Project Description
The Rutgers Ecological Preserve and Natural Teaching Area (commonly referred to as the EcoPreserve) is a 316 acre tract of undeveloped forested land located adjacent to Rutgers University's Livingston Campus. It was formally established in 1976 with the goal of preserving the natural history of the property and providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. The EcoPreserve has an eight-mile system of multiuse trails, but none currently meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards.
This project includes the construction of a 0.4-mile ADA compliant loop trail surfaced with compacted red shale, and a pullout and bench providing views of Buell Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River. Educational signage detailing the natural and cultural history of the EcoPreserve will also be installed along the trail. This will make recreational and educational opportunities in the area more accessible not only for Rutgers students, but for members of the local community. Several overburdened and disadvantaged communities are immediately adjacent to the preserve, whose residents will also benefit from access to the nature trail. The construction of the trail began in 2023 by Rutgers University staff and students, as well as local volunteers.
Parties Implementing Restoration
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; NOAA; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service