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BIKE, HIKE & ROLL IN ELIZABETH
City to construct bike path through grant

ELIZABETH, N.J. June 26, 2006– Mayor Chris Bollwage announces a $1.3 million dollar Bike, Hike & Roll project in the City of Elizabeth. The anticipated project will connect the existing boardwalk from Veterans Memorial Waterfront Park to Slater Park along the shoreline of the Arthur Kill. In addition, Slater Park will receive aesthetic and environmental improvements.

“This initiative creates a new recreational opportunity in the Elizabethport area,” said Mayor Chris Bollwage. “With the development of new houses through our HOPE VI initiative and the construction of luxury market-rate townhouses, this throughway will provide an avenue for exercise, recreation, and enjoyment enhancing the quality of life for all of Elizabeth’s residents.”

The scope of the project encompasses a route that will extend from the walkway at the Waterfront Park on South Front Street and connect with the existing walkway at Slater Park, located at the intersection of Slater Drive and Atlanta Place. The initiative also includes the repaving of the parking lot at Slater Park, picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles, route signage, bicycle rack, and new lights along the route. When completed it will create an ideal recreation throughway for pedestrians, cyclists, and rollerbladers looking to enjoy the City’s Port area.

The Department of Transportation’s Centers of Place program award the City a $100,000 grant for the multi-purpose recreation project. Designed to assist municipalities that have formally participated in the implementation of the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP), the Centers of Place program provides funding opportunities to support non-traditional transportation improvements.

Plans also include a Shoreline Protection and Stabilization project that will reduce soil erosion and secure the shoreline for the proposed bike path. Construction is scheduled to begin July 5, 2006 and be completed by the end of this year.