HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Space Comm. 04/17/2019Town of Mansfield
Open Space and Recreation Committee
Site Walk Notes
Location: Plymouth St. Trails
When: April 17th at 6:OOpm
Present: Katelyn Gonyer, Conservation Agent; Diane Simms, OSRC Chair; Don Cleary, Planning
Board Chair; Brian Zive, Town Resident; Christopher George, Recorder;
Notes:
Ms. Gonyer explains the program its purpose. She provides a detailed wetland map of the trail
area and an OSRC Plan for the area. These trails abut the Plymouth Street recreation area and
NRT properties.
Mr. Cleary asks what the yellow lines are on the map. Ms. Gonyer explains they are parcel lines.
Ms. Gonyer says she has no concerns over the fields and asks the group to look towards the
perimeter trail and playground area. She explains the signage at the entrance. She explains it's
a very open trail and a great trail for anyone with minimal access to the trails.
Mr. Cleary asks about a sewer cover. Ms. Gonyer says this area is probably a sewer easement.
Ms. Gonyer points out an equalizer pipe and says it's functioning as intended.
Mr. Cleary notices another sewer cover and mentions they must've gone around to avoid the
wetlands.
Ms. Simms points out the trail is very well marked and visibly clear.
Ms. Gonyer says it's a good trail to promote because it's flat, easily accessible, and you would
only need sneakers to traverse it.
Ms. Gonyer explains the water flow at Bridge 1 is flowing as expected. Mr. Cleary points out the
sewers seem to end right before Bridge 1.
Ms. Gonyer says she would like to see the deeper trails get raked and placed into a trail
management program.
The group stops at a split, leaning tree. Ms. Gonyer says this should be taken care of. The group
agrees. Another tree is noticed to be leaning dangerously across the trail.
Ms. Gonyer notes that someone has marked the midpoint of the stream in this section.
The group stops at a 2 bridge system and notes it as NRT land.
Another group of trees are noted as being dangerous.
Mr. Cleary says he'd love to see a separate exit made for the fields as the current exit can often
back up.
Ms. Gonyer examines an area in question that is desired to be used for further fields and/or
parking. She notes one problem being the equalizer pipes. She says they are not graded to be
driven over. Mr. Cleary notes they would need to verify there are no vernal pools in the area.
Ms. Gonyer says most of the area is already missing topsoil. She notes spoils of sand piles. She
says she doesn't see a problem with converting it into a field. She says she will need to look
more closely at the existing land before moving forward. Ms. Gonyer notes a lot of wetlands in
the area.
Mr. Cleary asks if a section by the main building is a vernal pool. Ms. Gonyer says no, it's a
channelized flow. She says it tops over and enters drain; which she points out.
Ms. Gonyer addresses the flooding in the parking lot. She says it's due to an undersized
retention pond. She points to a large puddled area flowing into a stream. She says there is too
much silt and clay in this puddle seeping into the stream. Mr. Cleary agrees.
End of Site Walk.
Diane Simms, Chair
Date