New 1.5 mile trail links Calais and Worcester
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Conservation Corps members work on the trail. Jeb Wallace-Brodeur |
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By SUSAN ALLEN TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: August 24, 2009
CALAIS – Calais wants to connect with its neighbors.
And starting this month, town residents can walk, bike or horseback ride to Worcester on a new 1.5 mile trail from Calais' Long Meadow Hill Road along a wooded path to the top of Gould Hill Road in neighboring Worcester.
"We're using an existing old road that used to connect the two towns and is not passable, big-time not passable," said Worcester resident Toni Kaeding, whose property extends into Calais and who serves on the Calais Trails Committee.
"It goes through our property," Keating said of the new trail, "so I know a fair amount of people already use it that way."
This is a pilot project for the newly formed trails group, seven residents who have taken on the job of trying to negotiate the community's desire for more recreational trails with the rights and concerns of property owners along any proposed routes.
The Calais-to-Worcester trail crosses the property of three landowners – two of them on the trails committee: Calais resident William Russell, also a panel member, Kaeding and Calais resident Darby Bradley.
Russell and Kaeding said they were not concerned about people using their land for non-motorized recreational purposes, which in the winter will likely include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
"The trail policies of the state offer some protection to landowners who offer up their land to public use," said Kaeding, who noted that the trail itself won't come too close to her home.
Russell agreed, adding that the Trails Committee is keenly aware of protecting landowners who agree to host a trail.
"We want to have a system of trails with the landowners' consent and control. We want to stress that this is the first trail. We're the first to jump into this," he said. He said participating landowners can revoke access under any arrangement, and the agreements are renewed annually to ensure everyone remains happy with the arrangement.
"We're trying to assure people that even though they may have an ancient road on our land, they can participate with us and if we do create a trail with their consent, it can be revoked" at the landowner's request, he added.
Calais resident Reed Cherington, who chairs the trails committee, said there have been other discussions about connecting trails in East Calais, as well as providing access to Hawkins Pond just north of the Worcester Road.
"We've had preliminary conversations about trails in other parts of the town. All our trails are for non-motorized use, primarily walking, horses and bicycles if landowners allow it," Cherington said. Referring to the Calais-to-Worcester trail now being cleared for use, he added, "This is our pilot project."
Russell said that while the committee is starting small, looking at individual trails, it would be great if at some future point some of the trails could be connected to form more of a network.
"We'd love to connect them, and connect them with other towns, like this one is," Russell said.
The Calais-to-Worcester trail was cleared by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corp, funded with a federal grant of $6,865, Kaeding said. Earlier this week, the all-girl crew was building a bridge about halfway down the trail and clearing brush. Keating said volunteers might be asked to help with the project, as well, now that the youth group's work is wrapping up.
She said the elementary school in both communities has expressed interest in possibly using the trail as part of their curriculum.
And, Kaeding said, given the fact there is currently only one road connecting Calais to Worcester, "We liked the idea of there being an alternate way to get between the two towns."
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