One of the larger new industrial parks in Morris County is about to open for business in one of its smallest towns The Lincoln Equities Group on Tuesday announced the "unveiling" of Lincoln Logistics Morris Plains comprised of nearly 500,000 square feet of space divided between two warehouses off Tabor Road (Route 53) replaces a business campus that was once part of Big Pharma's sizeable corporate presence in the county The buildings demolished there were most recently owned by Johnson & Johnson and before that by Pfizer and Warner-Lambert part of a history that dates back to the 1950s "It's been quite a while and we're excited to welcome them to the community," said Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr Karr was unaware whether any leases had been signed for the property to date but he said construction was complete and "they received their certificate of occupancy." Inside Lincoln Logistics Morris PlainsThe two rectangular buildings now dominate the stretch of Route 53 connecting Route 10 to Speedwell Avenue and downtown Morris Plains The 66-acre parcel also includes a newer office building PCCP LLC and Vision Real Estate Partners acquired the properties in 2018 for an undisclosed sum. Plans that year to build a fragrance factory at the location were abandoned after fierce opposition from the public flooded planning board meetings with protesting crowds one covering about 225,000 square feet and the other 270,000 Each building features 40-foot clear ceiling heights 35 dock doors (facing each other) and parking for cars and trailers “Our vision was to deliver a state-of-the-art industrial park that will set a new standard for design efficiency and connectivity in the region,” Lincoln Equities CEO Lance Bergstein said in the announcement "With its strategic location and best-in-class infrastructure this project is well positioned to support the evolving needs of a wide range of users across e-commerce Too much warehouse space?The Morris Plains site is opening after a boom in warehouse building in New Jersey and amid signs the need for such space may have already peaked. The share of unused capacity in Garden State warehouses reached its highest level in more than a decade last year thanks to a surge in construction combined with economic uncertainty over the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs demand for shipping and storage has also slipped back toward pre-COVID levels The real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield said in an early January report that the warehouse vacancy rate in northern and central New Jersey at the end of last year was 9% the highest since the first quarter of 2013 The firm noted a “surge in new supply” of 13.1 million square feet of “mostly vacant" warehouse space More: Green Giant of a deal: Why owner of popular grocery brands is staying in Parsippany the exclusive leasing agent for Lincoln Logistics Morris Plains said in the announcement: "We're seeing significant demand for modern scalable industrial space in the Tri-state area superior design and proximity to key transportation routes this development checks all the boxes for top-tier industrial users," Monahan said Three more warehouses are approved in neighboring Parsippany and more warehouse projects are in progress throughout Morris County, including a 585,000 square foot facility replacing the former BASF headquarters building along Route 80 in Mount Olive The same developer is building another 200,000-square-foot warehouse nearby Still, applications for warehouse space also fell significantly in Morris County last year 2024 according to a report by the county Planning Department in April It was the second straight yearly decline for warehouse proposals Warehouse projects peaked in 2022, including an application to build 2.5 million square feet on the site of the former Hercules munitions plant in Roxbury That plan was withdrawn after more than a year of presentations to the Roxbury Planning Board did not generate the rezoning approvals needed warehouse applications thinned from just over 2 million square feet in 2023 to about 726,000 last year Lincoln Equities Group has taken the wraps off nearly 500,000 square feet of modern industrial space in Morris County as part of a new two-building project near Route 10 the development at 201 Tabor Road includes facilities of 224,750 and 270,000 square feet 35 dock doors and multiple means of ingress and egress along with modern sprinkler systems and an on-site electrical substation offering high power with dual feeds Andrew Gunst and Evan Bernard lead the leasing team for the property which has parking for 499 cars and 72 trailers across both buildings The project has also brought new life to a piece of a former Johnson & Johnson office complex “Our vision for Lincoln Logistics Morris Plains was to deliver a state-of-the-art industrial park that will set a new standard for design efficiency and connectivity in the region,” Lincoln Equities Group CEO Lance Bergstein said “With its strategic location and best-in-class infrastructure The developer noted that tenants at Lincoln Logistics Morris Plains will be just three miles from Interstate 287 five and a half miles from Interstate 80 and eight miles from Interstate 280 while Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark-Elizabeth are roughly 30 miles away Users will also be 35 miles from New York City and the George Washington Bridge “We’re seeing significant demand for modern scalable industrial space in the tristate area and Lincoln Logistics Morris Plains delivers exactly what today’s users are looking for,” said Monahan this development checks all the boxes for top-tier industrial users.” has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy JCP&L has found a new headquarters in the region after agreeing to lease some 58,000 square feet in Morris Plains marking the latest addition to a former Honeywell International campus said the space at 115 Tabor Road will house roughly 150 employees expects to transition to the facility once renovations are complete The company also has an office at Holmdel’s Bell Works campus “As part of our ongoing facility optimization plan we are working to sell our Morristown General Office at 300 Madison Ave and have submitted a filing with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for approval of the contemplated sale,” the FirstEnergy spokesman “JCP&L maintains headquarters in both our northern and central regions.” Located off Route 202 and minutes from downtown Morristown 115 Tabor Road had served as Honeywell’s headquarters since 2015 following a high-profile move from nearby Morris Township The technology giant at the time had considered a move to Pennsylvania Chris Christie famously stepped in and secured a $40 million tax credit to keep the company in New Jersey Honeywell announced in late 2018 that it was shifting its front office to Charlotte though it pledged at the time to keep some 800 employees in Morris Plains Argent Ventures acquired the property as part of a sale and partial leaseback with the company subsequently rebranding the campus as The Crossing at Tabor Road announced that it had leased a major portion of 115 Tabor Road The space today is home to hundreds of employees from Evernorth Health Services MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — Evernorth, a subsidiary of Cigna Healthcare, will be cutting more than 60 workers from its payroll this summer, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) advisory on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website and communities by requiring employers to provide 60 days' notice before plant closings and mass layoffs 465,000-square-foot building at 115 Tabor Road in Morris Plains The facility opened in 2022 on a 10-year lease around 900 employees were expected to work there with up to 2,100 employees—previously based in Bergen County including remote workers—now working out of the Morris Plains location located on Route 53 heading toward Denville which held a grand opening in the fall of 2015 Honeywell later decided to relocate its senior leadership to Charlotte the company still maintains a small presence in the building Evernorth Health Services develops pharmacy and benefits solutions to improve health and enhance vitality It serves four major constituencies: health insurers Patch reached out to the company seeking comment about the WARN advisory We will update this article with any reply we receive The WARN notices do not indicate the percentage of workers being laid off nor do they provide information on whether smaller reductions were made at other Barclays locations across the state Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. HANOVER — A popular fast-food chain will join a big-box retailer on Route 10 this week as the long-awaited redevelopment of an old Route 10 retail property continues in Whippany Chick-fil-A will open its third Morris County location on Thursday at the new Hanover Towne Center The stores are occupying the site of the former Pine Plaza that shopping center closed in 2020 and was demolished in 2021 Additional plans for the 23-acre site include 60 townhomes and three more available spaces likely to be filled by restaurants or shops "I was born and raised in East Hanover and graduated from Hanover Park High School," Blind said at the Morris Plains opening "This is honestly a life dream: get to serve the community and bring Chick-fil-A to Morris County." Offering new menu items including the return of the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich and a new Pineapple Dragonfruit seasonal beverage the Whippany restaurant will celebrate its grand opening at 6:30 a.m The restaurant’s drive-through window will remain open until 10 p.m The family-owned company also is known for closing on Sundays due to Christian religious observances It has also drawn criticism for its history of financial support for opponents of same-sex marriage and other LGTB causes Amazon Fresh: Morris County mall slated for NJ's next Amazon Fresh. Here's what we know which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits the franchise will recognize "100 local heroes making an impact in the Whippany community by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year," the company said in a news release announcing the opening The Morris County Board of County Commissioners tonight presented a $35 million capital spending plan for 2025 to maintain the critical infrastructure supporting the education public safety and human services programs that enhance our residents’ quality of life chairman of the committee, outlined the proposal during a public meeting in Morristown The total spending plan is $48,585,406 but will be offset by $13,183,294 in various grants The capital spending plan focuses on continued investments in facility upgrades maintaining infrastructure from roads and bridges to dam safety and intersection improvements including support for the County College of Morris’s construction of a Center for Health Professions the Capital Budget Committee and our administrative staff began reviewing capital investment proposals from all county departments constitutional officers and related county agencies It is a long-standing practice that has enabled us to plan our capital expenditures early each year and move forward on adopting a complete county budget so that our capital projects may be put out to bid early and get underway,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Shaw Morris County’s inventory of capital responsibility which requires regular maintenance and upgrades It includes much more than the Morris County Administration & Records Building in Morristown and the Human Services and Law & Public Safety complexes in Morris Township and Parsippany-Troy Hills Township The Morris County infrastructure responsibility also includes The County of Morris also is responsible for: “Our 2025 capital spending plan allocates $8.58 million for bridge and culvert replacements including heavily traveled spans in Montville continuing Morris County’s leadership in bridge upgrades We also anticipate resurfacing another 20.6 miles of county roads this coming year,” said Commissioner Selen The plan designates $11 million for resurfacing roadways in 11 municipalities next year bringing the total to more than 230 miles of roads resurfaced since 2016 The plan also includes a $4.46 million investment in the County College of Morris ongoing plan to construct an 80,000-square-foot Center for Health Professions on campus to support educational excellence and workforce development  “We are dedicated to strengthening education and supporting human services,” said Commissioner Smith “These investments will provide vital training and equipment for public safety personnel which is the largest county park system in New Jersey Strategic Investments in Human Services and Public Safety Commissioner Deborah Smith and Douglas Cabana Parsippany Councilman Justin Musella and Matt Manzi of the Morris County Park Commission Photo 2: The 4.8-mile Pompton Valley Rail Trail will be completed and fully open Spring 2025 Photo 3: (l-r) The Capital Budget Committee: Commissioners Deborah Smith Newsletter sign-up and archive 2025 at 2:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The New Jersey Department of Transportation reported the brush fire around 2:20 p.m on I-287 North near Exit 34 for County Route 663 in Morris Township NJ — A brush fire on Interstate 287 is being reported in Morris Township on Wednesday afternoon The New Jersey Department of Transportation reported the brush fire around 2:20 p.m one right lane remains closed of the three lanes Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 10:31 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The pastry shop NJ — Morris Plains just got a little sweeter drawing butter and sugar lovers to line up for croissants Chocolatine debuted its second location with a soft opening this past weekend at 684 Speedwell Avenue in Morris Plains The authentic French bakery is run by French baker Cédric Hosy and his wife though they’ve been baking croissants for wholesale to restaurants and savory items like a variety of quiches and a tomato and mushroom tart "Our mission is to create authentic French pastries that can elevate one's sense of sight Our bakers use classical techniques to make high quality and handmade products," the bakery's website states the new location offers more seating than the Denville site allowing guests to relax and enjoy their pastries inside The new location is open during the following hours: To find out more info, check out Chocolatine at 684 Speedwell Avenue, or on their website here Morris Plains Police Chief Koroski Recognized for Leading the MCPCA Through 2024 The Morris County Board of County Commissioners honored Morris Plains Police Chief Michael Koroski for his leadership and service as the 2024 President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association (MCPCA) today during the association’s annual holiday luncheon at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park Chief Koroski helped advance the MCPCA’s mission to unify law enforcement efforts and elevate professional standards in addition to enhancing training and techniques to improve crime prevention “Chief Koroski’s leadership and more than two decades of dedicated service to Morris Plains have made a tremendous impact on Morris County’s law enforcement community,” said Commissioner Douglas Cabana presenting a framed Resolution of Honor alongside his fellow County Commissioners View Photos from the 2024 Annual Police Chiefs Association Luncheon The MCPCA named Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney as its 2025 president and honored John Sette as “Honorary Chief” of the association during the luncheon Chief Koroski and Sette were also praised and presented formal awards by Morris County Sheriff James Gannon Chief of Detectives Robert McNally and First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood on behalf of Prosecutor Robert Carroll and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and Rockaway Borough Police Chief Conrad Pepperman on behalf of State Sen Chief Koroski joined the Morris Plains Police Department in 2001 and served in every rank before becoming Chief of Police on April 1 He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in leadership and public administration from Centenary University is a graduate of the Rutgers Certified Public Manager Program and is an accredited Chief by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police The Patriots’ Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Morris Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year for his community service and embodying the Scout Oath and Law “It has been a privilege to work alongside some of the finest law enforcement leaders in New Jersey The success of this Association is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of its members,” said Chief Koroski The event included the installation of other members of the MCPCA’s 2025 Executive Board: Morris Plains Police Chief Michael Koroski Commissioners John Krickus and Deborah Smith Photo 2: (l-r) Sheriff James Gannon and Chief Michael Koroski 2025 Public Meeting Scheduled in Morristown The New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy to noon regarding the draft preliminary State Development and Redevelopment Plan (State Plan) and the process by which public and private interests will be able to provide input The meeting will take place at the Morris County Administration & Records Building on Floor 5 inside the County Commissioners’ public meeting room the alternate meeting date will be March 7 The meeting also may be attended via Zoom; however only in-person attendees will be able to comment during the meeting The purpose of developing a State Plan is to coordinate planning activities and establish statewide planning objectives in the following areas: land use The purpose of the meeting is to educate the public on the draft preliminary State Plan and the process by which the public as well as state local and county officials and other interested parties will be able to learn about comment on and discuss the proposed draft preliminary State Plan 28 public meeting on the State Plan will focus on the 11 municipalities for which the County of Morris is acting as a liaison and regional negotiating entity with state officials developing the State Plan.  The municipalities include Lincoln Park Anyone unable to attend the meeting in person may submit comments or feedback via a State Plan project email established by Morris County: stateplan@co.morris.nj.us at the Highlands Council offices at 100 North Road (Route 513) Chester That meeting will focus on the 28 municipalities in Morris County as well as municipalities outside the county for which the Highlands Council is acting as a liaison and regional negotiating entity with state officials developing the State Plan The Morris County municipalities include Boonton For more information about this meeting, contact the Highlands Council at (908) 879-6737 or via email at highlands@highlands.nj.gov Public Invited to Honor 13 Veterans Receiving Morris County Distinguished Service Medals The Board of County Commissioners invites all to attend the 2024 Annual Morris County Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday to honor 13 local veterans who will receive Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals This event will celebrate the service and sacrifices of these veterans recognizing their dedication to our country and their ongoing contributions to our communities as we approach Veterans Day on Nov Among those honored are veterans who served as far back as World War II The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room on the fifth floor of the Morris County Administration & Records Building located at 10 Court Street in Morristown. Guests are encouraged to arrive by 6:30 p.m. to secure seating. A livestream of the event will also be available via the Morris County Government Facebook page and on the county’s website The following veterans will receive Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals: For additional information on this ceremony and other Morris County events, please visit the Official Website of Morris County, NJ. Morris County broke ground this week on a new multipurpose facility on the grounds of the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy to provide improved space for the Office of Public Health as well as garage and storage areas for the county’s key emergency response vehicles personal protection gear and life-saving equipment located off West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township is being financed through federal American Rescue Plan Act funding earmarked for improving Morris County’s public health facilities and the county’s ability to respond and prepare for public emergencies The storage area will house vehicles and equipment from the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Law and Public Safety including the Office of Public Health and Office of Emergency Management which will be approximately 65,540 square feet including meeting rooms and storage facilities for the Office of Public Health as well as expand the county’s ability to house important response vehicles and centralize locations for emergency equipment The Office of Public Health is currently located in a former armory building a short distance up West Hanover Avenue That building will eventually be upgraded and repurposed for other county operations and construction is expected to begin soon Photo: Architectural rendering of the Morris County Health & Emergency multi-purpose facility Support Morris County’s Local Businesses This Holiday Season The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has officially designated Saturday adopting a special resolution to observe Small Business Saturday recognizing the essential role small businesses play in driving the county’s economy and enhancing the overall quality of life for our communities has evolved into a national movement encouraging holiday shoppers to patronize local businesses small businesses are vital to our communities serving as the backbone of our local economies," said Commissioner Director Christine Myers. "We are proud to have helped many of them after the pandemic through a Small Business Grant program that issued nearly $11 million in aid in 2022 and we continue to invest in marketing campaigns to drive visitors and tourists to our many downtown shopping areas Small businesses are indispensable to our county’s economic strength and quality of life." Small businesses also are a cornerstone of the U.S economy.  According to a July 2024 report by the U.S there are 34.7 million small businesses nationwide representing 99.9% of all businesses and employing nearly 59 million people These businesses have created more than 20 million net new jobs since 1995 “We support several key resources that help to drive our area’s growth,” said Commissioner Tayfun Selen, liaison to the Morris County Economic Development Committee “The work of organizations such as the Morris County Economic Development Alliance, Morris County Tourism Bureau, Morris County Economic Development Corporation and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce are crucial to growing local businesses in our community.” the Morris County Economic Development Alliance has partnered with American Express as an official community partner for Small Business Saturday®. The partnership reinforces Morris County’s commitment to fostering local business growth by encouraging residents to Shop Small® and support the unique character of the county’s small business community "We’re proud to support Small Business Saturday and celebrate the many small businesses that give Morris County its unique charm," said Meghan Hunscher President and CEO of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. "We invite everyone to use our online business directory a year-round resource to discover and support local businesses throughout the county." Residents and visitors are encouraged to support small businesses throughout the holiday season “Shopping small” not only bolsters the local economy but also preserves the charm and character that makes Morris County a special place to live The final paragraph of the resolution reads: that the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Morris and State of New Jersey in recognition of the crucial role small businesses play in our economy and quality of life in Morris County 2024 to be “Small Business Saturday 2024” and urges communities across the nation to “Shop Small®” not only on that day Residents are urged to help Morris County in its development of a Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP) which will support safer and smoother travel for all roadway users by identifying practical improvements to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on county and municipal roadways The initiative has been endorsed by the nonprofit Avenues in Motion one of the state’s eight transportation management associations Avenues in Motion implements strategies and programs to address traffic congestion “More than 60 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes in New Jersey happen on local roads which is why Avenues in Motion prioritizes safe transportation and supports the development of this LSAP,” the organization said in a prepared statement “Avenues in Motion applauds Morris County’s launch of a countywide Local Safety Action Plan The LSAP will support safer and smoother travel for all roadway users by identifying practical improvements to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on county and municipal roadways.” According to the Federal Highway Administration LSAPs are a proven and effective strategy to reduce crashes and this LSAP will open the door for Morris County to receive more funding opportunities to implement safety upgrades such as the $5 billion federal initiative Safe Streets and Roads for All which helps fund projects that improve roadway safety and accessibility Morris County residents have the opportunity to directly influence the LSAP by participating in a brief survey and web mapping activity on the project’s website Community input is an integral component to the development of a comprehensive plan that reflects the community’s needs Avenues in Motion encourages community members to share their experiences and highlight areas where they see opportunities for safer streets “Morris County is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who travels our roads and the Local Safety Action Plan is a critical step toward achieving this goal We encourage all residents to participate in the survey and web mapping activity to share their perspectives on where improvements are needed Your input will help guide creating a safer more efficient transportation network that prevents crashes and saves lives,” said Stephen H Deputy Director of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners and Secretary of the NJTPA Board The LSAP is funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the federally authorized metropolitan planning organization for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey. Visit the project’s website at Morris.SafetyPlansNJ.com to stay informed You can probate a will or administer an estate electronically you can book your in-person appointment  online elected by the people, having jurisdiction over the probate of wills Esq.,  was first elected to serve the residents of Morris County in 2019 and for a second term in 2024 The full title of the office is “Judge of the Surrogate Court.” The function of the Judge of the Morris County Surrogate Court includes: While the Surrogate’s Court is technologically up to date microfilm read-printers are available for reading or reproducing original wills and other relevant probate documents Learn how to navigate the process of adoption: Learn all about What to know about Trusts and Estate Planning - watch this latest Surrogate Session: Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling dedicated her monthly Surrogate’s Session to how to help people burdened by Alzheimer’s and offer caregivers and families access to resources that may offer peace of mind Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling continued the series of virtual “Surrogate’s Sessions” she launched in September with the second session on October 23 entitled, “What should an Executor Know.” The Surrogate Sessions are designed to provide Morris County residents with information on pertinent topics related to wills They will also detail improvements in Surrogate’s Office procedures that are making it easier for clients to get their issues handled Watch the Surrogate Session from September 24: The Surrogate's Office periodically closes for training and processes Please call 973-285-6500 for an appointment The Morris County Surrogate’s Court does not give legal advice Annual Report 2023 - Office of the Morris County Surrogate(PDF, 1MB)  A Citizen’s Guide to Wills, Trusts, and Estates(PDF, 2MB) The Personal Record(PDF, 638KB) Get a weekly serving of the hottest NJ food news sent right to your inbox with our Side Dish newsletter This authentic French bakery, making croissants, macarons and other pastries with ingredients imported from France, is opening its second location. It’s run by French baker Cédric Hosy and his Rockaway-raised wife, Elaine Castro. Their first location, in Denville, opened in 2023 but they’ve been baking croissants to sell wholesale to restaurants Korean fried-chicken spot Bonchon has opened its first Hudson County location in Union City This steakhouse recently announced its grand reopening revealing a renovation and an exciting new menu There’s also live music every weekend a popular charcuterie concept specializing in beautiful grazing boards and boxes It’s powered by a team of expert “grazologists,” who curate charcuterie boards with a variety of meats [RELATED: The Best New Restaurants in NJ to Try in 2025] Read more Eat & Drink articles Plan Aims to Improve Transportation Safety for All Road Users Morris County is excited to announce the development of a countywide Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP) which will identify and prioritize transportation safety improvements to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on our county and municipal roadways "Transportation safety is paramount; it ensures that every journey is not only efficient but also secure - protecting lives and enhancing the quality of our daily travels," said Stephen H Deputy Director of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners and Secretary of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board More than 47 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes in Morris County happen on local roads. The Federal Highway Administration has identified LSAPs as a proven and effective strategy to reduce these crashes "Ensuring the safety of all road and transit users is a core priority for Morris County Developing a Local Safety Action Plan is a critical step to keep safety as our primary focus across every mode of transportation,” Commissioner Shaw said Residents can also meet project team members in person at the “Morristown Festival on the Green” on Sunday to share their experiences with safety while traveling in the county Creating LSAPs can help counties and municipalities access new funding opportunities to implement safety plans including federal programs such as the $5 billion Safe Streets and Roads for All Program The LSAP process relies on input from Morris County residents and technical experts to match local needs with solutions that will reduce and eliminate serious injuries and fatalities There will be several opportunities for Morris County residents to provide feedback to help guide the creation of this plan including an online survey and in-person events This planning effort is being funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the federally authorized metropolitan planning organization for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey Photo 1: The crosswalk at Madison Street at the intersection of South Street in Morristown Deputy Director of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners and Secretary of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board Commissioners Back Expansion of Public Trails in Seven Towns The Board of County Commissioners last night approved $1.3 million in grants for seven trail projects reinforcing their commitment to expanding outdoor recreational amenities and providing residents with greater opportunities for exercise relaxation and connection to nature throughout Morris County The grants will fund the design of four trails and complete construction on three others in municipalities across the county “This program has grown beyond our expectations providing invaluable recreational spaces and boosting the quality of life for our residents,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw the board’s liaison to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation. “With careful planning and engineering these trails will serve as long-lasting assets for our communities.” Review the Trail Project Details Since the launch of the Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program in 2016 the county has authorized 54 grants for projects spanning nearly 29 miles of trails The program is funded through the voter-approved Preservation Trust Fund which was established in 1992 and modified in 2014 to include recreational trail development the county’s total investment in public trails exceeds $6.5 million “The variety and scale of these projects demonstrate how much we value creating accessible and well-maintained outdoor spaces,” said Shaw. “From short community paths to multi-use greenways our trail network continues to grow and benefit residents of all ages.” Knuth Fields Walking Trail in Denville was awarded a Trail Construction Grant for the first of two phases of a loop trail around the property The 2024 construction grant will complete the second phase of the nearly 1-mile loop Bipartisan Effort Aims to Reduce Flooding and Restore Water Flow Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw and Sheriff James Gannon joined U.S Hanover Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher Assemblyman Brian Bergen and other local officials in East Hanover Township today to witness the progress being made to “de-snag” sections of the Whippany River launching debris cleanup efforts to address flooding that has long plagued riverside communities called the Whippany River Improvement Project is being led by the Whippany-Passaic River Flood Remediation Task Force which was formed by the mayors of towns along the river Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty and Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio View Photos from the Whippany River Cleanup Today in East Hanover Congresswomen Sherrill secured a federal Community Project grant of more than $2 million to fund the work which is being done in phases. By removing debris from waterways rivers flow more easily and capacity is enhanced which helps to prevent erosion and flooding “This initiative, three years in the making, demonstrates the power of partnerships. From local municipalities to federal support, we are working together to alleviate persistent flooding issues that impact so many residents and businesses,” said Deputy Director Shaw, the county commissioners’ liaison to the Morris County Flood Mitigation Program. “I especially want to thank Mayor Gallagher and Congresswoman Sherrill for their leadership This is about more than cleaning a river; it’s about reducing flooding and improving the quality of life for Morris County residents,” Shaw added Phase 1 of the project has already cleared nearly 275 cubic yards of debris and other long-accumulated materials obstructing the river in Hanover Township currently underway behind the auto store at 30 Ridgedale Ave Completion of the initial phases will require 12 to 15 days of work by professional contractors Photo 1: (l-r) The Whippany-Passaic River Flood Remediation Task Force and others at the site of the Whippany River tree and debris removal taking place in East Hanover standing beside Downes Tree Service’s grapple saw truck Photo 3: A view of the Whippany River facing west behind the auto store at 30 Ridgedale Ave Grant Program Concludes Ninth Year With Strong Submissions The Morris County Board of County Commissioners received a recommendation at last night’s public work session to award more than $1.3 million in grants for the design of four municipal trails and the completion of three trail construction projects as part of the county’s nine-year-old Trail Construction Grant Program Chairwoman of the Trail Construction Grant Advisory Committee, presented the 2024 recommendations which include significant projects in Morristown “The evolution of this program has been truly impressive the Trail Grant Advisory Committee conducts an assessment meeting to develop refinements to the application process This is crucial because building a trail is more complex than it might seem Proper engineering is key to ensuring its durability and preventing erosion from rain or other environmental factors,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw the board's liaison to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation Funding for the trail projects is derived from Morris County’s voter-approved Preservation Trust Fund established in 1992 and modified in 2002 to include a Historic Preservation Fund allowing a portion of the fund to be allocated for recreational trail development the Commissioners have approved 54 grants resulting in the authorization to build 28.5 miles of new recreational trails The board is expected to vote on the 2024 recommendations at its Oct these new projects will bring the county's total investment in public trails to more than $6 million establishing and enhancing nearly 29 miles of trails since 2016 Photo 1: Liffy Island Boardwalk & Trails in Jefferson Township Photo 2: A trail in Loantaka Brook Reservation NJ — One Morris County shopper got more than groceries on their last store run — they walked away $50,000 richer The New Jersey Lottery announced that someone in Morris County recently won a top prize on a $50,000 Loaded scratch-Off ticket The winning ticket was purchased at the Exxon on Route 15 in Wharton with a Morris County resident claiming one of the top prizes last week Visit the New Jersey Lottery's website for more info Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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