USING EXISTING PATHS, THE VISION OF MORRIS PARK COMMISSION WORKER IS 80 PERCENT COMPLETE

Three years ago Al Kent came up with an idea to link about a half- dozen trails in the state and create the first walking path across New Jersey.

Now, the 156-mile Liberty-Water Gap Trail, which runs from Jersey City to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, is nearly 80 percent complete and should be finished within three years, said the 74-year-old West Orange man.

"The beauty of the Liberty-Water Gap Trail is that it connects the entire state and shows all of the diversity and history that New Jersey has to offer," said Jersey City Councilman Mariano Vega, who works with Kent on the Liberty-Water Gap Trail Committee.

Kent's trail provides a snapshot of the diversity of northern New Jersey, from the bustling urban neighborhoods of Newark and Jersey City to the smaller country towns of Mendham and Chester. It crosses heavily used roadways such as Routes 1 and 9 and runs along rocky dirt trails through thick woods. And it passes sights from the main concourse of Newark Penn Station to Washington's Headquarters in Morristown.

Kent's interest in New Jersey trails began when he was a Boy Scout growing up in Westwood, Bergen County.

"I became interested in trails at a very young age. Hiking and camping were always my favorite activities," Kent said.

He began to pursue his interest actively after his retirement from the fuel oil industry in 1980, when he started working for the Morris County Park Commission. In 1988, he was named coordinator of the Patriot's Path, a 45-mile network of hiking, biking and equestrian trails that traverses most of Morris County.

Kent focuses on trail planning, but also gets out on the trails on a regular basis to work on maintenance and restoration projects.

His vision for a cross-state trail through urban and rural areas is unique in New Jersey and nationally.

"There really aren't any other trails like it, especially its urban component," said Celeste Tracy, former state trails coordinator for the Division of Parks and Forestry.

While many states have statewide trails, few connect both urban and rural areas, according to the National Park Service. This is also the first cross- state trail for New Jersey, said Jerry Willis, project director of the Rivers and Trails Program for the National Park Service.

Kent said the connections were already there. He designed a route that connects the Hudson Riverfront Walkway in Hudson County, the Lenape Trail in Essex County, the Patriots Path in Morris County, the Sussex Branch Trail in Sussex County and the Paulinskill Valley Trail in Warren County.

Kent works with an informal committee of representatives from the National Park Service, state Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation, county park agencies and municipal governments to design and develop the trail. The committee reviews possible routes and obtains local approval for the trails.

"Al Kent is really incredible in that he can bring in so many people and get them excited about the project," Willis said.

Planners are working on the final stages of the project. Some portions of the trail in Jersey City and Newark are awaiting official designations on local streets and sidewalks, and a connection is needed from the Paulinskill Valley Trail to the Delaware Water Gap.

The missing portions of the trail depend on land acquisition by county and municipal governments, who obtain permits across private property or purchase land outright using state, county and municipal open space funds, Kent said.

Because the route is mainly on existing trails, the costs associated with the project are minimal, Kent said.

"Because so much of the trail is already on the ground and there is not a lot of new construction, the cost of the project is relatively small. We are still planning the missing portions of the trail, so we don't know what the final cost will be," Tracy said.

Trail development is an ongoing process, Tracy said. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,168-mile trail from Maine to Georgia is still incomplete, according to Tracy.

Kent hopes the trail will draw people to parts of the state they may not have explored. Local governments and outdoor organizations are enthusiastic about his proposal.

"I think everyone sees this as a great opportunity to encourage healthy living and promote our local communities. For example, many people don't know about Jersey City's unique and colorful history," Vega said.

As the trail committee works to ready the trail for use, they will begin efforts to promote the trail to the public.

Kent hopes the trail will get widespread use.

"I wanted to design a trail that everyone can enjoy. I think this is something that everyone might like to do once in their life," Kent said.