EASTHAM OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
RE: PROPOSED WILEY PARK BRIDGE
November 17, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Eastham Town Hall
Present: Judy Brainerd, Glen Collins, Laura Freeman, Sue Haley, Jeff Havlick, Katelyn Merrill, Art Bukovich, John Engstrom, Russ and Jeanette Sandblom, Mary Schumacher, and Jeff Siddell
Introduction and Background and the Barnstable County Land Management Grant Program
Judy Brainerd gave a history of the bridge project and background information on the recent purchase of the Mumford property making it possible to have a bridge to connect Wiley Park and Nickerson Park. Ms. Brainerd also offered information on the Barnstable County Land Management Grant and a purview of the grant application process.
Application process for the Barnstable County Land Management Grant Program
Katelyn Merrill, Deputy Natural Resource Officer from the Natural Resources Department, outlined the grant application process and explained that the bridge needs a variance from the Architectural Access Review Board because the bridge will not be handicap accessible and the bridge project needs approval from the Eastham Conservation Commission because it is within an area subject to the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction.
Design and Engineering of the Bridge
Glen Collins described the design and construction of the bridge. The bridge will span the stream that connects Great Pond and Bridge Pond and will provide enough headroom below the bridge so as to allow canoers and kayakers to pass underneath the bridge without having to portage around it. The bridge will have a short flight of stairs ascending to the bridge from the trail to give walkers access to the bridge. There are no handicap accessible trails leading to the bridge and thus the decision not to make the bridge handicap accessible at this time. It should be noted that in the future, if the trails leading to the bridge are made handicap accessible that it will be possible to add a ramp system to each side of the bridge to allow handicap access.
The bridge will have helix screw supports to eliminate footings and minimize disruption during construction of the bridge. There will be no pressure treated lumber and the decking will be made of TREX material.
Public Comment Session
Mr. Art Bukovich of the Target View Beach Association questioned what type of material is screwed into the ground with the helix screws? Mr. Collins answered that the helix screws are galvanized screws that act as a stanchion into the ground and the lumber support are attached to the helix screws.
Mr. Russ Sandblom asked why the bridge couldn’t have a short ramp system and have the canoers portage around the ramps to make the bridge accessible? Katelyn Merrill answered that it would not be easy to portage around the bridge if it had ramps without significant clearing of adjacent wooded areas and that this is a very environmentally sensitive area. Mr. Collins added that the bridge height will provide minimal height for kayakers and canoers to get underneath the bridge with an eye toward the future of making the bridge handicap accessible via the trails.
Mr. John Engstrom questioned whether the Town has a policy to allow for biking through the woods and voiced concern that people would bike over the bridge. Ms. Merrill answered that the Town has no policy on bike riders in the parks, but with more developed trails, one would expect more use of the trails and as issues arise they will need to be addressed. Mr. Engstrom said that in the past in this area, trees have been used as diving platforms by some people until the trees being used as diving platforms were removed. Mr. Engstrom kayaks through this area and supports the bridge design allowing kayakers to pass underneath the bridge without having to portage. Ms. Merrill stated that the bridge design to allow kayakers and canoers access underneath the bridge has received good support and has generated favorable feedback.
Residents have relayed to Ms. Merrill that walkers often put down logs to cross the stream which blocks access for the kayakers and this practice also blocks the hydraulic connection between the ponds for the herring.
Mr. Bukovich asked whether any dredging of the stream would be required for this project? Mr. Collins answered no.
Mr. Sandblom asked whether the bridge would be visible from Herringbrook Road? Ms. Merrill answered no, the area is heavily wooded with understory and brush.
Mr. Jeff Havlick stated that he liked the idea of the bridge design giving you the ability to adjust the height of the bridge with the helix screws.
Mr. Bukovich asked the width of the bridge. Mr. Collins answered the bridge width is 4 feet and that the bridge location will be slid either left or right from the existing trail center to allow for horse traffic. Ms. Brainerd added that Americorps will be participating in the project by clearing the trails.
Mary Schumacher, the Regional Supervisor for the Americorps Program, said that Americorps had contacted the Eastham Natural Resources Department about a pilot program to offer Americorps manpower to the Town to assist the community maintain and develop their open space and to encourage community involvement in carrying out these tasks. Americorps has a long relationship with the Town of Eastham. Ms. Schumacher said the timing of the pilot program and the bridge project is beneficial to the bridge project in acquiring assistance to clear trails and construct the bridge. Americorps would like to come into town once a month to work on set tasks and projects and invites the community to come and help out.
Ms. Brainerd stated she is very happy about the offer from Americorps to provide this kind of help and added that the Town has many volunteers who routinely come out for these activities.
Ms. Merrill said that she had a call from a gentlemen who said he was happy that there was some wilderness left on Cape Cod and that Wiley Park is that place. Mr. Havlick stated that this bridge will be the final realization of the goal to connect all the open space parcels in the Glacier Ponds Park. Mr. Sandblom added as a final note that the Mumford house was a hunting lodge that was used by the author of the House on Nauset Marsh.
Sue Haley motioned to adjourn. Laura Freeman seconded. APPROVED: unanimously
Adjournment at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Laura Freeman
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