HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 Trails Committee Annual ReportReading Trails Committee
Reading, MA 01867
2010 Annual Report
To whom it may concern:
This is the Annual Report of the Reading Trails Committee (RTC) for 2010,
outlining the activities and events that members, associate members and volunteers
participated in throughout the year.
The RTC is made up of a very interesting and active group of Reading residents
who enjoy outdoor activities and have a desire to thoughtfully maintain and develop
Reading's trail systems for others to explore, respect and enjoy.
With the support, knowledge and skills of Fran Fink, the Conservation
Administrator and Kim Honetschlager, the GIS Coordinator, the RTC has been
able to move forward with its mission. Their support has been instrumental in the
organization, planning, communication and progress of what the RTC has
accomplished. Fran and Kim have been major participants in applying for various
grants to support the financial needs of trail maintenance and improvement. Mike
DeBrigard and the DPW crew have also been very supportive of our committee by
providing time, equipment, digging holes where we couldn't, plowing snow, picking
up and disposing of piles of invasive plants, pouring cement pads for setting the
Judy LeBlanc benches along the handicapped accessible trail, all of which have been
very helpful. The volunteers that have attended and worked on the various projects
have been a great help and the RTC is very thankful to them. Many are from the
Adopt-a-Trail program and are happy to help out with whatever is going on. Most
are from Reading but some of our volunteers are from surrounding towns. Some
show up and work for a few hours and some stay a full day, and again, we are very
thankful for whatever they can do.
There have been monthly RTC meetings at the Town Hall and some members have
attended additional Town meetings for various reasons that were pertinent to RTC
or conservation business. Like most town groups the RTC is included on the Town
of Reading website where residents can be kept up to date with trail maps, new
information, upcoming events and invitations, photos of volunteers and projects,
etc. The Your Community Connection publication and local papers are also used to
share opportunities and updates.
Many of the RTC meetings have included Scouts who are looking for projects they
can use to obtain their Eagle Scout award. The amount of time a Scout puts into
planning a project, getting the advice and/or okay from Town Committees to go
ahead with a project, many times having to come up with funds or donations for a
project, and the many hours of hard work actually going into the project is quite a
feat. In the last few years those who venture into Bare Meadow or the Town Forest
have been able to walk, cross-country ski or snowshoe through some very wet areas
thanks to the completion of these well built wooden structures. Prior to these Eagle
Scout projects being built an completed these areas were not safely passable.
On a cold day in January a few RTC members traveled to Ward Reservation in
North Andover and Goldsmith Reservation in Andover to see how those trails had
been blazed (marked) and also to see the style of kiosks at each site. This was helpful
in deciding how to proceed with marking Reading's trails.
In April, the continuation of the Bare Meadow Enhancement project geared up
again. This ambitious project began and continued due to the application and
receipt of a MA Recreation Trails grant in the amount of $15,600 in 2010. The
first April day was considered a "trial" workday in the placement of 50 pound
cement "piers" set into the muddy ground. This was followed by pounding metal
"pins" through the piers into the ground, setting a foundation for the frame of
boardwalk. This was a successful day of work so the project continued through
April and into May, setting the remaining piers, attaching framing and decking
until the group had finished creating a very nice looking boardwalk and dry access
from the path entrance at Haverhill Street into trails that lead into Bare Meadow.
April 10th found members that were not working on the boardwalk, spending time
at the Earth Day Fair held at the RMLD. Trail maps and displays were set up and
discussed, as well as the Adopt-a-Trail program and opportunities to volunteer, and
to bring attention to Reading's trails and the outdoor recreational opportunities we
have.
June 5th, being National Trails Day was a day to get out and clean up the Mattera
Cabin yard and other members participated in the Ipswich River Cleanup collecting
trash, bottles, cans and disposing of them.
John Parsons attended an event in Medford, MA with the Department of
Conservation and Recreation where a trails event took place. John then reported
back to the RTC with information that he had gathered.
Participating in the Friends and Family Day in June is a time to share what the
RTC has been up to when people stop by the display table. There are always
reports from excited Reading residents who want to talk about the wildlife they've
seen in their neighborhoods or in town. Many are interested in the display maps of
the Town Forest and conservation areas and many, many people pick up
complimentary trail maps provided by Kim H. It is interesting to hear how
many people don't know that Reading actually has a Town Forest!
There was another work day in July finishing screwing down the decking on the
new boardwalk; a few teams worked on trail blazing (marking trees along color
coded trails with paint) the red and yellow trails in Bare Meadow woods in August;
holes were dug and prepared at three locations and kiosks were set up and secured,
one at the entrance to the handicapped trail at Mattera, one at the Haverhill Street
entrance and one at the entrance to the blue trail located at the back of Wood End
Cemetery. The kiosks will continue to be posted with trail maps, upcoming events,
conservation rules and regulations, etc.
The patch of Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant species, growing along the
driveway and entrance to Bare Meadow on Pearl Street, was cut down by RTC
members and disposed of properly. It is the hope and desire of the committee to
keep this patch from growing up again and spreading.
In September the RTC hosted an evening at the Senior Center for people who want
to continue "adopting" their designated trail and for new volunteers who would like
to become "adopters". Adopt-a-Trail Handbooks were handed out, names and
contact information exchanged and the list of volunteers grew.
The RTC is happy to report another productive and successful year of activities. It
is a group of people who enjoy working together, have similar outdoor interests and
believe the work they're doing is having a positive effect in Reading's woods and for
its residents. We will continue to make future plans and decisions, state our
opinions and ideas regarding any issues, celebrate our progress and oversee the
trails and how the woods can be used in a respectful manner and that they never
come to a "Wood End".
Thank you for the opportunity.
Reading Trails Committee
Joan A. Hoyt, Secretary
Tom Gardiner, Chairman
Alan Rosh, Vice Chairman
Dave Williams, Member
Susan Giacalone, Member
John Parsons, Associate Member
Will Finch, Associate Member
Matt DesMeules, Associate Member