CONWAY — Discussions about what to do with the former Rose property continue, with town officials considering plans to create a passive recreation park.
During a joint meeting of a few town committees last week, which included the Planning Board, Open Space and Parks, Recreation and Trails committees, naturalist Laurie Sanders shared her vision for “Riverbend Meadow” on behalf of the Open Space Committee.
Recently, work has been done on a floodplain lowering project on the 11-acre property, to act as a catchbasin for South River overflow in times of flood. In light of that work, Sanders said much of the property can’t be disturbed, noting that the property’s wetlands shrink “the amount of area for development … pretty significantly.” She described ways to create trails and encourage residents to get outdoors while preserving the property’s diverse environment.
The plan also included a 10- to 15-foot buffer strip abutting woodlands and the river, compensatory flood storage, a gazebo and picnic area, parking along Shelburne Falls Road — which she said used to be a trolley line — and ways to remove invasive plant species and increase the property’s environmental diversity.
In the past, various committees have proposed building soccer fields, a public safety complex, and a senior housing development on the property, among other suggestions.
Sanders’ presentation surveyed the property across time and space from both micro and macro level. She displayed and discussed the differences between logging maps from 1970 and 1999 — relating how little the town has changed over the years — a study of insect species living in the South River, and types of indigenous fauna and vegetation that call the region home.
Her passive recreation plan seeks to protect “a tremendous amount of insect diversity,” 100 of the state’s roughly 400 bee species, and endangered wood turtles that live along the South River — while making it publicly accessible.
“That fact that a rare species can live in your community means that people are doing a pretty good job in terms of pollution and conservation to protect their habitat,” Sanders continued, adding, “the suggestions here wouldn’t prohibit (sharing the space with another project) in the future.”
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo