HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-30 ad Hoc - Northern Area Greenway Task Force MinutesRECEIVED
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
Ad Hoc Northern Area Greenway Task IfWjctjNG, MASS.
Town Hall Conference Room
November 30, 2006 Minutes 2000 JUN 21 A It! 42
Attendance: Dave Williams, Will Finch, Charles Donnelly Moran, Fred Alexander, Mark Rumizen
Absent: Marsie West, Joan Hoyt, Brant Ballantyne, Frank Driscoll
Also present: Kim Honetschlager, GIS Coordinator
The meeting was called to order at 7:45 PM.
Minutes from the November 2, meeting were amended and approved 5-0
Issues discussed
• Maps including contours and marsh are to be issued to all members.
• Proposed trails should be marked on maps
• Members should investigate volunteers for proposed work on greenway, e.g., surveyors,
Scouts for trail building. There is a scout currently proposing to fix the walkway through
the cranberry bog.
• Members should begin to identify priorities for committee recommendations
Priorities identified during the meeting included:
Increasing interest in the use of the greenway
Identify and develop uses for cabin
Connect the cabin via trail to Bare Meadow
•
Create some ADA accessability in the greenway
•
Establish signage for trails
•
Create maps of both trails and trail connections (roadway)
•
Identify parking at hubs
•
Ensure walkable surface of trails
•
Ensure connection of access points near Wood End school to old water treatment
facility/compost center access point.
•
Eliminate obstructions Town Forest access point, e.g., fencing
•
Identify proposed new trails
•
Classify priorities by time frame - create both near-term and long-term priorities
•
Identify all access points to the greenway identifying those with and without parking
•
Identify ways to connect Wood End to Lobs Pound/Marion Woods/CabirVBare
Meadow/Wood End/Haverhill St. including identifying and marking/signing roadways
needed to make connections
•
Identify safest point to cross Main Sl.
Other issues discussed:
•
There may be different goals for different areas of the greenway (goals by area could be
identified)
•
An opportunity may exist to create combined ADA access, canoe landing, fishing dock
(perhaps at Lob's Pound)
•
Ways to be mindful of neighbors around access points, particularly with regard to parking
•
Qualities and characteristics of the greenway vsthe popular route around Lake
Duannapowitt - the greanway has a distinctive connection with nature beyond that of the
paved walkway around the lake. We should endeavor to preserve the greenway's
connection with nature
• The greenway is under-utilized - creating comprehensive maps identifying both parking
hubs and access points, marking trails, and ensuring a walkable (bikeable where
applicable) surface will markedly increase the use of the greanway
• Possibility of biking from Wood End to water treatment plant via trails
• Making recommendations about general uses for both the log cabin and playing fields at
the water treatment facility site, and suggest that other town committees oversee their
development
Dedicating a bench in the Town Forest for Ben Nichols
Next meeting will be December 14th at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 9:02 PM. Voted 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Alexander
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