Parks committee seeks planning grant for Kim Gardner preserve amid strict conservation easement

Committee member (S3) told the Midway Parks, Trails and Tree Committee on April 28 that the recently acquired Kim Gardner preserve is subject to a conservation easement with significant restrictions, and the committee will pursue a planning grant to develop concept drawings and collect public input before advancing construction or amenities.

"I met with Wes. I met with Derek, the Sunrise Engineering," S3 said, adding, "the conservation easement is extremely restrictive."

S3 described the parcel as 41 acres and said the committee and staff are targeting roughly five miles of soft-surface trail that would meander through the property. Because the easement limits what can be done, S3 said the planning grant will support concept designs and public outreach to ensure the committee and the easement holder align on permissible improvements.

S3 explained the site also ties into a mitigation arrangement related to earlier trail impacts, saying the town agreed to set aside a 3.9-acre mitigation site (two water "shares") rather than pay an estimated wetland mitigation fee of about $800,000. "In order to not pay about $800,000 in fees we Midway agreed to put 3.9 acres into a mitigation site with 2 shares of water," S3 said.

S3 said planned elements under discussion include one asphalt parking lot, one gravel lot near the train depot, selective tree plantings and a low-key design to preserve the area's character. S3 also said the committee plans to request a letter from Wendy Fisher (the easement administrator referenced in the discussion) to include with the grant application confirming she is informed and (ultimately) supportive of the proposed approach.

Committee members emphasized a low-impact approach: S3 said the preserve should remain "very low key," with soft trails favored over asphalt to reduce excavation and environmental disturbance. S3 also mentioned a proposed entry arch at an estimated cost of about $35,000 as a possible branding element for the preserve.

Next steps: the committee will submit a planning grant application, produce concept drawings with Sunrise Engineering, solicit public input and circulate materials (including maps) to committee members and the easement manager. No formal construction or approvals will proceed without the easement manager's sign-off, S3 said.