HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-31 ad Hoc - Northern Area Greenway Task Force Minutes~jT' CLERK
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Town of Reading
Ad Hoc Northern Area Greenway Task For
Town Hall Conference Room 708 JUN 1 A 11: 4 2
May 31, 2007 Minutes
Attendance: Dave Williams, Will Finch, Mark Rumizen, Charles Donnelly Moran, Frank Driscoll,
Fred Alexander
Absent: Joan Hoyt, Brant Ballantyne
Also present: Kim Honetschlager, GIS Coordinator, Bob Weggel, Heather Clish
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 PM.
Minutes from the May 17th meeting were amended and approved 5-0
Issues discussed:
• Letter from Peter H. will be sent to all members extending NAG to December 318t
• Next meeting dates: 6/21, 7/26
• Summ
ary of Saturday's site walk in Bare Meadow (notes to be e-mailed)
o
Started with path from Log Cabin (swimming pool) to Bare Meadow
o
Side hill construction without drainage is possible
o
Would be easy to create ADA access by softening grade. Trail should be flagged.
o
Continued to Haverhill St. on path that Will had flagged previously
o
Trail may need to be adjusted - should be flagged again
o
From Haverhill St. grade should be softened for easy access and to avoid erosion
o
There are two stone walls with gap between them - parts of stone walls are on
property lines
o
Area near Haverhill St. will require bog bridging - may not be entirely wet but would
benefit trail - heavy traffic may erode areas that are not entirely wet
o
Probably about 100 ft. of boardwalk needed around stream area
o
Are should be scouted more closely for driest route
o
Near beginning of trail out to Haverhill approx. 100 ft of wet area on trail. Heather
recommends laying down geo-textile (geo-fabric) to hold fill - will probably take 6
inch. of fill approx. 6 ft. wide
o
Trail entrance near Pearl St. entrance needs repair (tire tracks)
o
Trails are wide enough for cross-country skiing
o
Some blow-downs on main trails that may have to be removed
o
Some trails need side trimming for width
o
Trail markings/signage needed - perhaps single color for main trail and other colors
for side trails ancillary to main greenway
o
Intersections of trails can be marked with a number that will be shown on a map
• ADA accessibility
o Committee should determine what sections should be accessible.
o Log Cabin to Bare Meadow
o Parking key to making area accessible
o Fire roads in Town Forest very sturdy
o Select places that are good candidates - then create ADA based on use
o Brookline - focused on making structures accessible - not necessarily trails
o Bog bridging - planks set across (perpendicular) as opposed to lengthwise may be
best for ADA
o No Federal regulations currently for accessibility for trails - guidelines are being
considered now
• Two options now - finish with Bare Meadow, i.e., Bare Meadow as pilot project for completion
of upgrades or move on to assess other areas
o Document in detail what needs to be done
o Scouts, others are ready to build improvements now
o Flag lines for trails and then log it out, i.e., detail specific improvements with cost
estimates
o Possibility of creating form with checklist of improvements
o Plans typically mark specific points on map for improvement
o Create working document with specific areas for improvement - cost estimates can
be assigned
• Heather may have contacts experienced with trail assessment/construction
• Completing Bare Meadow may provide good experience in construction/planning that can be
applied to other areas
• Scouts building current projects have been given same instructions for building boardwalk
• Engineering study needs to be done on NW passage
• After Bare Meadow, scouting needs to be done Marion Woods, Lobs Pound
• Scouting for Bare Meadow can be completed in one day
• Date to complete scouting on Bare Meadow: Sunday, June 10th @ 9:00 a.m. at Haverhill St.
• Heather will make contact with RTCA (applications typically due in August)
Committee should be ready to provide assessment on NW passage _
• Letter to be sent to abutters advising of NAG site walk for June 10th
The meeting adjourned at 9:56 PM. Voted 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Alexander