EASTHAMPTON — The Pascommuck Conservation Trust is looking to discourage and prevent the misuse of two of its properties.
Incidents of vandalism, trail damage, prohibited ATV use and bags of dog poop left behind are some of the offenses noted by the trust.
“I get it that people are bored,” said Marty Klein, a board member of the trust. “The fact that there are some people who disrespect the properties and damage the properties spoils the experience of those who want and need to use them in a respectful way.”
The trust has more than a dozen properties in town, some of which have public trails on them. Use of the properties has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, Klein said, noting that “people are needing safe recreational opportunities during this time … The vast majority of the visitors are following the rules.”
However, some visitors, he said, are “troublemakers” who are misusing two of the trust’s properties: Broad Brook Meadows Conservation Area and Mutter’s Field Accessible Trail.
Klein said people have been riding bikes on the handicapped accessible trail at Mutter’s Filed, and that this “wrecks the surface” of the trail, making it difficult for disabled people with mobility issues to use it. Bikes are not allowed on the Mutter’s Field Accessible Trail.
He also said people have been leaving behind bags of dog poop, and that two syringes were found on picnic tables on the property. Additionally, Klein said vandals have smashed the arms of benches, noting that they’re helpful to people with disabilities when trying to get back into wheelchairs.
At Broad Brook, some people have been riding ATVs, which is against property rules. Additionally, a motion-activated trail camera was stolen from the property, which Klein set up to take pictures of wildlife.
Last week, there was a bonfire on the property, another activity not permitted there, and Klein said that when the fire department responded to it they made those responsible clean it up.
Rules for the use of each of the trust’s trails are posted at trailheads. Klein said that he has been talking to police Lt. Dennis Scribner about the issues on the two properties, and has asked that officers check in on both of them.
Scribner said he has suggested that the organization reach out to abutters to report suspicious activity to police, and that police will increase their monitoring of those areas.
“It sounds like a lot of these problems are happening after hours,” Scribner said.
Formed in 1982, the trust is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization.
“Our mission is to protect important open space and farmland for the community and also to provide education,” Klein said.
The trust is looking for both donations and volunteers, including a volunteer treasurer, Klein said. It’s also looking to increase the number of property monitors, who are tasked with keeping an eye out for both maintenance issues and property misuse.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.