Marking The Way To

Town Open Spaces

By Kendra Bobowick

“Respect wildlife” and “Leave no trace of your visit here” are hints printed on Newtown’s new open space signs displayed for volunteers and officials huddled beneath a tent in a clearing off Brushy Hill Road Monday, November 30. Rainwater hurried in streaks across the canvas to drip on hoods and hunched shoulders.

With umbrellas closed and set aside, the officials, conservation commission members, town staff, and others offering their time and interest listened as Deputy Director of Land Use Rob Sibley said, “Today begins the volunteer process of trail marking…. We should all be outside enjoying [open space.]” Monday’s ceremony kicked off a volunteer effort to mark the town’s open spaces. “We want people to know that open space is not some area out there, it’s the land around you,” Mr Sibley added. This week he gathered volunteers to begin clearing and posting signs along the town’s preserved natural corridors where families might enjoy trails, wildflowers, and leaves rustling with each step.

Slipping out between bursts of harder rain, he pressed a set of pruning blades against an invasive branch of red and orange bittersweet as if he would clip it from the landscape — just a gesture of efforts to come. He demonstrated what volunteers — postponed by the rain — will help accomplish in Newtown’s open spaces.

With the help of a $15,000 grant from Iroquois Gas, the town now has a handful of signs to begin marking its properties and a collection of tools for brush clearing. Efforts will generate public access to town-owned parcels including the more than 80 acres where Conservation Commission members, elected officials, Parks and Recreation Department staff, and volunteers including Newtown Bridle Lands Association (NBLA) members gathered for both an “unveiling” and a day of recognition earlier this week.

Representing Iroquois, Ruth Parkins said, “Projects like this are why Iroquois continues its grant process. [Town personnel] should be commended for their foresight in making open space available to the public.”

A key supporter to this initial open space project is the Lato family, which owns a horse farm on adjoining property. Karen Lato’s parents Pat and Joe have owned their horse property for nearly 40 years. She and friends on the NBLA are eager to see trails accommodate horses. Karen Lato thanked Mr Sibley for welcoming horses to the trail. Her father’s farm was his dream. “He loved the farm, and the land,” and enjoying the open space, she said.

“We can’t wait to use the trails,” said NBLA board President Cindy Miller. “This is an awesome project. We have lost so much of our open space; they’re paving everything. We need to save what we have left.”

Mr Sibley thanked First Selectman Joe Borst, who served the last day of his term Monday. He thanked incoming Board of Selectman member Will Rodgers, State Representative Chris Lyddy, Conservation Commission members, the Parks and Recreation staff, and the Land Use Department staff, private groups such as the NBLA, Newtown Forest Association, and others who support the town’s natural resource preservation. A cooperative effort between the town departments and volunteer efforts and a “relationship with agencies in our town is crucial,” Mr Sibley said.

Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold agreed, “It’s all about cooperation and planning and care of property and its uses.” Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson said that approximately one day a month finds his staff working on a town project clearing trails, for example.

While signs also are critical to alert people to open space areas, plans for funding are also necessary. Past planning has included roughly $10 million available to the town for land purchases. With the funds exhausted, Newtown has acquired nearly 500 acres. Glancing toward coming years, Mr Sibley said, “I look forward to future bonding issues so we can have more days like this.”

The 80-plus acres where he stood Monday carried another significance. Portions of contiguous parcels came to the town through either purchase, donation, or portions set aside from subdivisions. “A lot of things came together here,” he said.

Raising one point was resident Susan Holms. “Dog walkers and birders know there is great land around us, but we’re not really sure where it all is.” The town’s Global Information System is producing maps that will make available information on Newtown’s open spaces, parking areas, and designated uses.

Noting two “quantum leaps,” in the town’s progress, Selectman Will Rodgers acknowledged the Land Use department’s efforts to connect parcels, and noted that they stretched their open space dollars with easements.

Eventually public access will come from the Dickinson Park vicinity to access the 80 acres near the Lato family farm. Watch the news for details about rescheduling Monday’s volunteer trail session.

Contact the bridle association at www.nblact.com. Anyone can join, said Ms Miller. The group members frequently clear trails for horses and recreation. Contact the town’s Land Use offices at 203-270-4279 or through newtown-ct.gov.