Earlier in October, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) dedicated an enhanced Sensory Awareness Trail at the Forest Resource Education Center (FREC) in Jackson, strengthening opportunities for people of all abilities to experience and learn about the Pine Barrens and the Barnegat Bay watershed.
The upgraded trail now includes features designed to engage multiple senses and ensure that visitors with different abilities can fully participate. New interpretive signs provide information in both standard text and Braille. Tactile elements along the path allow visitors to feel textures and shapes that represent natural features such as leaves, bark, and wildlife tracks. An audio tour adds another layer of accessibility, guiding visitors through the forest and explaining ecological connections in a way that supports those with visual impairments. The trail surface itself has been improved for easier navigation with mobility devices, making it more accessible for people who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility.
Opportunities to enjoy and learn from the natural world should be available to everyone, yet many traditional trails and outdoor education sites are difficult to navigate for people with mobility, vision, or other physical challenges. Accessible trails like the one at FREC help address this gap by ensuring that all community members can participate in outdoor learning, recreation, and stewardship.
Accessible outdoor spaces also provide families and educators with inclusive environments where children can explore together, regardless of ability. Creating more of these spaces across New Jersey is vital not only for equity, but also for building stronger community connections to nature and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Sensory Awareness Trail at FREC is part of a broader movement to make New Jersey’s natural areas more inclusive. The NJDEP has been developing more accessible trails throughout the state park system, with sites such as Spruce Run Recreation Area, Allaire State Park, and Cheesequake State Park offering wide, stable surfaces, audio tours, and tactile experiences to welcome visitors of varying abilities. These trails are designed to provide independent access to nature for people who may have previously faced barriers to participation.
By expanding opportunities for accessible recreation and education, these projects help ensure that nature belongs to everyone. The enhanced Sensory Awareness Trail at FREC contributes directly to that vision while also connecting visitors to the unique headwater ecosystems that sustain Barnegat Bay.
Earlier this fall, the BBP brought local teachers to FREC to explore its trails and waterways as part of a professional development retreat. During their visit, teachers experienced firsthand how the Sensory Awareness Trail can be used as a teaching tool to introduce watershed science to students of all abilities. Partnerships like these help expand the reach and impact of accessible spaces, ensuring they are not only places to visit but also resources that enrich classrooms and communities across the watershed.
The Barnegat Bay Partnership extends a heartfelt congratulations to the team at the FREC for the thoughtful consideration and time that was put into making this trail a success. We are proud to partner with organizations that understand the need to create welcoming, educational, and inspiring outdoor spaces that serve the needs of all residents.
