Next Steps to Ensure the Success of the SharedUse Nature Path
C
Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. 2017. Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. easthamptonma.gov/government/forms-documents/planning/plans-anddocuments/1377-complete-streets-prioritization-plan-narrative/file.html
This report represents a beginning for a path that will provide residents of Easthampton many benefits. A few topics remain to be considered in more depth to ensure that the proposed path fully meets the needs of its future users. In particular, questions of safety and future management have not yet been addressed in this report.
Fort River Trail at the Conte Refuge. Kestrel Land Trust. www.kestreltrust.org/ places/fort-river-trail
D
Safety A well-used shared-use path with multiple connections to residential neighborhoods and a popular city park may not present major safety concerns. However, given that children would be one of the primary users of the path, safety is an important consideration. A well used path is generally a safer one, so the design should encourage regular use by making it easy to use, comfortable, convenient, and accessible for a range of users. One suggestion made by survey respondents is to implement a program where adults on bikes help guide children back and forth on the path in the morning and afternoon, similar to how crossing guards currently help children safely cross roads during busy commute times. Other safety measures, such as lighting, could also be considered, after a thorough discussion of the impact such measures may have on abutters and wildlife.
Ongoing Management Management of paths can be a challenge for any municipality, especially paths that are designed to be used year-round. If porous asphalt is used in the construction of the proposed shared-use path, the faster ice and snow melting times and reduced need for clearing and salting should minimize winter management needs. Some grants can be used to help fund ongoing management. In addition, engaging community or youth volunteer groups to help with maintenance could foster a sense of stewardship of the path as well as provide education about invasive species and management of sensitive ecosystems.
A
FrogWatch USA. 2020. frogwatch.fieldscope.org/v3 Fryer, Janet L. Celastrus orbiculatus. In: Fire Effects Information System, 2011. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us / database/feis/plants/vine/celorb/all.html Gessinger, Kristen, Mary Sage Napolitan, and Mallory Rasky. Emerging Pathways: A Conceptual Multi-Use Trail Network. 2019. The Conway School. Kruska, Nate. Wetland Boardwalk Construction: Solutions for a Fragile Ecosystem. 2017. Conte Company. www.contecompany.com/wetland-boardwalkconstruction-in-a-fragile-eco-system. MacDonald, Stuart. Porous Asphalt Shows Advantages for Trail Surfacing. 2011. American Trails. www.americantrails.org/resources/porous-asphalt-showsadvantages-for-trail-surfacing Massachusetts Safe Routes to School: Infrastructure Application Guidance Document. 2018. Massachusetts Department of Transportation. www.mass.gov/ doc/infrastructure-application-guidance-document/download
Future Connections
MassTrail Grants Program: Grant Guidelines and Application Information. 2020. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. www.mass.gov/doc/masstrails-grantguidelines-and-application-information/download
The path route proposed in this report could lead to future additional paths that would provide connections to other parts of the city. Three potential connections are shown in yellow above, offering connections to the Manhan Rail Trail, downtown Easthampton, and the neighborhoods on the east side of Nashawannuck Pond and Broad Brook. These potential connections are also discussed in the winter 2019 Conway report, Emerging Pathways.
Open Space and Recreation Plan. 2013. City of Easthampton. easthamptonma. gov/government/forms-documents/planning/plans-and-documents/613-openspace-and-recreation-plan-2013-final/file.html
A: Side paths along Plain Street and Strong Street.
Selbig, W.R., and Buer, Nicolas. Hydraulic, water-quality, and temperature performance of three types of permeable pavement under high sediment loading conditions. 2018. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018– 5037, 44 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185037`
B: Easthampton High School and Manhan Rail Trail. C: Pedestrian Bridge across Nashawannuck Pond at Boat Ramp. D: Wetland Boardwalk across Broad Brook at Town Agricultural Land.
Native Americans before 1675. Historic Easthampton. www.historiceasthampton. com/NativeAmericans.html Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind. 1998. Trails and Wildlife Task Force, Colorado State Parks, and Hellmund Associates. www.americantrails.org/files/pdf/ Trails-for-Wildlife-Handbk.pdf.
Spear, Tom E. A Tale of a Trail: Boardwalks for Woodinville. 2007. American Trails. www.americantrails.org/resources/a-tale-of-a-trail-boardwalks-forwoodinville Wulkan, Hannah. MAP Multi-year Volunteer Project to Make Mud Pond Trail, off Moody Bridge Road in Hadley, Accessible to All, Nears Completion, Opening Set for October. 2014. Hampshire Gazette. www.gazettenet.com/Archives/2014/07/ trailswork-hg-073014
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Galen Hammitt | Walker Powell | The Conway School
B
City of Easthampton Master Plan: A Reflection of the Past, A Vision for the Future. 2008. City of Easthampton. easthamptonma.gov/government/forms-documents/ planning/plans-and-documents/605-easthampton-master-plan-final-for-web/file. html
Prepared for the City of Easthampton | Spring 2020
About the Barnes Aquifer. Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee. bapac. pvpc.org/index.html
PLAINS TO SCHOOL: A Shared-Use Path for Easthampton
NEXT STEPS AND FUTURE CONNECTIONS
NEXT STEPS AND FUTURE CONNECTIONS
References
