Trail Progress Could Move Faster with More Hands

Belmont needs more volunteers to help develop a planned ring of trails, including the newly formed Waterdog Trail, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kevin Sullivan said last night.

Sullivan, who has spearheaded the effort, detailed progress for the Commission.

"With volunteer labor it is a little inconsistent," he said.

Beginning in 2005, the city focused its attention on improving the Lake Loop Trail, adding new routes and maintaining existing ones. Volunteer crews have built about half of the new trail, Sullivan said.

With a completion date of 2013 in sight, the commissioner said more help is necessary to accelerate the progress of building the new trail, as well as beating back the bushes and maintaining the miles of trail already in existence.

The goal is to eventually finish a trail that is wide and flat around the circumference of the lake that can be easily walked, jogged or biked. Sullivan said the trail is to be built wide enough to allow space for two strollers to be pushed past one another.

Eagle Scouts have also contributed benches in order to allow spots for people to sit and rest on the trail, which is just over one mile long, said Sullivan.

"We want to make it as flat as possible," said Sullivan.

Portions of the trail on west, south and north sides are nearly completed. But a section remains on the east side that is fairly steep, with thick brush that will require much more work, Sullivan said.

Beside carving out mountainsides and trimming back brush and trees to build the trail, three separate portions of bridge will be necessary to cross streams leading to and from the lake before the trail is complete, he said.

Sullivan said one of the great hurdles in the project is the spotty progress that is a product of relying on volunteer labor. He praised those who had helped donate their time and effort to the trail building, but pleaded for more to get involved.

He said recently there have been nine workdays dedicated to making more progress on the trail, but work has slowed because it is difficult to work in the hard and dry conditions of the summer.

Sullivan encouraged more volunteers to get involved, because it benefits the community of Belmont, and helps establish kinship between neighbors.

"It takes a little longer," said Sullivan. "But it helps build community."

Sullivan said he has utilized Belmont Patch to rally enthusiasm for the project, and get interested volunteers involved in the trail workdays.

"There are some really dedicated people working hard to get this done," said Sullivan.

Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Gervais said it is important for Belmont residents to assist with trail creation and maintenance because the other trail users cannot speak for themselves.

"Raccoons don't vote, and deer don't come to meetings," said Gervais. "We need people to care about these areas."

Commissioner Susan Wright suggested the city form a guided hiking club in an effort to get people thinking about, and caring for, trails. Gervais agreed and said that was a good idea.