What I sent if anyone needs ideas:
Hello,
This email is in response to your request for feedback on future UC Parks Plans. Union County is sorely lacking, and long overdue for multi-use trails which legalize mountain bike use. There are several suitable sites, namely Watchung Reservation, Echo Lake Park, and Hidden Valley Park. I was very involved, and very aware of the prior efforts to legalize bikes at Watchung Reservation per the recommendations of your Parks Master Plan. I believe the ultimate decision by a few Freeholders to disregard this recommendation was a great disappointment and sorely misguided. This decision was also heavily influenced by a misinformation campaign maligning bicycle impact on trails. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have shown impact on trails is much more effected by the trail design itself, rather than the user group. The exception is horses (currently allowed in Watchung and Hidden Valley parks) which have substantially more negative impact than hikers or bicycles.
Since Covid, the demand/desire for socially distant outdoor activities has sky-rocketed in Union County and around the country. Even as the pandemic hopefully wanes, the elevated demand for bike trails will absolutely continue. Just ask some of the local bike shop owners about the unprecedented increase in demand for mountain bikes in Union County. There are also now several Union County-based youth mountain bike teams that have formed and are actively participating in the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) events throughout New Jersey.
It is time Union County finally provided legal mountain bike trails. As always, I am always available to help.