Trailblazers continue preservation efforts
By jane meggitt
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE — Members of the Millstone Trailblazers say they have had a great deal of success in their drive to preserve and create equestrian trails in the township, but they aren’t resting on their laurels. Their second annual fund-raising dinner is scheduled for next month, at a new venue to accommodate the anticipated crowd.

With the proceeds from last year’s dinner and auction, the group purchased a trimmer and a trail-clearing machine that has made maintenance much easier, representatives said.

Money has also been put aside for trail markers, which are awaiting final approval from the township. At trailheads, synthetic wood posts will be installed, to denote routing and horse trails. Tree markers will include the names of trails.

In the future, the Trailblazers hope to hold a hunter pace, a timed competition designed to mimic the conditions riders would face on a fox hunt, to raise money and showcase the trails.

According to Trailblazers Chairman Rob Obusek, there are approximately 18 miles of legal trail segments in the town­ship, and each section averages one half-mile.

"We’re making progress in stringing them all together," said Obusek. "We’ve gotten little pieces and concentrate on hooking them into each other.

"We’re making progress toward string­ing together the Charleston Springs [area] trails all the way to Perrineville Lake Park, on out to the Assunpink."

The Planning Board has incorporated the trails element into the master plan, sup­ported by the Township Committee.

"Now we don’t have to go to Planning Board meetings and ask for trails on [various] applications," he said. "Now builders are automatically saying, ‘we’ll put a trail in here,’" or discussing where a trail should go.

Obusek noted that the Livak property on Forman Road recently went into the farmland preservation program and will have a horse trail incorporated into it.

"The overwhelming response has been positive," Obusek said.

In the years since the Trailblazers started, only two landowners have ex­pressed concern about trails on their land, he said.

"No one is forced into it," he said. "The response from developers, farmers, resi­dents and township officials has been re­ally positive."

The dinner and auction will be held Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Battleground Country Club in Manalapan. Tickets are $55 per person. Auction items have already been donated by companies such as Rick’s Saddle Shop, Millhurst Mills and Sportcraft, and more items are coming in daily.

For more information, call Audrey Gi­nolfi at (732) 446-6863, or visit their Web site www.millstonetrailblazers.com.