Visiting Roosevelt, NJ, and Hiking on Trails and Streets, 8-9 miles.

Approximately 8 to 9 miles on the trails around Roosevelt, with some walking on the local streets. This hike will highlight the unique history of Roosevelt, NJ.

We will have a guest speaker who has lived in Roosevelt for decades and is very knowledgeable about its history. Alan Mallach has written extensively on urbanism and community development, as well as being a top-notch pianist. He will address the group shortly after the start of our hike, so please be punctual.

Roosevelt, New Jersey, was originally called Jersey Homesteads. After President Roosevelt's death the name was changed to Roosevelt in his honor. Roosevelt was created during the Great Depression and was part of FDR's New Deal. It' s main purpose was to resettle Jewish Garment Workers. Jewish Garment Workers living in tenement apartments in New York and Philadelphia were relocated to live in rural industrial villages away from cities. The project was conceived and planned out. by Benjamin Brown. Among the planned towns, Roosevelt was unique for three reasons: it consisted of a triple cooperative of industry, farm and retail.
Between 1936 and 1939, 200 housing units were built. The units were a mix of single and attached one and two story homes, all with distinctive flat roofs and oversized windows.The flat roof architecture and other features of the homes were inspired by the European Bauhaus movement. Roosevelt is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the only town in the state to be included in its entirely.

We begin on the Woodland Trail which travels through the Borough of Roosevelt green acres, and Assunpink Wildlife Preserve. It contains a lot of tree roots and boardwalks. We continue on this trail until we connect to the Rocky Brook Trail with the option of hiking the Quail Run Trail up to Fairplay Road before returning back to Rocky Brook Trail. up to Agress Road Parking Lot for lunch break. There is a bench, picnic table, and porta-potty in the lot. After lunch we reverse directions and take the Rocky Brook Trail back to the Rochdale Avenue Trailhead. We walk through the streets of Roosevelt back to cars.

The Perrineville Lake Park Trails offer old farm roads, agricultural fields, wooded hills, and tall pines. They are all multi-use. We will pass a fishing pond on Rocky Brook trail and the Quail Run trail walks along Rocky Brook.
On this hike we will visit the Roosevelt Statue, Former Garment Factory, Roosevelt Cemetery, N. Rochdale Avenue, Homestead Lane, N.Valley Road, and Oscar Drive.

Bring drinks, lunch, snacks and something to sit on. Questions contact Al D. asilviod888@yahoo.com.,cell day of hike only 640 208-0872.
Jerry's cell: 609 577-9365.

The hike is 8-9 miles at nearly a 3 mph pace. There are no restrooms at the Meetup location. Before you leave the house check comments section for cancellations. If hike is cancelled it will be posted by 6 AM on day of event.
Arrive at least 15 minutes early for sign-ins, adjust boots, safety talk, etc. We will start on time.

For some background on Roosevelt watch this seven minute PBS video, "Dreaming of Utopia: Roosevelt, NJ"