New Jersey Statutes Title 13. Conservation and Development Parks and Reservations 13 § 8-31

a. The Legislature hereby finds that in order to provide for the ever-increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding population, and in order to promote public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoor, natural and remote areas of this State  1 trails should be established both in natural and scenic areas of New Jersey, and in and near the urban areas of this State.

b. The Legislature, therefore, declares that it is the policy of this State to provide the means for attaining these objectives by instituting a Statewide system of recreation and scenic trails, by designating the Appalachian trail as the initial component of that system, and by prescribing the methods by which, and standards according to which, additional components may be added to the system.