Open Space Committee Meeting: May 6, 2025
7:00 pm Annex (large) and Virtual
6 Town Hall Dr, Princeton 01541
Published on: September 30, 2025 at 12:22pm
Last modified: September 30, 2025 at 12:22pm
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“The listings of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours before said meeting, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”
LIST OF TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
1. Approve Minutes from April
2. Quick Items
Hike Meeting Software
3. Trail Plan – Review/Improve work to date and Trail Ideas
4. Princeton Hikes
5. Other Business
Attending: Rick Gardner, Annie Charette, Deb Cary, Laura Reynolds
Excused: Susan Downing,Brian Specht, Phil O’Brien
Meeting came to order at 7:05
Last month’s minutes were approved unanimously by the four members present. Earth Month Cleanup is completed!; May 16 @5:30 celebration planned with entertainer
Software for hike meetup tool will be presented by Brian Spect next meeting
The next Kids Hike will be June 21 at 3:00. Annie will coordinate with Rev Joelle. 2025 Trail Planning Going Forward Update The first few sections of current trails plan were reviewed and edits made. The Plan to work with Private Landowners section, needs to be developed. Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and OSC communication with
Landowners, will be emphasized. We ended with Working With Private Landowners section. Further sections will be discussed in subsequent meetings. All should review TAP vision and trail concept to see if this is still useful to carry over from 2022 Overview. Next, we discussed how best to prioritize new sections. We reviewed a chart Rick developed with possible projects and placed one, two or three stars on the 25 potential connections based on benefit and effort and landowner difficulty as a first draft. We also reviewed the new map format that Rick developed recently vs. the old format and suggestions were made. For next meeting, all should finish writing the Trail Plan sections they were assigned. Trails Update Mirick trail: bench in place by the Brook spur overlook. Another bench is
proposed directly on the trail across from falls. Two more benches requested for Goodnow Park. Phil OBrien is willing to build. Rick proposed we spend $200 on the wood for future benches and it was approved by the four members present. TPS trails awaiting grant decision. Trail Maintainers Rick checked with all and all are on track. 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. Trail Maintenance Next Steps It was discussed that OSC should write annually to land owners to make sure they are OK with trails and to keep them appraised of Maintenance plans. Still
needs to be done.
Nature Walks were reviewed. Hikes have been well received. Parcel analysis continues. PLT is to take it to the next level. Princeton Hikes! are going well. Susan and Rick are working together. Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm The Next meeting is Tuesday June 10 beginning at 7:00pm. Respectfully submitted, Annie Charrette