Essex conservation commission weighs accessibility trail, bench placement and adopt‑a‑trail; field reports show Broadwalk flooding

At its July 9 meeting the Essex Conservation Commission reviewed on‑the‑ground work needed at Viney Hill Brook Preserve, including an accessibility assessment, bench placement and volunteer patrol planning.

Brette Fitton and Chair Tom Soboleski described a walk with Kent Glowa of Kencore Construction, who recommended an accessible trail loop around Wollock’s Pond and suggested accessible amenities such as a fishing deck. Commissioners noted the need to coordinate with Essex Park & Rec because the proposed routing lies in an active park area; Fitton said she will follow up because she chairs both ECC and Park & Rec.

Members agreed to attempt bench placement on the south side of Wollock’s Pond near the exclusion fence and planned a volunteer placement meeting on Friday, July 17 at 11 a.m.; Brette Fitton offered use of a truck to transport the bench. The commission also discussed adopting an Old Saybrook model for an Adopt‑a‑Trail program: short segments assigned to volunteers, monitoring rather than heavy maintenance, volunteers empowered to clear light debris but not perform chainsaw work, and the need to recruit five or six volunteers. After discussion, the question of where to start the program was tabled on a motion by Jim O’Brien and second by Brette Fitton.

Commissioners reviewed Kay Tucker’s field reports documenting trail conditions: Broadwalk flooding and standing water caused by recent beaver activity rendered sections impassable, the Uplands Trail and Quarry Pond Trail are overgrown in places, bog bridges and a trench intended to manage beaver water flow were not operating as intended, and the parking area was overgrown. Tucker and Mary Ann Pleva reported that those conditions prevented finding a suitable site for a buddy bench during a June 26 site search. Members discussed organizing work parties and recommended pairing volunteers for safety and effectiveness.

The commission scheduled follow‑up coordination with Park & Rec and more organized volunteer recruitment and work parties; the next ECC meeting is Aug. 13.