Pine Grove Trail Small Grant Application 1
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
COMBINED SMALL GRANT
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION FORM Project Title: Pine Grove Trail Creation Project location, including address and parcel number: Rocky Hill Greenway, Pine Grove section. Old Wilson Road, map ID 47-039 Project Sponsor/Organization: Northampton Conservation Commission and Office of Planning & Sustainability Contact Name: Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability Property Owner, if applicable: City of Northampton c/o its Conservation Commission Mailing Address: 210 Main Street, Room 11, Northampton MA 01060 Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264 E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
CPA Program Area (check those that apply): X Open Space � Historic Preservation � Community Housing X Recreation
Project Purpose (check those that apply) : � Preservation X Rehabilitation/Restoration
Applicant’s Signature:
Date Submitted: September 18, 2020
For CPC Use Eligible: _____ Not Eligible: _____ Date: __________ Reviewer: ____________________ Appropriate for Small Grant Process_____ Referred to Traditional Funding Round______
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Total Project Budget (not to exceed $6,000.00): $6,000 CPA Funding Request (not to exceed $3,000.00): $3,000 Funding from other sources: $3,000 labor match List any in-kind donations of labor or materials: The Office of Planning and Sustainability commits to providing $3,000 in-kind match for project oversight, volunteer coordination, and installation labor. CPA Request as % of Total Budget: 50% Budget Summary: Please specify how CPA funds will be spent. Itemize all projected expenditures. If budget is based on a quote, please attach it. List any additional funding sources or donations of in-kind service. These funds must be secured at the time of application, as evidenced by a signed commitment letter referencing the content of the application, and including any restriction on the use of funds. Estimated budget: CPA Funds: $3,000. All of these will be spent on trail materials: boardwalks and hardware for wet crossings, and gravel for filling in gaps where necessary. Matching funds: The Office of Planning and Sustainability commits staff time to oversee creation of the trail and work with volunteers. We have limited boardwalk lumber repurposed from other projects available that will also be contributed. 1) Please provide a brief description of the project. Over the past several years, in multiple transactions, the City of Northampton in partnership with Mass Audubon has created the Rocky Hill Greenway, a 200+ acre wildlife corridor that is part of an impressive network of open space extending from the Connecticut River Oxbow and Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, through Northampton west to forested hills and the Berkshire highlands beyond. The Greenway represents a series of conservation victories, as for many years the site was zoned for a business park. The Rocky Hill Greenway is ecologically rich and diverse. The main topographic feature of the Greenway is a drumlin that some 15,000 to 12,000 years ago would have been an island in the early stages of Glacial Lake Hitchcock, and formed part of its western shore at later stages. The varied sediments left behind as a result of this landscape position, combined with land use history, give rise to several distinct forest vegetation zones, including wetlands, mesic forests, and relatively dry forest, which in turn influence the wildlife usage
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of the area. The Greenway hosts several vernal pools, including a prime example in a saddle near the top of the drumlin. The Pine Grove segment of the Greenway is a 105-acre former 18-hole golf course that was protected by the City in early 2020 using a Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity Grant matched by Community Preservation Act funds. The clubhouse and associated infrastructure and improvements were retained by the seller and were not included in the open space acquisition. With state grant assistance, The City of Northampton has already implemented a first phase of restoration on the site. This work included demolition of drainage structures, demolition of small stream crossings, removal of miscellaneous concrete debris, modification of the concrete pond outlet structure to allow for additional pond level control, mechanical scarification, aeration and seeding of existing fields, construction of deer fencing and extensive tree planting. Permits were obtained by Planning and Sustainability staff. Next phases of work are identified in the Restoration Master Plan, which was developed by GZA Environmental with extensive comment and input from the City and partners, fieldwork, site evaluation and technical analysis. The full plan includes the complete assessment of all recommended goals and objectives. One of these major goals, for which funding is not readily available was: Site Access: Extend existing pathways to create connections throughout the Site. Use existing cart paths and stream crossings and extend to form looped paths throughout the Site to provide walking access for the public and for maintenance. The Master Plan presents three (3) smaller looped paths that each are roughly ¾ of a mile. Combining the loops together, the larger main path which encircles the Site is approximately 1.5 miles. A short dead-end spur off the main path provides access to a unique stone feature. Initial trail work on a full loop trail has begun, but additional funding is needed to connect the system to the road. This will require some boardwalk, proposed as a match, and, proposed to be completed with CPA funding, connecting gaps either from the road past that first green to intercepting the gravel trail, or for boardwalk by the wettest area near the stream downstream from the dam. This initial connection will create public access to the property where it is now eliminated due to the seller retaining the driveway and clubhouse, and will continue excitement and momentum about Pine Grove and the broader Rocky Hill Greenway. 2) What Community Preservation criteria – both general and program-area specific – does this project meet? General Criteria: The Pine Grove Trail Creation meets several of the CPC general evaluation criteria: Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents. Northampton’s open spaces and trails are often cited as one of the major contributions to the City’s sense of place. Pine Grove is a unique addition to the new Rocky Hill Greenway that saw a great deal of pubic use even before it was permanently protected, and is a recreational gem. Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive plan, Open Space, Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan or is consistent with other city-wide
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planning efforts that have received broad-based scrutiny and input and can demonstrate wide community support. Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments The application is supported by the Conservation Commission, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways. Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents The project also meets many of the criteria for both Open Space and Recreation Open Space and Recreation Criteria: Supports passive and recreational opportunities by providing information about areas and encouraging further exploration Serves many residents and visitors Is accessible to all ages and abilities Enhances appreciation of existing conservation areas Contributes to public health by encouraging walking and hiking Maximizes utility of city owned land Promotes a creative use of connecting corridors 3) What community need(s) does this project serve? If the project serves multiple needs and populations, please describe them. If the project serves a population that is currently underserved, please describe. The project will promote use of conservation areas and trails by all residents and visitors. By continuing work to connect population centers with multi-use paths and wooded trails of varying types and difficulties, there will be opportunities for everyone, including environmental justice populations, elderly and school-aged residents, and people with disabilities. 4) What specific guarantees will assure the long-term preservation of the project? Once the trails are created, they are not anticipated to require maintenance for many years. A Friends of Rocky Hill Greenway group, which is in the process of being created, and which this project will help to do, will work on longer-term maintenance and expansion. 5) What community support does the project have? Explain the nature and level of the support. The project is supported by the Conservation Commission, MassAudubon Society, Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways, and the Office of Planning and Sustainability. 6) How will the success of this project be measured?
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Success of the project will be measured by creation of a trail that connects the interior network to the roadway, and that continues to elicit excitement about the expanding Rocky Hill Greenway and the new Pine Grove protection and restoration efforts. 7) Is ongoing maintenance and upkeep required? If yes, please explain how this will be accomplished. Any ongoing maintenance to the trail system, including further development of future phases, will be led by Office of Planning and Sustainability staff, and conducted by volunteers. 8) Explain the various steps of the project and when they will be completed Creation of the larger trail system within Pine Grove and connections within the larger Greenway will be an ongoing effort. However, this first trail will create meaningful public access to the property, and will encourage visits to the Greenway. Former access, through the now privately-owned driveway and clubhouse area, is no longer available. The new trail can be created as soon as funding is available, and will be the first connection from Old Wilson Road into the property, to be utilized in all seasons. Attachments: Trail Master Plan Map Existing Trail Photos