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The Town of Marlborough
Nature Trails and Sidewalk Commission

The Nature Trails and Sidewalk Commission is an advisory commission to the Board of Selectmen, in charge of the development of the trail and sidewalk network in Marlborough.  It was created in January 2006 as a two-year temporary commission, with the option of it becoming a permanent commission after that.

Commission Members:
W. David Gilbert, Chair
Sherry Newman, Vice Chair
Louise Concodello, Secretary
E. Russell Johnston III
Betty O’Brien
Cathy Phelps
Robert Wilcox
Mike Malloy

Alternates:
Vacancy
Vacancy

Non-Voting Members:
Owen McGaughey

Contact:  Peter Hughes, Planning and Development Director, Town Hall, 860-295-6202

2007 Meeting Dates:  January 31, February 21, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24, November 28, December 26 (all meetings are at 7 PM)

Current Projects:

I. School Drive Sidewalk

A sidewalk along the south side of School Drive from the elementary school to the library is currently under design for construction in summer 2007.  This sidewalk will be five to six feet wide, with new plantings and reconstructed stone walls installed along the length of the sidewalk.  A pedestrian bridge will be built spanning a wetland near the library.  This sidewalk will enhance pedestrian safety along School Drive and encourage walking between the library, senior center, and elementary school.  This project will be one of the projects funded by the $775,000 received from two Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants from the State of Connecticut.

II. Town Green Improvements

Milone and MacBroom, the consultants designing the Town Center Plan, are currently working with the Commission with the development of a Town Green Master Plan.  The plan will call for uniting the two halves of the town green by relocating Jones Hollow Road to the north, improving the Town Hall parking lot, improving the War Memorial, and adding new features to the green.  In addition, sidewalks will be installed within the green, as well as along North Main Street from Town Hall to Route 66.  A short sidewalk will be built along the east side of South Main Street to serve the commercial developments there.  This project will be done in coordination with the state Dept. of Transportation, which will be improving the traffic signal and adding a pedestrian “Walk/Don’t Walk” button.  This project will be another project funded by the STEAP grants that the town has received.

III. Elementary School Nature Trail

A two-mile network of nature trails has been approved to be built on town open space to the south and west of the elementary school.  It will expand off of the existing nature trail footpath constructed in the early 1990s.  This trail will be reconstructed and new trails and loops will be added.  These trails will be six feet wide, generally surfaced with stone dust, with paved sections on steeper slopes.  Several bridges across small watercourses are included in this project.  This project was approved by the Conservation Commission in summer 2006 and is ready for construction.  The town has currently allocated $34,000 for this project, which will fund at least one-half mile of the network, as well as a catwalk at a vernal pool for use by classes.  The town has applied for additional grant money to fund additional segments of the network.

IV. Blackledge River Greenway – West Road to North Parker Road

The town of Marlborough has received a $48,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection for constructing a trail along the east side of the Blackledge River.  This trail will begin at West Road and continue south and east through town open space.  It will utilize a public-access conservation easement west of Fox Meadow to a new bridge across the Foot Sawmill Brook.  This bridge connects to an existing woods road and footpath which extends to North Parker Road and the Salmon River State Forest.  The Commission has also applied for a grant to improve the woods road and footpath between the Foot Sawmill Brook and North Parker Road.

V. Long Range Trail Plan

This commission is developing a plan for future trail development in Marlborough.  This will be coordinated with the Open Space and Land Acquisition Plan that is being developed by the Conservation Commission.  Connections to all four surrounding towns are sought, and usage of natural corridors is preferred.  Many of these trails will be located in existing state forest or town open space, while other trails will utilize corridors through new developments.  The plan should be adopted in spring 2007.