. Once completed, the trails will be available for use to any members of the public.
“Our main impetus is mountain biking,” Keane said. “Any type of low impact use would be welcome there. If it’s gas powered, it’s not for this area.”
The group is working with the township, residents, businesses and church organizations to get the project done. Any area residents are invited to join cleanup sessions. Future cleanups will be posted on the group’s Facebook page, “Hartford Crossing Trails Medford NJ.”
In addition to manpower, Macdonald said they are looking for residents who can donate equipment such as debris cutters as well as people with experience on a chainsaw to remove larger stumps and trees.
Down the road, the group has bigger plans to possibly designate the area as a park and get help from grants to maintain it.
“I’m hoping to team up with MYAA,” Macdonald said. “Now that we’ve opened things up a little bit, we might be able to get grants to work on the natural part and also work on the facilities at the whole Hartford Crossings.”
The volunteer group will host a clean-up and trail building session on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. All area residents are welcome to attend.
