OXFORD, CT — Oxford's Open Space Trails Committee unanimously backed a recommendation to revise and extend a state grant for an accessible trail project at Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary.
The sanctuary spans both sides of Quaker Farms Road, also known as Route 188, just south of the Oxford High School entrance. Off-road parking is available along Quaker Farms Road, according to the Connecticut Trail Finder's sanctuary guide.
The Oxford Land Trust describes Rockhouse Hill as 600 town-owned acres in the watersheds of Four Mile Brook and the Housatonic River, with about 15 miles of trails. The town and land trust share land-management responsibilities.
The Oct. 29 recommendation calls for changes to the project's scope and location, along with professional oversight of its design and construction requirements.
Oxford received a $278,500 state grant for the Rockhouse Adaptive Trail Network in 2023. The state announcement listed planning, design, construction, equipment and amenities among the funded activities.
The committee recommended having the town's land use engineer, or an equally qualified firm selected by the Board of Selectmen, review, survey, design and manage the project.
That work would need to meet "ADA standards, and other necessary requirements," according to the committee's motion.
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The existing network includes hiking and mountain biking routes of varying difficulty. The Wolverine Trail follows a wide former road and offers a family-friendly option with some elevation, while Rockhouse West has steeper, more challenging terrain and a scenic overlook, according to Connecticut Trail Finder.
Trails have been developed and improved by the Oxford High School Youth Conservation Corps, Eagle Scout projects and land trust members, according to the land trust.
Committee member Brian Smith presented material covering parking improvements, assessments of existing trails, the budget, maintenance and project management, the minutes state.
The recommendation also calls for additional supporting information not reviewed by the committee to receive approval from the grant writer and finance director, plus written approval from the first selectman, before submission to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The vote followed an Oct. 20 discussion with New England Mountain Bike Association representatives Mick Ferraro and Becky Phillips and Oxford Land Trust President Dave Vernooy. Topics included partnerships, property management, liability and revisions to the adaptive trail project.
The proposed contract extension and revised scope appeared on the Board of Selectmen's Nov. 4 agenda for discussion and possible action. That agenda and the committee minutes do not establish whether selectmen approved the proposal.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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