Greenway Meeting with Hayward Avenue Neighbors

The West Lexington Greenway team had the opportunity to meet with a number of neighbors of the Hayward Avenue, Woodpark Circle, and Wood Street area. This is one of the few areas where the proposed WLG trail which might pass within easy view of houses. (Another area of visibility is near Holton, Patterson, and Conestoga Roads.)

The piece of a topographic map shown here covers the potential trail route under power lines and around the "Bloody Bluff" hill to join the Battle Road. This area needs detailed study in the Master Plan. Perhaps this section will be infeasible at present, and travelers on the West Lexington Greenway trail will need to follow Wood Street and Fairview to reach the Battle Road. (That's what I do nowadays.)
In any case, it was very gratifying to see the turnout at the meeting on a snowy evening, and to discuss some possibilities for this project with the neighbors in this area.
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(click the picture for a larger view, or to save it on your computer)

At the meeting, the Master Plan concept was presented, and there were a number of good questions asked and discussed.

The Master Plan concept is to hire a professional consulting team to analyze issues such as property boundaries, wetlands, plant/animal communities, invasive plants, potential trail sites, etc., and develop a detailed Master Plan for the area which will be the basis for community decision-making, detailed engineering, and eventual construction/improvement of trails through the Greenway corridor.

Some of the questions raised and discussed included:

Q: How can we keep informed on the progress of the project?

A: There will be public notices and we expect the project to have a web presence. We members of the WLG steering committee plan to remain accessible and involved in the project. Also, the Town Recreation and Conservation departments will be closely involved in the project.

Q: How can we provide input as to location of specific plant/animal communities which should not be disturbed?

A: Keep communicating with us and monitoring the progress of the project. We welcome your participation, and would be happy to have neighborhood residents join the WLG team.

Q: How is the funding being handled?

A: We are applying for $125,000 of CPC funding as “seed money” for the Master Plan, and expect to be able to qualify for several other sources of funding from state and federal sources for detailed engineering and construction, based on the Master Plan.

Q: Do you believe that state and federal funds can provide the bulk of funds beyond the initial CPC “seed money?”

A: We believe that this project will qualify for funding from several sources, particularly because it provides a connection between two significant existing trail systems.

Q: How can the project avoid having invasive plants introduced during construction?

A: The materials can be specified as to cleanliness and sterility from seeds, etc. This can be part of the design process.

Q: Does the proposed Hartwell Avenue bike lane project conflict with the WLG project?

A: No. If Hartwell Ave. is safe for bikes from Bedford St. to the Minuteman Bikeway, it will help achieve the connection to the Simonds Brook conservation land, one of the goals of the WLG project. The two projects also draw from different sources of funds. The Hartwell Ave. bike project (consisting of studies leading toward repainting the street lines) would probably not qualify for CPC funds.

Q: Concerning the powerlines, does the power company allow people to travel under the lines?

A: On the town-owned lands over which the NSTAR holds a right-of way, we have been advised that there is no prohibition against trails or the passage of people. We will need to coordinate with NSTAR’s needs to clear brush and perform maintenance in the areas of their rights-of-way.

Q: Have you talked with the power company?

A: We have had some contacts, and there is no indication of conflict over having trails under the lines or the clearings on Town-owned lands.

Q: Is it safe for people to walk or ride under the power lines? What about electromagnetic effects?

A: (not answered this way at the meeting) There is no evidence of harmful effects, although some people may decide to avoid the power line areas. No studies of people living for extended periods near power lines have shown clear evidence of problems, so there is no reason to think that people simply traveling on a path near or under the power lines would be exposed to any ill effects.

(Comment) The properties on Woodpark Circle extend under the power lines, so it may not be possible to site a trail under the power lines in that area without passing over private property.

Q: What about personal safety or crime on an isolated trail? How would crimes be handled?

A: The more “friendly” visitors in the area, the fewer “unfriendly” elements are likely to be there. Lexington police would have jurisdiction.

Q: Are there some maps of the area available?

A: Some related maps of conservation lands are on the Lexington Conservation Commission's web site, and some maps relating to this project are on Paul Knight’s trail blog, http://organictrails.blogspot.com, which are unofficial maps. The WLG project will produce more official maps.