2003-02-20COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
191 CABOT STREET
BEVERLY, MA 01915
MINUTES OF MEETING
FEBRUARY 20, 2003
PROGRESS REPORT ON INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP HANDICAP
ACCESSIBLE TRAIL
At the BCOD’s regular meeting on February 20, 2003, Tom Scully,
Community Services Director, Arthur Sullivan, Acting Director of Beverly
Parks & Recreation Dept. and Amy Maxner from Beverly’s Planning
Department assisted Commission members in exploring possible sites for
such a trail.
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED TRAIL:
·
Generally level five foot wide path
·
Side slope of less than 2%
·
Grade of less than 5%
·
Surface must be firm & stable, perhaps stone dust
·
Approximately every 300 – 500 feet, there should be a turn-off area
with a bench
·
Parking must include two van accessible spaces
·
Ideally, would have view or other attraction at end of trail
Summary of possible sites:
Sally Milligan Park
1. has some areas that are level enough to
accommodate such a trail but much is hilly. One area is tick
haven. Parking is not available. Generally, it is a challenging
site.
Green’s Hill
2. would have to stay close to the school playground
near the top. There are many deep gullies, eroded areas.
Clearing vegetation for trail would be difficult to prevent
further erosion. There is no exit to Bridge Street.
Lower Green’s Hill
3. is a Harbor Authority exploring trail.
Access from the street would be difficult.
Tanzella Property
4. at the end of Folger Avenue is challenging.
Hart St. Audubon
5. is too hilly.
Norwood Pond’s
6. entrance from Dodge St. or from Red Rock
would be most accessible, but parking would be difficult. A
fence now blocks access from the North Beverly School.
Access from the North Shore Music Theater leads to more hilly
area. The Norwood Pond Association would offer muscle &
perhaps funds to develop/support the trail. Conservation
Commission has no control over the land.
J. C. Phillips Nature Preserve:
7. In follow-up phone calls, Amy
and/or Elise spoke with:
·
Dept. of Environmental Mgmt. (Joel Lerner at 617-626-
1012) – DEM has no real interest, regulatory authority
or otherwise in the property. There is no need to include
in planning. He offered specs for the trail.
·
Trustees of Reservations (Ginny Slack at 978-921-1944)
– Trustees helped only with signs and trail maintenance
on a one-time project a few years ago.
·
Director of Field Operations for the Trustees (Tom
Foster at 781-821-2977) – The property is not theirs, but
they are supportive and willing to provide information
on trail design, which they used in a new trail in
Medfield at the Rocky Woods Reservation. This
included trail, parking, fishing platform & 3 or 4 picnic
tables.
·
Project Adventure: Tom Cahill and Juliette (617-626-
1012) – no ownership or management.
·
Beverly Department of Public Services Director, Mike
Collins, favors this site; the road is already about 20-24
feet wide, goes to the old estate, and would need some
re-grading.
Amy Maxner is to research with the Executive Office of Environmental
Affairs, who helped Beverly purchase the property, what restrictions are
placed on the property, if any, and if the trail would be in compliance with
restrictions.
Elise R. Bernstein
March 20, 2003