Note: the entire article is pasted below for your convenience! But there are also maps and illustrations over on the website if you'd like to peep them: https://woodburywarbler.com/gloucester-county-revises-dinosaur-trail-route-but-residents-still-have-questions-about-privacy-safety-and-property-impacts/
When Gloucester County presented a revised route for its proposed Dinosaur Trail on September 29, project planners highlighted changes intended to address concerns raised by residents earlier this year. The proposed alignment would move farther from some residential properties, avoid traveling through Alcyon Park and eliminate the alternative that would have followed Route 55.
For some of the residents who would live alongside the trail, however, the revisions have not resolved their concerns.
One South Cummings Avenue resident described the emotional toll the proposal has taken on her and her son. After leaving a difficult situation, they had recently purchased a home where she finally felt safe and comfortable.
“I found a piece of paradise,” she told project representatives.
Now, she worries that strangers using a public trail near her backyard could compromise the privacy and security she had hoped to find there. She questioned what protections would be available if trail users entered private property, particularly at night, and whether local law enforcement had been consulted about those concerns.
Project representatives acknowledged her concerns but emphasized that the trail is intended to be a community asset. They said setbacks, fencing, vegetation and landscaping could be incorporated into the eventual design to reduce potential impacts on neighboring properties. A representative also offered to arrange a meeting with Glassboro Mayor John Wallace and the police chief to discuss residents’ concerns.
The exchange captured a central challenge facing the project. Gloucester County is seeking community and municipal support for a preferred route, but many of the details most important to the people living along it, including precise property impacts, fencing, landscaping and safety improvements, will not be determined until later engineering and design phases.
A Revised Route Following Months of Public Feedback
The Dinosaur Trail is a proposed multi-use corridor connecting the existing shared-use path near Rowan University in Glassboro with the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in Mantua Township, passing through Pitman along the way. Gloucester County is developing the project in partnership with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), with engineering consultant McCormick Taylor.
Although its name and destination suggest a recreational trail, the project is also intended to serve as transportation infrastructure. Planners envision a continuous route that would connect communities, schools, parks, employment centers, shopping areas, healthcare facilities and public transportation while giving residents more opportunities to travel without a motor vehicle.
When The Woodbury Warbler covered the first public information meeting in March, residents raised numerous questions about the three proposed route alternatives, including environmental impacts in Ceres Park, flooding along the Chestnut Branch, access near Thomas E. Bowe Middle School and the safety of several road crossings.
Residents also brought important local information to the project team, including restrictions on bicycle use and after-dark access in Alcyon Park, recurring flooding behind Howard Avenue and concerns about the proposed Route 55 alignment.
The September meeting demonstrated that some of that feedback has influenced the project. Rather than selecting one of the original alternatives, planners developed a Hybrid Alternative combining portions of Options 2, 3 and 3A. That revised alignment is now being recommended as the project’s Preliminary Preferred Alternative.
The proposed route would generally follow the Chestnut Branch from Glassboro into Pitman and Mantua, connecting existing parks and trails while taking advantage of existing roadway intersections and railroad crossings. Approximately 88% would consist of dedicated off-road shared-use paths, with the remaining 12% using sidewalks or on-road bicycle accommodations.
According to the project team, the hybrid alignment provides direct access to six parks or recreation facilities and four existing or proposed trails. It would also connect with approximately 196 miles of low-stress bicycle networks and seven miles of pedestrian networks.
The revisions address several concerns raised during the earlier public outreach process. The trail would no longer terminate at Thomas Bowe Middle School or use its parking lots as a trailhead. It would provide access to Alcyon Park without passing through the park, avoiding conflicts with restrictions on bicycle use and after-dark access. The Route 55 alternative was eliminated because of pedestrian restrictions, safety concerns and the higher costs associated with structural modifications.
Planners have also revised sections near residential properties along Howard and South Cummings avenues to increase the distance between the trail and nearby homes.
However, those changes have not eliminated the debate over the route. During the September meeting, residents continued to question whether the proposed buffers would adequately protect their privacy, whether the alignment could safely pass near Thomas Bowe Middle School and whether alternatives farther from residential neighborhoods deserve additional consideration.
What Would the Dinosaur Trail Actually Look Like?
The proposed route would not be a uniform path from one end to the other. Depending on the location, it would use wooded corridors, dedicated paths alongside existing roads, sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
The southern end would connect with the existing shared-use path on Carpenter Street in Glassboro. From there, the trail would generally follow the Chestnut Branch west of Looney Park and Alcyon Park, traveling northwest toward Lambs Road.
Typical off-road sections would be approximately 10 feet wide with two-foot shoulders on either side. In constrained areas, the shared-use path could narrow to eight feet.
Lambs Road and West Holly Avenue
Near Lambs Road, the trail would transition from the wooded corridor to a dedicated shared-use path alongside the roadway.
The proposed section near West Holly Avenue includes an eight-foot-wide shared-use path separated from vehicle traffic by a five-foot buffer. The trail would cross Lambs Road at the existing signalized West Holly Avenue intersection, rather than requiring pedestrians and cyclists to cross at an uncontrolled location.
From there, the trail would continue along Lambs Road, return to the Chestnut Branch corridor and pass beneath Route 55 using an existing structure.
North of Route 55, the proposed alignment would travel near Pitman Golf Course, Emerald Lake, Cedar Lake and Ceres Park before reaching Main Street near Tylers Mill Road.
Tylers Mill Road and Main Street
After crossing Main Street, the trail would follow Tylers Mill Road for a short distance before returning to the Chestnut Branch corridor.
The proposed Tylers Mill Road section includes an eight-foot shared-use path separated from the roadway by a five-foot buffer, with existing travel lanes and shoulders remaining part of the roadway configuration.
This section also contains one of the project’s most significant unresolved safety questions: how pedestrians and cyclists would cross Main Street.
During both public information meetings, residents questioned the safety of the Main Street and Tylers Mill Road intersection. The project team has since reviewed crash data and identified problems involving intersection geometry and limited sight distances.
Planners are considering improvements that could include a traffic signal, high-visibility crosswalks, improved lighting, warning signs, accessible curb ramps, geometric changes and possible speed-limit adjustments.
However, the current concept does not assume a traffic signal will be installed. Without one, the proposed trail would use a crossing set back from the intersection.
That possibility prompted a warning from Pitman resident Eric Mollenhauer, who urged the project team not to open the trail at that location without signalization.
“You’re going to kill somebody,” he warned.
Project representatives said they shared the safety concerns and would ensure that any crossing ultimately constructed would be safe. They also explained that an alternative suggested by a participant, passing beneath the existing Main Street bridge, had been considered but was not feasible because of the terrain and physical constraints.
If the intersection is signalized in the future, the trail crossing configuration could be reconsidered.
West Atlantic Avenue and Center Street
Continuing north, the proposed route would use West Atlantic Avenue to reach Center Street, where an existing Conrail railroad crossing would allow trail users to cross the tracks without constructing a new crossing.
Unlike the wooded sections and dedicated paths alongside other roads, the West Atlantic Avenue portion would use existing roadway infrastructure. Pedestrians would use the sidewalk, while cyclists would share the roadway with motor vehicles using marked bicycle accommodations.
At Center Street, the trail would return to a dedicated shared-use path. The proposed roadway section includes an eight-foot path separated from traffic by a two-foot buffer, along with existing roadway shoulders.
Using the existing railroad crossing at Center Street avoids the need to construct additional railroad-crossing infrastructure, which was a complication associated with some earlier route alternatives.
Mantua Boulevard and the Fossil Park
The final portion of the route would follow Center Street to Mantua Boulevard and continue toward the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum.
Rather than constructing a separate trail through the entire corridor, the Mantua Boulevard concept would use sidewalks for pedestrians and dedicated bicycle lanes in both directions. The proposed roadway section between Center Street and Route 553 depicts buffered bicycle lanes approximately 6.5 feet wide, along with the existing vehicle travel lanes.
The alignment would ultimately connect with the existing shared-use path serving the fossil museum, completing the proposed connection between Rowan University and the museum.
The project also identifies potential access points and trailheads along the route, including Rowan University near Joseph Bowe Boulevard, Alcyon Park, Ceres Park and the Edelman Fossil Park. Additional access opportunities are proposed near Looney Park, Lambs Road and the Center Street railroad crossing.
The trail-access map also identifies nearby NJ Transit bus service and the proposed Glassboro-Camden Line, reflecting the project’s broader transportation objectives.
Residents Question Whether Proposed Buffers Will Protect Their Privacy
While the route incorporates several changes requested during earlier public meetings, the proposed alignment near South Cummings Avenue remains a major concern.
One resident told project representatives that she and a neighbor had visited existing trails near schools in Washington Township and Williamstown to compare those facilities with the conditions proposed for Glassboro.
She described substantially deeper residential setbacks, existing vegetation and extensive fencing along portions of those trails. In contrast, she estimated that some South Cummings Avenue backyards are only about 30 feet deep, leaving residents concerned that trail users would have direct views into their homes.
The proposed route also passes near Thomas Bowe Middle School, raising questions about how planners could provide adequate buffers for nearby homeowners without moving the trail too close to school buildings or outdoor areas used by students.
Several parents echoed those concerns, questioning whether enough space exists between the school and adjacent homes to accommodate a trail, fencing and landscaping while preserving areas used for physical education and other activities.
One resident emphasized that neighbors were not opposed to the Dinosaur Trail itself.
“We are very much pro this trail,” she told project representatives, explaining that residents were asking for the alignment to be moved farther from their properties and away from school grounds.
Project representatives acknowledged the concerns but said the school connection is part of the project’s purpose. Providing students and families with alternatives to motor-vehicle transportation is one of the reasons the proposed alignment follows the existing shared-use path near Carpenter Street.
They stressed, however, that the exact location near the middle school is “not set in stone.” Further discussions involving Gloucester County, Glassboro officials, the school district and nearby residents will be needed to determine where the trail can be located while preserving adequate buffers and usable school property.
How Far Would the Trail Be From Homes?
According to the September presentation, the hybrid alignment provides variable residential buffers of approximately 25 to 50 feet behind South Cummings Avenue properties. During the question-and-answer session, project representatives said they believe a minimum 50-foot offset can be provided along South Cummings.
Along Howard Avenue, the revised alignment would cross the Chestnut Branch earlier and move closer to the former landfill area, increasing the separation between the trail and nearby backyards.
The proposed shared-use path near Howard and South Cummings avenues would generally be 10 feet wide with two-foot shoulders, with existing vegetation and additional landscaping potentially serving as privacy screening.
The distances shown in the concept drawings are not final property-level measurements. Residents continued to ask whether the proposed buffers could be maintained throughout the corridor, particularly where school property, existing fencing, waterways and other physical constraints limit the available space.
One resident questioned whether a section near an existing chain-link fence could accommodate the proposed 50-foot buffer. Project representatives offered to review individual properties on the larger plans displayed at the meeting and explained that buffer treatments would need to be evaluated according to the conditions at each location.
The presentation also identifies potential easements involving seven private parcels. Project representatives cautioned that the alignment remains conceptual and that specific property impacts would be determined during subsequent engineering.
Environmental and Maintenance Questions Remain
Environmental concerns were a major topic at the first public meeting, particularly along the Chestnut Branch and near Ceres Park, where residents described documented wildlife habitats, historic land uses and recurring flooding.
The Warbler previously reported that residents identified flooding behind Howard Avenue, including problems associated with stormwater and beaver activity, that project engineers said they had not previously known about.
Those concerns were incorporated into the discussion of the revised alignment. The hybrid alternative moves farther from residential properties along portions of Howard Avenue and is intended to avoid flood-prone areas where possible.
The project’s preliminary environmental screening also identified several issues requiring additional study or regulatory review, including wetlands, flood hazards, stormwater management, archaeological and historic resources, protected species and possible hazardous-waste concerns.
Project representatives said those findings identify resources that may require further consideration, rather than confirming that each resource would be affected by construction.
The proposed trail surface also raised questions about long-term maintenance.
Project planners are recommending porous asphalt to help manage stormwater by allowing water to infiltrate through the pavement rather than flow across the surface.
A resident noted that permeable pavement requires periodic maintenance to preserve its drainage capacity and questioned whether insufficient maintenance could contribute to flooding on downstream properties, particularly near Howard and Cummings avenues.
The question was especially relevant because Gloucester County’s customary practice is for municipalities to assume maintenance responsibility for county-developed trails.
Project representatives reiterated that municipalities along the Dinosaur Trail would generally be expected to maintain their respective sections, including whatever maintenance is required for the pavement.
The specific maintenance arrangements and costs have not yet been established.
How Many People Are Expected to Use the Trail?
The proposed Dinosaur Trail is being justified partly as a transportation improvement, providing safer non-motorized access to schools, employment, healthcare, shopping, public transportation and other community destinations.
According to figures presented by the project team, the corridor has the potential to connect approximately 18,000 residents, 5,700 jobs and 20 essential services or community facilities.
The project also connects with existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian networks, potentially providing residents with alternatives to driving for some trips.
But those connectivity figures should not be confused with estimates of actual trail usage.
During the September meeting, The Woodbury Warbler asked how many people the project team expects to use the trail annually for recreation and commuting or other transportation purposes, and what studies had been completed to support those projections.
Project representatives said they do not currently have projected user numbers.
“We currently don’t have those numbers specifically,” a representative said, later confirming that the team also did not have estimates of how many people would use the facility.
Instead, planners explained that their analysis focuses on the communities and destinations that could benefit from improved connectivity. The objective is to provide a non-motorized transportation option, but actual recreational use and commuting demand have not yet been quantified.
The presentation also depicts the proposed Glassboro-Camden Line and its stations among other transportation connections. The September meeting did not establish whether the Dinosaur Trail project team has conducted a formal analysis of potential trips connecting with future light-rail service.
Construction Costs, Funding and Rowan University’s Role
The Dinosaur Trail remains in the Local Concept Development phase, which involves evaluating potential routes, identifying environmental considerations, obtaining public feedback and selecting a preliminary preferred alignment.
The current concept-development study is funded through DVRPC. However, funding for preliminary engineering, final design and construction has not yet been identified in the information presented at the September meeting.
When a participant asked when the trail might be completed, project representatives said Gloucester County must first obtain support for a preferred alignment and then plan and secure funding for subsequent phases.
No final construction cost or anticipated completion date was provided.
Residents also questioned Rowan University’s involvement, particularly because the university is repeatedly referenced as a major destination and beneficiary of the trail.
Project representatives said Rowan had participated in project outreach and discussions involving local officials. No financial contribution, funding commitment or cost-sharing arrangement involving Rowan was identified during the meeting.
One resident also questioned whether parking limitations at Rowan could cause trail users to seek parking in nearby residential neighborhoods, including streets near Thomas Bowe Middle School.
What’s Next for the Dinosaur Trail?
The county and its project team are recommending the Hybrid Alternative as the Preliminary Preferred Alternative and seeking resolutions of support from Glassboro, Pitman and Mantua.
Project representatives said they anticipate completing the Local Concept Development Report and obtaining related approvals in late fall 2026.
Advancing the preferred alternative would not mean construction is imminent. The project would still need to proceed through preliminary engineering, additional environmental review, final design, funding decisions and any required regulatory approvals before construction could begin.
For residents living along the proposed alignment, however, the decision is consequential. Although the precise location of the trail and its protective features may change during future engineering, selecting a preferred alternative establishes the general corridor that the project will continue to develop.
The September meeting showed that public feedback has already influenced the design. But it also made clear that some of the questions residents have been asking since March remain unresolved.
Several speakers expressed support for the Dinosaur Trail’s goal of connecting communities and providing safer walking and cycling routes. Their concerns focused instead on whether this particular alignment offers enough separation from homes and schools, how dangerous road crossings will be addressed and whether alternative routes have been sufficiently considered.
Those are questions residents want answered before the project advances much further.
How to Comment on the Dinosaur Trail Proposal
The public comment period on the proposed Hybrid Preliminary Preferred Alternative remains open through October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Residents can review the proposal and submit comments through the project’s online survey:
Dinosaur Trail Public Survey #2
For additional background on the original alternatives and the concerns raised during the first public information meeting, read the Warbler’s March 27 report: Dinosaur Trail Public Meeting Draws Packed House and Plenty of Questions.
