Norwalk staff: Woods Pond trails are wood-chip paths, not paved; project funded by $1M grant

Ken, a city recreation and parks staff member, told the committee that Woods Pond and Lakewood trail work is being completed under a 2023 grant and that the trails will be natural, wood-chip surfaces rather than paved paths. "Back in 2023, we received a grant from Senator Duff's office. It was [a] $1,000,000 grant," Ken said, summarizing the project funding and timeline.

The city hired Alloy Design Studios to design the trail plan and awarded the construction work to Greenway Property Services after a public bid, Ken said. He told committee members the conservation commission issued a declaratory ruling that limits work in wetlands: "we can't bring any equipment in the wetlands. We can't cut any trees down in the wetlands, and we can't place any wood chips within the wetlands," Ken said, explaining how crews are working outside regulated wetland areas and hand-carrying one pedestrian bridge into place to avoid heavy equipment impacts.

Ken said contractors are roughly "90% done with the trail work" and will start laying wood chips as weather permits; plantings are scheduled to resume in spring. "There is a lot of planting. We're doing 120 new native trees within the site," he said, adding that the trees will screen neighbors. He also addressed wildlife concerns raised with the committee, saying the site contains a state-listed "special concern" turtle and the city has a spotter on site to prevent impacts during tree and soil work.

Why it matters: the project will add publicly accessible trails on city-owned land south of Woods Pond, with limits imposed by the conservation commission to protect wetland ecology and species of concern. Ken said the Lakewood section remains in permitting and will begin after Woods Pond work is complete.

Ken told the committee the work should be finished aside from planting and waiting for a bridge delivery: "So I would say by May, we'll be 100% complete with the woods on-site," he said, noting weather and material delays could affect that schedule.

The committee heard questions about dog access and whether the trails would allow pets. Ken said current city policy limits dogs on most city-owned properties and the committee would consider a later recommendation if members wanted dogs to be allowed on the new trails.

The committee did not take action at the meeting; this was an informational update and staff said they will return with final details as permitting and planting progress.