Open Space Committee
Open Space Committee minutes for November 9, 2021
Present: Rick Gardner, Susan Downing (remotely), Deb Cary, Karen Rossow and guest Scott Morris, Princeton’s new Director of Parks & Recreation.
Meeting began at 7:03. As is the current protocol, Rick set up a laptop computer GoTo Meeting for remote access for any member of the public to join us in this fashion.
1.) Minutes from the October 13, 2021 meeting were unanimously approved.
2.) The primary purpose of inviting Scott Morris was to introduce us to him and vise versa. Also to discuss the Princeton Open Space & Recreation Plan Update 2020 which he may not be familiar with and, more specifically, Goodnow Park plans. Scott explained that there is momentum for resurrecting the former frisbee golf course in Goodnow Park but limit it to 9 holes. It isn’t expensive and he has sought design advice from someone who has experience doing this and who discovered the sport at Goodnow Park. We encouraged Scott to let us know when he’d like trail clean-up to be done so we can mobilize a team for him. We can also work on kiosk(s) and signage. Scott expects to do the initial staking himself in the next month or so while the trees are bare. We also went over the OS&RP with Scott to strategize assigning tasks between the OSC and P&R. He seemed amenable.
Under Goal 1, point 2, Scott’s vision for Krashes Fields includes changes to the Everett Needham Field House, specifically having garage-style doors replace the front façade. For point 3, two members of P&R (Melissa and Travis) live in East Princeton and they are writing grant proposals for Sawyer Field to acquire new playground equipment and a fence along Leominster Road side of playground for safety. Under point 4, he will look at what P&R used to do to see what he can bring back and what else he can add for recreational activities. Point 5 (communicating trail use standards) is part of our current website re-design. Regarding points 6 (beautification projects) and point 7 (ADA compliance), Karen has volunteered to represent the OSC when either or both of these groups mobilize.
For Goal 2, they all fall under the OSC either independently or in conjunction with the Town, the Princeton Land Trust and/or the Environmental Action Committee. Point 6 (support the implementation of the Green Community Program) has been completed, while the others are works in progress.
Goals 3 and 4 are also actively progressing well. We will hold an annual Trail Summit on February 6, 2022. One objective of Goal 4 is to encourage the highway department to take responsibility for plowing snow away from some trailhead parking areas that fall under the Town’s jurisdiction. Rick will talk with Jay Fitzgerald and Ben Metcalf about this.
Goal 5 is nearly met: Point 1 is to host annual OS&R summits and point 2 is to organize annual maintenance and improvement activities, which we have coordinated with the EAC and committed citizens with our Earth Month Clean-Up each April.
3.) TAP trails update: Phil, Deb and Rick will keep adding trail signs as necessary and welcome feedback from hikers. Thomas Prince School kiosks done and having the 8th grade students participate in a design competition was a terrific idea. Also, it has been collectively decided that the Town is responsible for the trails at the school should any issues (creepy people, litter, etc.) arise. The kiosk sign at Four Corners is ready but has to be erected.
The website re-design is progressing well; Pat McGowan, Phil O’Brien, Susan and Rick have a plan ready to implement. The trails page will have a table of trail areas and the map will be moved off of the main page. We will consider adding an overview of landowner information relating to land preservation, such as the difference between and “easement” and “permission”. Red Fox Farm walk-through with DEP took place today. DCR didn’t express interest in this. Calamint Hill Road to Brooks Station Road link: Deb has reached out to Phyllis Booth and other landowners with no response yet. Deb will keep trying.
4.) Trails summit February 6th: We will dedicate most of our next meeting to this. We should begin NOW to prepare presentations on trail vision, maps, landowner conservation options, opportunities for helping (trail stewards, OSC, PLT), talk about Princeton Hikes! (Susan and Karen), announcing upcoming P&R events if any. Please bring a shell of what you expect to say (or demonstrate with slides and/or Powerpoint, as Rick might) to the next meeting. Also think about who to approach about joining the OSC.
5.) Princeton Hikes! going strong.
6.) Vote: to approve $120 for hardware for sign mounting and $100 for additional signs. Unanimously approved. Vote: to make next year’s budget $1000 less 3% per administration’s request. Unanimously approved.
7.) Next meeting: Tuesday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the town hall annex.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Rossow