July 25, 2016 –

Construction continues on the Mutter Field accessible trail. The parking lot off of East St., is almost finished as well as the ramp, with railings, going from the parking lot to the beginning of the trail. A kiosk to display information has also been erected near the entrance of the ramp. A couple of rock enclosures have been installed along the trail itself to house butterfly gardens.  Landscape plantings as well as grass seed have been planted a near the ramp and between the abutting property.

People have already been enjoying the trail, however it has been observed that there are problems with dog messes being left on the trail itself.

A dedication ceremony is set to take place sometime in early fall.

At the PCT annual meeting John Bator, Trust President, outlined Trust activities and accomplishments in 2015 and also presented goals for 2016.

2015 Activities

A. FUNDRAISING/GRANTS/DONATIONS:

· 2 Plant sales;
· Sales of Sue’s Pond/Mt Tom calendars;
· CPA funding for Mutter Field project, Phase 2;
· Mutter Field Fundraising campaign;
· UPS grant for John Bator Park — new gazebo; replace parking lot bollards; granite benches;
· DCR Recreational Trails grant for SEPCT Collaboration — trails connectivity project;
· Finance Committee formed (seeking endowment for property maintenance, etc.);
· Miscellaneous donations, large and small;
· Perennials donated for J.B. Park by Richard Richardson of 3 Sisters Sanctuary.

B. PUBLIC RELATIONS/OUTREACH:

· Database – ongoing revamping of the program; new manager in training;
· Website updated;
· Annual meeting — guest speaker Artie Mc Collum;
· April slide show on trust properties by John B & Mutter Field project talk by Marty Klein presented at Lathrop;
· Meeting with Riverside Industries last June;
· Summer newsletter;
· New brochures printed;
· High School Conservation Scholarship awarded to Lauren Dolinski;
· Candlelight vigil at Angel Monument in December;
· PCT potluck hosted by Fred and Jane Andresen;
· October groundbreaking ceremony for phase 2 of the Mutter Field project. (video on ECAT & PCT Website).

C. PROPERTIES MAINTENANCE:

· New bird houses set up at Old Trolley Line and Pomeroy Meadows conservation areas;
· “Welcome To Easthampton” sign at Old Pascommuck conservation area revamped by Dawn and her father;
· Broad Brook conservation area entrance cleaned up. Viburnums planted along entrance border;
· John Bator Park/Angel Monument: Kevin Mulligan added more reinforcement boulders to base of new shoreline steps. Chain link fence between park and Municipal Building green area removed by Robert MacDonald. He and wife Nance also planted new perennials in that area and added a path to the M. B. parking lot; new red granite bench added;
· Pomeroy Meadows conservation area— Eagle Scout project: main footbridge and banking steps weather proofed by Bryan Fleury;
· Hannum Brook conservation area— border pins and caps checked; many intrusions;
· Mutter Field — Phase 1 completed last spring; phase 2 started last fall;
· Brickyard Brook conservation area— Decaying banking steps near Mountain View Farm Replaced by Kevin Mulligan;
· Updating properties maintenance sheets as part of a plan to fund maintenance through an endowment.

D. LAND PRESERVATION:

· SEPCT COLLABORATION — Trails connectivity project, joining Whittemore conservation area in Southampton to Pomeroy Meadows;
· Lathrop Community project to obtain a conservation restriction on their open space, and eradicate invasives in that area;
· Collaboration with Arcadia, Kestrel, Winding River to save open space in the area, especially Mt. Tom;
· Conway School of Landscape Design – Mt Tom protection study and Park Hill trails feasibility study.

E. MISCELLANEOUS:

· New trailer purchased for transport of mower;
· Storage unit donated by developer David Boyle;
· PVPC Manhan River Water Quality study.

2016 Goals

A. FUNDRAISING/GRANTS etc.:

· Fundraising events being planned (Loudville leadmine & Mills;
· Complete an endowment program for maintenance;
· Complete the process of revamping our banking investments in order to gain more interest and bang for our bucks.

B. PUBLIC RELATION/OUTREACH:

· Complete revamping our database program;
· Letters to neighbors at Hannum Brook Conservation area regarding intrusions;
· Newsletter in summer;
· Trust High School Conservation Award — spring 2016;
· Grand opening ceremony for Mutter Field.

C. LAND PRESERVATION:

· Hendrick Street Meadow (Conservation Restriction);
· Mt Tom foothills area (include wetland meadow below Fort Hill brewery?;)
· Mill Street/Manhan Dam area — boat launch;
· Complete Trails connectivity project for the Whittemore/Pomeroy Meadows area Continue partnering meetings with Kestrel, Arcadia, Winding River, Conway School, City.

D. PROPERTIES MAINTENANCE:

· Complete Phase 2 of Muller Field;
· Correct sedimentation problem at far end of Brickyard Brook;
· New birdhouses at Old Trolley Line and butterfly garden  at Mutter Field;
· Brochure boxes at Pomeroy and Muller Field;
· Weatherproof viewing platforms at Pomeroy;
· Finalize Properties Maintenance list, including estimated yearly costs;
· Install new gazebo, new parking lot bollards, granite benches at John Bator Park.

 

If you drive down East St. you may see the outline in wood of the all accessible trail in it’s infancy.  Below are pictures that Marty Klein, board member and major force behind the project, has taken of the beginning construction: