Looking for a fun, safe way to celebrate summer while exploring your local community? Look no further than the Circuit Trails! The Circuit Trail network is a free, safe, 800-mile system of hiking and biking trails in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. There are gatherings of trails in Mercer, Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties that provide hours of exercise and beautiful views of the Delaware River. The NJ Tree Foundation focuses its efforts on portions of the Circuit Trail found in Camden City.
In Camden, the NJ Tree Foundation plants trees directly along the Circuit Trail and in neighborhoods adjacent to planned and ongoing portions of the Circuit. These trees are important for several reasons. First, the act of removing impervious surfaces and planting a tree in its place will reduce flooding and storm water runoff. Trees are water magnets. They use their roots to process and filter out common contaminants that are found in storm water runoff during a rain event. Opening up the sidewalk and planting trees allows the water to sink back into the ground naturally, rather than being dumped untreated down the storm drain and out to the closest water body. Storm water runoff carries anything that is found in the street, including: dog waste, litter, motor oil, fertilizer on lawns, and more. Trees reduce this runoff pollution and prevent excess storm water from entering vulnerable freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams.
Planting trees along the Circuit Trails is important not only for watershed health, but also for air quality. Trees use their leaves similar to their roots. The leaves take in carbon, filter out air contaminants and release clean, fresh oxygen for us to breathe. In addition, planting trees and vegetation is important for combating the urban heat island effect, a phenomenon where urban areas are several degrees hotter than nearby suburban or rural neighborhoods. With climate change becoming ever more a reality, trees are one of the most effective tools to reduce the impact of climate change and cool down overheated city streets.
After almost a year indoors due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, getting outside and exercising is important for both physical and mental health. The Circuit Trails provides an excellent opportunity to get your family outside and move on local trails right in your backyard. To find Circuit Trails near you, visit the Find Trails tool on the Circuit Trails website: https://circuittrails.org/find-trails
This summer, get #onthecircuit and explore all that the Circuit Trails has to offer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. You may find a new favorite exercise spot right in your own community!