FARMINGTON – The Powderhouse Hill Trails renovation and improvement project is now entering its second and final year, with a lot of work to do.
An Open Woods event will be held on Earth Day, April 22, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. The three wooded locations are Bonney Woods, Flint Woods and the Village Woods which are in the neighborhood of North Street, Belcher Road, Highland Avenue and Anson Street. This will be an opportunity to see the progress made in Bonney Woods and need for volunteers in the newly harvested Village Woods. Bring your work gloves and tools if you desire to help with the project instead of just walking around.
Some highlights are the creation of a mountain bike/cross country skiing trail on the Box Shop Hill side of the Village Woods. Northern Lights bike technician Matt Swan has laid out the proposed trail that now needs to be cleaned up so to put on the finishing touches. The switch backs will add challenge for the bikers uphill peddling and the winter downhill on cross county skies. There will be a new parking area developed on the Village woods road and the trailhead to enter the woods. This area is an in-kind donation from the Farmington Village Corporation – Water Department.
While all the creation and restructuring of trails is on going; there is a need to identify the plants and animal habitat so to protect what is already in the woods.
Volunteers are needed. There will be sign up sheets at the Open Woods which will describe work to be done. Volunteer work will be divided into three levels of labor: Light work will consist of raking, brush cutting, planting and chip spreading – Medium work will consist of shovel work, rock removal and ditching – Heavy work will be certified chainsaw use and chippers which some training will be provided. These levels are very generalized so just join us and we will find a task to be done.
The time of day to volunteer vary also. Some people are busy on weekends so we have volunteer leaders who will be setting up groups to work early evening. I hope that friend and neighbors will create teams and adopt a trail or project and “just get it done.” We have a team already forming to paint the base coats on the signs, see Karen McCann.
A second chance to see the projects via pictures and map also to sign up for volunteering is to be held on the Eve of Arbor Day April 26 at 7 p.m. This event is being held at 140 Pleasant Street next to the County Extension office. This evening will be talking about the accomplishments and the work yet to be done. Light refreshments to be served.
