NORTHFIELD — After about three years of planning and trail work, Mount Grace Land Stewardship Director Jay Rasku says Northfield’s first universally accessible trail could see its grand opening on June 2.
The half-mile loop of public trail donated by Bill and Nancy Ames is referred to as the Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey S. Ames Trail within the Alderbrook Meadows Sanctuary off Route 63. While the trail itself was complete by snowfall, Rasku said, the finishing touches of adding kiosks, signs and a cantilevered observation deck overlooking the beaver pond remain until spring.
In April 2016, the Department of Conservation and Recreation awarded Mount Grace a $49,725 grant. According to Fletcher Harrington, a TerraCorps volunteer working with Mount Grace, the grant requires the land trust contribute a matching $60,000, which can come from volunteer labor.
“When we have volunteers out there, that’s part of the match,” Harrington said. “We have a rate that we work at.”
Indeed, the project has been something community members have rallied around, coming together to participate in trail work days. Volunteers — primarily members of the Northfield Open Space Committee and TerraCorps, a conservation-driven division of AmeriCorps — cleared away vegetation, made the ground as level as possible, raked the dirt sides of the trail and spread grass seed.
Numerous businesses have contributed as well, such as Lane Construction, which donated time and equipment to lay hard-packed fine crushed stone to ease wheelchair travel.
During a presentation about Mount Grace’s work thus far on Saturday, Harrington and Rasku worked with volunteers to coordinate construction days for the observation deck and kiosks, with the first work day set for May 17. Cowls Building Supply is providing the necessary tools to install the deck’s piers, Harrington said.
After the observation deck is installed, it will feature benches made by Pioneer Valley Regional School’s engineering design class.
Once the trail is fully accessorized, there will also be signs indicating the upcoming path’s grade and level of difficulty for those traveling in wheelchairs, Harrington said, as well as resting spots along the way.
After all the work is complete and the trail sees its official grand opening — possibly on June 2 if nothing changes — Rasku said a volunteer group called the Friends of Alderbrook Meadows Sanctuary will walk it routinely, make sure it’s maintained and safe, and report any problems back to Mount Grace.
“It certainly needs more attention than a standard hiking trail,” Rasku said.
Having 10 volunteers on the Friends would be ideal, Rasku said, with some Northfield residents already showing interest. Those interested in joining the Friends or in participating in future trail work days are invited to email Jay Rasku at rasku@mountgrace.org.