A keystone of the Regional Center is the Raritan River. Embracing the Raritan River as a theme embodies so much of what characterizes the Regional Center in terms of quality-of-life amenities and the opportunities to create vibrancy and interconnectedness. The Raritan River serves as a natural connection linking all three Regional Center communities and further connecting the Regional Center with adjacent communities and beyond. The presence of the Raritan River also gives the Regional Center an identifying landmark and ready access to unique natural environments.

The Raritan River Greenway affords tremendous opportunity to embrace health and wellness. Supporting the completion of the Raritan River Greenway will expand Regional Center opportunities for fitness, recreational biking, walking, and overall enjoyment of the river’s natural beauty. This will also complement the Regional Center’s work with the Rutgers Sustainable Raritan River Initiative to promote public access to the river for trail use, fishing, and watercraft recreation. The proximity of Duke Farms to the Raritan River Greenway further enhances opportunities for bicycling, walking, fishing, and other forms of recreation and tourism. Continuing to work with the Rutgers Sustainable Raritan River Initiative to promote public access to the river for trail use, fishing, and watercraft recreation is also recommended.

Key to capitalizing on these opportunities is increasing overall access to the Raritan River Greenway. The river’s close proximity to the downtown areas provides an opportunity to attract more people through promotional efforts to increase public awareness of the river and its recreational opportunities. Increased access to the River coupled with the extension of the Greenway path to Duke Farms has the potential to significantly add value to nearby neighborhoods and downtown Raritan Borough as tourists patronize local businesses and restaurants and Duke Farms from the Raritan Train Station. This gives added importance to support the design and construction of the Raritan River Greenway connection to Duke Farms.

To enhance these efforts, the Background Report provides recommendations such as coordinating park and recreational opportunities among the Regional Center communities and with Somerset County, and revising as needed the 2009 Regional Center Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Greenways System Connection Plan to address critical gaps remaining in the Regional Center’s existing pedestrian and bicycle pathway system.