03 Jan Tread Lightly Impact Report: Brendan T. Byrnes State Forest Cleanup

Project: Brendan T. Byrnes State Forest Cleanup
Location: New Jersey

Description: This project was funded by a BFGoodrich® Tires Outstanding Trails grant awarded by Tread Lightly! Each year the Outstanding Trails program provides opportunities for off-roading clubs across America to nominate trails to receive grants for education and preservation. Since 2006, BFGoodrich has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to support organizations dedicated to conserving off-road trails. Past grant recipients have installed educational signage, improved infrastructure, and repaired local off-roading trails. 

On November 17, 2024, the Open Trails NJ team executed a cleanup of nine dump sites within the state forest. Open Trails NJ is comprised of hikers, hunters, enduro riders, geocachers, 4×4 enthusiasts, kayakers, horseback riders, photographers and environmentalists who want to help solve the problems facing the forest while keeping it open for responsible recreation.

23 volunteers from the Ocean County Competition Riders, S. Jersey Enduro Riders, S. Jersey Libertarian Party and the NJ Jeep Association all pitched in to make a difference in their state forest public lands. The project work was coordinated with the support of the NJ Deprtment of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) with the funding support from BFGoodrich Tires and their Outstanding Trails Grant. In all, the group of volunteers filled a 20-yard dumpster, 2 truck beds, a small trailer and collected 27 tires, vehicle parts and a lot of building materials, totalling 6,500 pounds of trash.

Thank you to the partners that made this possible:

• BFGoodrich® Tires Outstanding Trails
• Open Trails NJ
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• Ocean County Competition Riders
• South Jersey Enduro Riders
• Southern New Jersey Libertarian Party
• NJ Jeep Association

Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.

“Brendan T. Byrne State Forest values the support from Open Trails NJ in orchestrating the cleanup of a significant illegal dump site in the forest. This collaborative effort was made possible in part through a donation received from Tread Lightly! and the BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails Grant which enabled the rental of a large dumpster to dispose of the illegally dumped materials. Partnerships like this are essential to safeguarding state parks and forests like Brendan T. Byrne for generations to come.”- Meghan Yovankin, Superintendent of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest

“Collaborative efforts like the one executed by Open Trails NJ supported with funding through the BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails grant program are so wonderful to see. We all need to support efforts to encourage and implement responsible motorized recreation so that these lands stay open accessible for generations to come. Thanks to the diverse groups within Open Trails NJ for your volunteer time and for Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and NJ Department of Environmental Protection for all working together to help Tread Lightly! Protect the Adventure and Protect the Fun.”- Lowell Eckart, Southeast Program Manager, Tread Lightly!