Environment

Opportunities to learn more about the Lower Village preserve, Little League fields and Intervale Meadows

3 years ago
by ngx

New Gloucester Lower Village & Ballfields outreach April 5th, 8th, 15th, 21st, 22nd 

RRCT along with the Town of New Gloucester and Gray-New Gloucester Little League invite you to join various meetings and field tours to provide input on our ongoing Campaign For New Gloucester’s Lower Village, the Little League Fields, and the Intervale Meadows

  • April 5th at 7pm or later video on-demand: Presentation to the New Gloucester Select Board (zoom or telecasts). See town webpage. Zoom ID printed in Agenda PDF. Video on-demand on a separate page. Advance material in the Select Board meeting packet and also at the Campaign page above.
  • April 8th to 22nd (scroll below): Various field tours with discussion with strict attention to Covid-era safety and protocols:
  • Thursday April 8th 10:00 am park and meet on Grange Hall Road shoulders near Route 231. Field tour led by RRCT staff and volunteers and Town of New Gloucester’s Sarah Rodriguez (Parks and Rec). Key April 8th issues/tour: 
  1. CMP Grange Hall Road lot (planned town ownership)
  2. Route 231 recreational trail crossing
  3. Route 231 Future RRCT property interface (snowmobile trail)
  4. Sites of former train stations (Interurban)   
  5. Existing trail (private land) connecting to Village Store (private store) 
  6. Discussion & input: ADA — this is the flattest easiest section of future trails, discuss ADA parking (if any)
  7. Discussion & input: Drainage, parking, highway safety, economic development 
  8. Discussion & input:  Plowing, grooming, snowmobiling, shared use   
  9. Discussion & input:  Voluntarism & partnerships
  10. Discussion & input:  Campaign needs
  • Thursday April 8th 5:30 pm park and meet on Grange Hall Road shoulders near Route 231: Same issues and geography and people as 10:00 am session above 
  • Thursday April 15th 10:00 am park and meet on Church Road shoulders near Gloucester Hill Road: Field tour led by RRCT staff and volunteers and Town of New Gloucester’s Sarah Rodriguez (Parks and Rec). Key April 15th issues/tour:
  1. On-shoulder parking, visuals toward back yard of History Barn and Church  
  2. Entrance (old logging road) to future RRCT property
  3. Interurban rail bed junction (future gathering area? multi-town snowmobile junction)
  4. We don’t plan to hike toward Stevens Brook — instead point and discuss   
  5. Hike snowmobile trail DOWNHILL along abandoned New Depot Road to collapsed bridge
  6. Hike off-trail through woods (briefly) for awareness of slopes, gullies 
  7. Discussion & input: Mountain bike usage, baby carriage usage, toboggan hill, snowmobiling, design standards for trails, cost implications  
  8. Discussion & input:  Invasive plants, forest restoration, habitat restoration  
  9. Discussion & input:  Voluntarism & partnerships  
  10. Discussion & input:  Campaign needs
  • Wednesday April 21st 5:30 pm park and meet at Route 231 Intervale Little League Ballfields: Field tour led by RRCT staff and volunteers and Town staff as available. Key April 21st issues/tour: 
  1. Trail connectivity from ballfields to village and existing RRCT preserve (snowmobile)
  2. Trail connectivity from ballfields to village (4′ boardwalk) and existing RRCT preserve (road shoulders, railroad safety, railroad trespass) 
  3. Note: long-term option for four-season developed trail
  4. Access for hunting, foraging, trails (visuals toward trail-free acreage for habitat, hunting, foraging)
  5. Parking for trails and access described above
  6. Interpretation & education
  7. Invasive non-native plants 
  8. Habitat and wetland restoration and values 
  • Thursday April 22nd 5:30 pm park and meet at Route 231 Intervale Little League Ballfields: Field tour led by Gray-New Gloucester Little League volunteers with RRCT staff and volunteers and Town staff as available. Key issues/tour: 
  1. Ballfields design
  2. Ballfields process/schedule
  3. Ballfields management and operations 
  4. RRCT issues same as the previous evening  
  • May-June-July  sessions:
  1. RRCT early May Zoom: What RRCT has heard to date, continued solicitation of input   
  2. GNGLL: ongoing community outreach and dialog
  3. RRCT & Town & GNGLL:  sustained partnerships and individual efforts toward programming, committees, permits, design, fundraising,  more

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