Open Space Committee Meeting: April 8, 2025

Attending: Rick Gardner, Annie Charette, Susan Downing, Deb Cary, Laura Reynolds, BrianSpecht, Phil O’Brien
1.The minutes from March were approved unanimously
2. Phil O’Brien was approved as an alternate to the Open Space by the Select Board and has been signed in. 3. Earth Month Cleanup. Update: 137 segments included, ~110 people/ families volunteered, 98.4%assigned. OSC will take Rte 31; planning for April 16 starting at 11:30/12:00 for the committee to tackle the mile section assigned. Motion to approve up to $250 for musician for May 16 celebration was passed unanimously. 4. Brian will try out the hike meetup tool that we discussed at the March meeting. 5. Kid’s Hike on April 5 went well. It was well attended considering the weather. Annie led the kids hike with Susan’s assistance. Rev Joelle helped with promotion and attended the hike. We did the Bullock-McElroy trails, starting and ending from Krashes field and going up andover
the esker X2. Rev Joelle is interested in offering kids hikes more often. The Open Space committee will support her efforts. 6. Trail Update
Mirick trail is complete; it just need some signs up. TPS trails: awaiting grant decision. TPS to have Earth Cleanup on Trails and other outdoor
spaces April 18, 2025. Some OSC members will help. Susan brought up desire for a bench at the river bend at Cobb Brook. Phil O’Brien agreed to make three and will buy the lumber. Thank you Phil!
7. Rick presented the list of Trail Maintainers. He plans to send an email out to checkin with this group as to how things are going. Rick also plans to send a follow-up email to the people who attended the Trail Summit in early February. This follow-up email will include the list of trail maintainers and suggest they can reach out to trail maintainers if there are issues with the trails that they notice while hiking that are too big. He will also let the people attending know there will be new trails soon and help will be needed. 8. Trail Maintenance Next Steps
It was discussed that OSC should write annually to landowners to make sure they are OK with trails and to keep them appraised of Maintenance plans. Reviewed Landowners Assignment
A. Nimrod – Rick
B. Jacobson – Brian
C. Mirick -Rick
D. Gregory – Rick or Deb
E. Walcott – Laura
F. Stern – Susan
9. Nature Walks were reviewed
It was noted that these hikes have less reservations than last year and 2023 at this same time. Rick to advertise with Senior Center publication as well as in Next Door
Princeton, and FB group: Discussing Princeton
10. Update with Princeton Hikes
SHORT, SLOW, EASY Hikes have been well received. 11. Rick reported on PLT Landowner Outreach Committee. The approach with PLT Board is complete after some clarification. The next meeting is April 30. Then the plan is to begin contacting landowners with letters/brochures and continue to review OSC Maps and Grids. 12. Trails Plan
Susan and Laura to create a list for new trails and improved signage from the Trail Summit
meeting including a table for new trails. Laura will write up a section of the Trail Plan with Ecological Aspects. Everyone should look at Rick’s map of “New Trails Idea” and make comments. Laura will see if she can improve this map to make roads clearer and open space highlighted. Rick will add a grid and we can check off as we finish and review the Trails Plan. Rick suggests we get rough drafts of Trail Plan completed by next meeting May 6. Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm, Next meeting is Tuesday May 6 beginning at 7:00pm.