Lancaster_Trails_Vision_Report_2016

Lancaster’s Trails Vision, 2016

Prepared by the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report describes how Lancaster can use and enhance its infrastructure of trails to

significantly increase the quality of life for its citizens and visitors. It describes how the

infrastructure we have today came to be and also highlights the limitations of the current

infrastructure that prevent us from using it for much greater recreational, business-related, and

social benefit.

Section VI of this Lancaster’s Trails Vision provides summaries of the 10 most important sites

that contribute people’s enjoyment of the many kinds of trails that Lancaster has. Each site

location is shown with a map and other relevant pictures, as well as the basic design features of

the location. The 10 locations must be seen as parts of a whole, thus building the vision for a

future expansion in the network. Such an expansion involves connecting existing pathways with

places where people want to go. This can be achieved by: i) extending a path a short distance, or

making a short connection between two paths, so that more people could get to more places of

interest; ii) enhancing access over existing pathways so that people with young children in

strollers, senior citizens, or people with mobility impairments can get to points of interest; iii)

creating new recreational opportunities (e.g., fitness trails, blue trails); or increase educational

opportunities along the pathways; and iv) projects that involve developing new long pathways

that would increase the number of major “arteries” both within Lancaster as well as between

Lancaster and its neighboring towns, aiming to interconnect the different sites into a walkable

network.

In Section VII, an overview of the participatory consultations conducted with the public that

constitute the core of users from Lancaster’s trails, as well as local stakeholders and regional

players in an attempt to come up with an unified and comprehensive vision of the future network

of Lacaster’s Trail Vision that is as inclusive as possible. In the appendix it is possible to see a

complete and literary transcription of the public forum that was made in order to collect the

public input. Such a literary reproduction is important to assert that the voices were heard and

taken into consideration during this document’s preparation.

Finally, in section VIII a rough road map for the construction of the network, with some time

tables that can serve as parameters, as well as potential sources of funding from grants that can

address the costs of building new pathways and revamping the existing ones.

It is important to stress the fact that this document was prepared using the Groton’s Trails Vision

as a source of inspiration.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 2

I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 5

II. HOW THIS TRAILS VISION WILL BE USED ...................................................................... 6

A. By the Commonwealth of Massachusetts .............................................................................. 6

B. By Other Nearby Towns ......................................................................................................... 6

C. By the Town of Lancaster ...................................................................................................... 6

III. TRAIL USERS CONSIDERED IN THIS REPORT................................................................ 9

IV. BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR PATHWAYS ............................................................................ 10

V. TRAILS VISION COMMITTEE ............................................................................................ 12

A. Organizations Represented on the Committee ..................................................................... 12

B. Purpose, Vision, and Values ................................................................................................. 12

VI. EXISTING CONDITIONS IN LANCASTER’S TRAILS NETWORK ............................... 14

A. The Lancaster Trail System: A Treasure for Lancaster ....................................................... 14

1. Cook Conservation Area .................................................................................................. 16

2. Lancaster Town Forest ..................................................................................................... 17

3. Ballard Hill Conservation Area ........................................................................................ 18

4. Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area .......................................................................... 19

5. Thayer Memorial Forest ................................................................................................... 20

6. Parker Family Forest ........................................................................................................ 21

7. Turner Pond Conservation Area ....................................................................................... 22

8. Eagle Ridge Conservation Area ....................................................................................... 23

9. Nathaniel Thayer Memorial Park ..................................................................................... 24

10. Atherton Bridge River Greenway ................................................................................... 25

B. Limitations of Current Trails Network..................................................................................... 26

VII. OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC INPUT COLLECTED FOR THIS VISION .............................. 27

A. Public Participation Workshop ............................................................................................. 27

B. Conclusions from the Workshop .......................................................................................... 29

VIII. ROAD MAP ......................................................................................................................... 30

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A. Wayfinding ........................................................................................................................... 30

B. Road Bicyclist Pathways Based On “Complete Streets”...................................................... 33

C. Increase Connectedness of Trails Network .......................................................................... 36

D. Pathways along Major Roadways ........................................................................................ 39

E. Develop Blue Trails along River .......................................................................................... 40

F. Funding ................................................................................................................................. 41

Federal Resources .................................................................................................................. 41

State Resources ...................................................................................................................... 41

Non-profit Resources ............................................................................................................. 41

APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................... 42

A. Analysis of the Results Collected in the 11/10/2015 Public Workshop............................... 42

B. Further feedback from stakeholders involved with the Trail Vision discussions................. 46

C. Interpretation of the Results from the Workshop ................................................................. 47

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I. INTRODUCTION

Throughout this report, we will use the terms “trail,” “path,” “pathway,” “sidewalk,” “dirt road,”

“rail trail,” and even “river trail” somewhat interchangeably. They are all considered part of the

pathway infrastructure that this Trails Vision for Lancaster seeks to expand and enhance to

improve the quality of life for all of Lancaster’s residents and visitors. The core of this report is with Sections VI, VI and VIII, with the first describing the existing sites

that are significant to Lancaster’s trail infrastructure and the second explaining how the public

participation occurred. In Section VIII, the next steps addressing the integration of the sites is

discussed by this Trails Vision report in order to come up with a ‘Road Map’ for the network

building. To lay the foundation for these projects, this report begins by describing the following:

How the Lancaster Trails Vision Committee believes this report can be used by the state,

the region, and the Town of Lancaster;

Who uses the trails in Lancaster;

What the benefits are to the Town of Lancaster and the region by enhancing our trails

infrastructure;

Who is on the Lancaster Trails Vision Committee and what the current committee’s

purpose, vision, and values are; and

The limitations in the current trails infrastructure.

It is the Lancaster’s Trails Vision Committee’s hope that this initial Trails Vision report will

serve to stimulate discussion and actions that will lead to the implementation of many of the

projects described herein. Our Lancaster’s Trails Vision is a long-range view of what is possible

and the benefits that could be achieved, but it will need to be updated every five years or so to

incorporate lessons learned along the way and to reassess priorities. As we move forward,

membership on the Lancaster’s Trails Vision Committee is expected to be dynamic as advocates

for the different projects come forward to take them from concept to completed infrastructural

enhancement. The Lancaster’s Trails Vision Committee believes this could be a sustainable

approach to enhancing the trails infrastructure for the benefit of all the residents, and visitors to

the Town of Lancaster.

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II. HOW THIS TRAILS VISION WILL BE USED

A. By the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The initiative for developing a Trails Vision for Lancaster was a request from the Montachusett

Regional Trails Coalition1 (MRTC) to each of its participating towns

2 to develop their Trails

Visions. The MRTC will integrate the Trails Visions from its participating towns into a regional

vision and implementation plan. The Trails Visions of all the active regional trail coalitions will

be integrated to provide an update to the current state-wide recreational trails vision,

“Commonwealth Connections”3. The goals of “Commonwealth Connections” have been used to

prioritize Recreational Trail Program grants that are administered by the Department of

Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and funded from the state’s alternative transportation funds.

The updated Commonwealth trails vision will seek increased state funding for trail projects at all

levels to help achieve the vision.

B. By Other Nearby Towns

Lancaster’s Trails Vision may help other nearby communities in developing their own Trails

Vision. Our Trails Vision may also stimulate greater interest in developing long-distance town-

to-town pathways with our neighboring towns. To the extent that parts of our Trails Vision are in

common with those of nearby communities, they are more likely to become part of the future

state-wide Trails Vision and thus give the projects a higher probability of being at least partially

funded with state resources. This document follows Groton’s Trail Vision goal of serving

adjacent communities into developing their visions.

C. By the Town of Lancaster

The development of this Lancaster’s Trails Vision uses ideas put forth for trail improvements in

the Lancaster Master Plan4, Lancaster’s Open Space and Recreation Plan

5, Lancaster Green Belt

1 The Montachusett Regional Trails Coalition (MRTC) began meeting in March 2012 through the cooperative

efforts of the Nashua River Watershed Association, the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, and the

Leominster Trail Stewards. Mr. Dick O’Brien is the current Chairman of the MRTC. Al Futterman of the Nashua

River Watershed Association is the Co-Chairman. It is the first regional trail coalition to form in the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts but two others have very recently been formed (viz., North Quabbin and Pioneer

Valley) and another is in the formative stage (Westborough-Southborough-Northborough area). The MRTC’s

Mission is to “…enrich the lives and communities within its boundaries by advancing the development of diverse,

high quality trails and greenways.” The MRTC’s Core Values are to provide “…trails and greenways that promote

accessibility, healthy lifestyles, economic vitality, sustainable development, best practices, experiences in the

outdoors, appreciation for the outdoors, learning in the outdoors, and connectivity.” 2 The towns encompassed by the MRTC are Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton,

Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Shirley,

Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon. Not all of these towns currently have representation

on the MRTC. 3 Department of Environmental Management, “Commonwealth Connections – A greenway vision for

Massachusetts,” 2001. 4 The Master Plan is prepared by the Planning Board.

http://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/Pages/LancasterMA_CommDev/master 5 The Open Space and Recreation Plan is spearheaded by the Conservation Commission and its Open Space and

Recreation Commission. http://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/Pages/LancasterMA_WebDocs/osrp

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Vision Plan6 and the Groton Trail Vision Plan

7 as its baseline. Committee members added many

other ideas for projects that serve parts of the town and/or groups of users that have not been

specifically addressed before. Unlike either Plan, this Trails Vision also provides an initial

design and implementation plan for each project and provides an initial attempt at prioritizing the

projects. In addition to the aforementioned projects, this vision also relied on the conclusions

drafted from Lancaster’s Green Belt Plan, Connecting Communities - Along Our Trails from

MRTC, and Groton’s Trail Vision. Several of these projects have been dreamed about for many

years but they have not been previously assembled in one place and prioritized. By bringing all

the ideas together in one document, we believe it will be easier to take a comprehensive and

balanced approach toward growing and enhancing our trail network.

This Trails Vision describes a variety of projects that use and enhance Lancaster’s trails network

to improve the quality of life for all Lancaster residents. To this end, this Trails Vision provides

examples of short-term, mid-term, and long-term projects that serve the following needs:

Outdoor recreational opportunities of all types for all ages

Healthy and safe activities for residents of all levels of ability

Increase in connectedness between neighborhoods and points of interest (library,

religious facilities, cultural/historic sites, schools, post office, ball fields, parks, offices,

restaurants, town facilities, mass transportation nodes, etc.) via woods trails, field trails,

roadside paths, abandoned roads, and sidewalks.

Business growth via easier access and increased tourism, and

The projects in this Trails Vision have very different levels of feasibility. Some could be

relatively easy to do and some could be very difficult. A few might better be considered

conceptual since they are not specific as to what should be done but rather they illustrate an idea

with the aim of encouraging public discussion of exactly what could be implemented. The

projects in this report are intended to stimulate excitement about what the future of recreational

opportunities and transportation alternatives could look like in Lancaster and to provide an initial

set of priorities for the detailed studies and discussions that they will require to become more

than just ideas.

By developing Lancaster’s Trails Vision, we have started to lay out some directions our town can

take to enhance the great potential of our network of trails, waterways, pathways, and sidewalks.

As each project described in this Trails Vision is implemented, we believe the quality of life will

be significantly improved for a large number of Lancaster’s citizens. Some projects focus on

particular types of trail users and some projects support multiple trail users. We believe that as

each project is completed, we will all be very pleased with the new opportunities that will be

6The Lancaster Green Belt Vision Plan is prepared by the Planning Board.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7ryAPZTjAOkeEMzVEFtbEN6RVU/edit?usp=sharing 7 The Groton Trail Vision Plan is prepared by the Trails Vision Committee.

http://www.townofgroton.org//DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?PortalId=0&EntryId=17861

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provided.

Some of the projects to enhance the trails network may require considerable resources and so

will involve hard decisions. Other significant projects can be accomplished with minimal cost if

accompanied by a spirit of cooperation and a collective willingness to do them. The Trails Vision

identifies numerous projects having varying degrees of difficulty and benefits so that we can

begin a more systematic approach to tapping into the potential our exceptional trails

infrastructure holds. We will know that our Trails Vision is successful if we enjoy the benefits of

each successful project enough so that we want to continue to work and plan additional ones.

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III. TRAIL USERS CONSIDERED IN THIS REPORT

The trails in Lancaster have many uses and people with many different interests use them.

The following list of potential users is certainly not complete, but it gives an idea of the many

uses for our trails have:

Bicyclists

Boaters (e.g., canoers, kayakers)

Commuters

Cross-country skiers

Equestrians

Exercisers (e.g., laps around tracks,

calisthenics; physical fitness)

Geocaching

Fishermen

Hikers

Hunters

Mobility-impaired individuals (e.g.,

wheelchairs, walkers, canes,

crutches)

Motorized wheelchair users

Mountain bikers

Nature observers (e.g., birdwatchers,

educational groups; scenic views;

geologic features)

People going to and from churches,

historical sites, recreational facilities,

retail stores, schools, town and

private offices

People walking their pets

People with children in strollers

Runners

Senior citizens

Skaters (e.g., roller skates, in-line

skates, ice skates)

Snowmobiles

Snowshoers

Swimmers (e.g., in pools, ponds,

lakes, and rivers)

Trailrunners

Walkers

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IV. BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR PATHWAYS

The benefits of outdoor pathways are as varied as the interests of the people that use them. In

addition to the specific personal benefits that each user wishes to derive from the pathways, there

are community-wide benefits as well that include the following:

Health – The more that people can safely use non-motorized pathways, the more they will

benefit from increased exercise they will get and the reduced stress they will enjoy due to driving

less on our town’s busy and narrow roadways.

Cleaner air – The less that people use motorized vehicles, the cleaner the air will be for all.

Community connections – The more that people go from place to place using the non-

motorized pathways, the more likely they are to meet people they know and to make new

acquaintances. Over time, this can provide an increased sense of community and with it a sense

of safety, support and pride.

Educational opportunities – The Town of Lancaster is rich in history and natural diversity.

Improved signage or other means (e.g., pamphlets) to identify places of archaeologic and historic

interest, flora, fauna, geologic points of interest (e.g., drumlins, eskers, kettle holes) and

agricultural areas and activities can educate citizens and visitors alike about the things that make

Lancaster unique and thus worth living or visiting.

Business opportunities – An improved non-motorized infrastructure will attract people to live in

Lancaster and to come to Lancaster for leisure activities. There will be opportunities for

increased business in general due to more “eco-tourism” as well as for new businesses that

support the recreational interests of the trail users (e.g., hiking, biking, cross-country skiing,

snowshoeing, runners, and boaters).

These benefits and more are discussed in the following initiatives that have emerged in the past

decade:

The Massachusetts “Safe Routes to Schools” (SRTS) program8. In 1969, roughly 48% of

students bicycled or walked to school. Today only 13% of children do so. And travel to

school can account for up to 25% of all morning traffic. That’s why we work…to teach

and inspire children to start walking and bicycling more often to and from school,

improving their physical health, safety and community. The Massachusetts SRTS

program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from

school. It educates students, parents and community members on the value of walking

and bicycling for travel to and from school.

“Walkable Communities”9 – These are described as thriving, livable, sustainable places

that give their residents safe transportation choices and improved quality of life. They are

designed around the human foot, truly the only template that can lead to sustainability

8 http://www.commute.com/schools

9 http://www.walkable.org

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and future community prosperity. Increased walkability also helps improve resource

responsibility, safety, physical fitness and social interaction.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT’s) GreenDOT10

Policy –

One of the three primary objectives of the “GreenDOT Implementation Plan”11

is to

“Promote healthy transportation options of walking, bicycling, and public transit.”

Other important aspects of the Policy, Planning, and Design component of the GreenDOT

Implementation Plan are the guidelines offered by the “Complete Streets”12

concept. In

2009, MassDOT became the second New England state to adopt a Complete Streets

design policy. Complete Streets “…are designed and operated to enable safe access for

all users. People of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across streets

in a community, regardless of how they are traveling. Complete Streets make it easy to

cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work.

The soon to be published Complete Streets study from MRPC and Lancaster, which

incorporates points of interest locations provided by the Lancaster Planning Department,

within the downtown area and a 1000 foot buffer was placed around those locations.

Data that was collected within the study area included traffic volume, speed and

classification counts, turning movement counts, sidewalks and related sign inventory as

well as public input. This study area mainly focuses on the walkability aspect of

Complete Streets, where residents and visitors might be the most likely to explore the

community on foot, bicycle, or wheelchair/walker. Based on the data collected, a

recommendations section was included. These recommendations are comprised of

sidewalk maintenance and connections, the materials used for the sidewalks, traffic

calming measures to address speed issues, lighting along Main Street, additional and

improved parking areas, connections to neighborhoods, and other options to complement

a Complete Streets municipality.

None of these initiatives can prescribe what Lancaster needs to improve its trail infrastructure for

the benefit of the quality of life for its citizens and visitors, and none of them tries to do so. They

simply offer a variety of approaches and guidelines that can be adopted by Lancaster as

appropriate. The broad acceptance of these initiatives throughout the country speaks to the need

and desire of communities to purposely build and sustain a greater number of healthy, safe, and

convenient non-vehicular transportation pathways to counter the emphasis we have all put on

motor vehicles to get us where we want to go. Lancaster will make its own decisions about how

it views the benefits of improved public pathways relative to their costs and to other important

quality of life issues. The Trails Vision Committee hopes that this report will help the citizens of

Lancaster make those decisions with a better vision of what is possible.

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http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/GreenDOT.aspx 11

http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/0/docs/GreenDOT/finalImplementation/FinalGreenDOTImplementationPla

n12.12.12.pdf 12

http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets

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V. TRAILS VISION COMMITTEE

A. Organizations Represented on the Committee

The MRPC solicited input from what we called the town “Stakeholders”. These individuals

represented various town boards and committees throughout town, including the Planning Board,

Trail and Bikeway Coalition, Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, Commission on

Disability, Historical Commission, Open Space and Recreation Committees, Town Forest

Committee, Thayer Field Campus Committee, Lancaster Land Trust, New England Forestry

Foundation, Mass Fish and Game, Nashua River Watershed Association, Friends of the Nashua

River and Public Works. These entities that comprise the Trails Vision Committee were vital in

the data gathering process.

B. Purpose, Vision, and Values

At its first meetings, the Trails Vision stakeholders discussed its purpose, vision and values.

Such guidelines coincide with the vision from the Lancaster Trail & Bike Way Coalition

regarding the promotion of walkability and bike riding within Lancaster open areas through new

trails and trail connection routes; while keeping up with the conservation of natural and cultural

assets. The Committee developed the following consensus statements:

Purpose

Help the Town of Lancaster – preserve and improve our quality of life by identifying

what we want and need for getting around town without motorized vehicles.

Support the regional trail plan – take advantage of Commonwealth funds, to the extent

available, by contributing to the region’s input to the state’s Trails Vision.

Create an initial implementation plan for our Trails Vision – identify basic resource

needs, set priorities (short, medium and long term), and suggest a timeline for possible

implementation.

Vision

Our vision for Lancaster’s trails is a safe and easy-to-use network of ways that will connect

people to each other, to places they want to go in town and in surrounding towns, and to the

unique natural, geological, and historical points of interest throughout our town.

Values

We believe that sustainable community support for improving the quality of paths in

Lancaster will develop through more complete understanding by the community of its

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unique and substantial natural, historical, and geological features.

We believe increased and improved connectedness of our network of paths will provide

significantly improved health, recreational, business, and educational opportunities for

people of all ages and abilities.

We believe that Lancaster’s paths should promote accessibility, healthy lifestyles,

economic vitality, appreciation of our diverse biohabitat and history, education, and

connectivity with each other and the places we want to go.

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VI. EXISTING CONDITIONS IN LANCASTER’S TRAILS NETWORK

A. The Lancaster Trail System: A Treasure for Lancaster

Lancaster has all the elements to become a quintessential rural New England community that

allows its population to enjoy all the outdoor features that come with this package, while at the

same time exercising and making use of the natural and cultural features that are available.

Throughout the research process for the making of this report, the inventory compiled ten major

trail sites for outdoor activities that, when interconnected, will constitute the Lancaster Trail

Network. These are the sites shown on the map next page:

1. Cook Conservation Area

2. Lancaster Town Forest

3. Ballard Hill Conservation Area

4. Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area

5. Thayer Memorial Forest

6. Parker Family Forest

7. Turner Pond Conservation Area

8. Eagle Ridge Conservation Area

9. Nathaniel Thayer Memorial Park

10. Atherton Bridge River Greenway.

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1. Cook Conservation Area

Area Name

Cook Conservation Area

with 3 sub-areas and 7

trails

Trail Location Lunenburg Road

Acreage 800 acres

Owner/Steward

Lancaster Conservation

Commission/Lancaster’s

Friends of the Nashua

River

Improved or Raw Improved

ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Bike, Horse, Ski, No

Motorized

Signage Entrance/Trails

Parking Yes

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2. Lancaster Town Forest

Area Name Town Forest with 7 trails

Trail Location Brockelman Road

Acreage 441 acres

Owner/Steward Board of Selectmen/Town

Forest Committee


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Horse, Ski,

Snowmobiles, No ATVs

Signage Entrance

Parking Yes

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3. Ballard Hill Conservation Area

Area Name Ballard Hill Conservation

Area with 2 trails

Trail Location Route 117 (Main Street)

Acreage 34 acres

Owner/Steward Lancaster Land Trust


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Horse, No Motorized

Signage Entrance

Parking Yes

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4. Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area

Area Name Bolton Flats with 2 trails

Trail Location Route 117 & Route 110

(Bolton)

Acreage 1,320 acres

Owner/Steward MA Fish & Game


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, No Motorized

Signage Entrance

Parking Yes

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5. Thayer Memorial Forest

Area Name Thayer Memorial Forest

with 6 trails

Trail Location Bull Hill Road

Acreage 100 acres

Owner/Steward New England Forestry

Foundation


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Horse, Ski, No

Motorized

Signage Entrance

Parking Yes – on road

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6. Parker Family Forest

Area Name Parker Family Forest with

1 trail

Trail Location Goss Lane

Acreage 60 acres

Owner/Steward New England Forestry

Foundation


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Horse, Ski, No

Motorized

Signage Entrance

Parking Yes

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7. Turner Pond Conservation Area

Area Name Turner Pond Conservation

Area with 1 trail

Trail Location Brian Road

Acreage 38+ acres

Owner/Steward Lancaster Land Trust


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Bike, Ski, no

motorized

Signage Entrance


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8. Eagle Ridge Conservation Area

Area Name Eagle Ridge Conservation

Area with 1 trail

Trail Location Mary Catherine Drive

Acreage 75 acres

Owner/Steward Lancaster Conservation

Commission


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Snowshoe, Ski

Signage No

Parking

Yes – Sterling Rd., George

Hill Rd. and Mary

Catherine Dr.

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9. Nathaniel Thayer Memorial Park

Source: www. http://thayerfield.org/about-us/

Area Name

Nathaniel Thayer

Memorial Park, and several

short trails

Trail Location Packard Street

Acreage 23 acres

Owner/Steward Board of Selectmen


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Ski, Snowshoe

Signage No

Parking Yes – Packard St.

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10. Atherton Bridge River Greenway

Area Name Atherton Bridge River

Greenway with 1 trail

Trail Location Bolton Road

Acreage 18 acres

Owner/Steward Lancaster Conservation

Commission


ADA Compliant No

Modes Hike, Snowshoe, Ski, No

Motorized

Signage No


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B. Limitations of Current Trails Network

Lancaster’s Trails Network is extensive and well-utilized by many users. However, it has been

designed neither for any particular group of user(s) nor to accommodate all potential trail users.

In fact, few if any of the trails have actually been designed at all, but rather they have evolved

through a process driven mostly by user convenience. Over many, decades, equestrians, and

more recently snowmobilers and ATVs, used existing farm roads, driveways, etc., and also

created paths to get them wherever they wanted to go. If enough of these users had the same

destination, the path became commonly used and established. Unfortunately, this historic ad hoc

process, uninformed by more recent revelations of the fragility of rare and endangered species

habitats (streams, ponds, rivers, wetlands, upland nesting areas, etc.), erosion risks, potential

damage to historic and geologic sites (e.g., stone walls, historic/ancient building remnants,

eskers, etc.) has given us a trails network that lacks the following characteristics:

Sustainable – Trails should be designed to be easy and relatively inexpensive to maintain

over a long period of time. This requires sensitivity to the vegetation through which the

trail passes (e.g., mature woods, transitional woods, open fields, dense ground cover,

vines, bushes), the risk of erosion (which depends on the nature of the tread material and

the speed and volume of water that can be expected to go across and down the trail), and

the number and types of users (e.g., horses, bikes).

Accessible – Accessible trails are also sustainable trails, but they are additionally

designed so that a) in-line and cross-trail slopes are within prescribed ranges for

prescribed distances to allow mobility impaired individuals to traverse them on their own

or with assistance; and b) the tread is flat (according to specific guidelines) and firm.

They also have additional safety features (railings, edges, etc.) and signage (describing

obstacles, maximum slopes, etc.).

Provides Directional and Educational Signage – The Trails Committee hopes to put

trail markers on many of the trails to help users stay on the trails. Trailhead posts can also

be put on roadsides where trails intersect. However, there is not a single sign on any path

in Lancaster that points to a destination such as another trail or parcel, a road, a point of

interest (scenic, geologic, historic, businesses, buildings, parks, etc.) or a parking area.

Full Connectedness – Many of Lancaster’s trails connect to trails on other parcels, but

there are still a number of trails that are isolated, surrounded by private property. These

trail sites that are isolated from the rest of the town (e.g., Turner Pond Conservation Area

in the North) make the access to such places more challenging from a pedestrian-friendly

perspective. Plus, many of the larger groups of parcels are disconnected from each other

so that there are no continuous routes around or across town. Finally, while many

residents live within 0.5 miles of a trail or sidewalk, there are still many who do not.

Implementing the Lancaster Green Belt plan may be a way to connect large trail areas.

Safety – There are very few places to ride a road bike safely due to the narrow and/or

busy main roads. Several sidewalks end just before getting to popular destinations and so

people are forced to walk along narrow and/or busy roads.

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VII. OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC INPUT COLLECTED FOR THIS VISION

A. Public Participation Workshop

The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, in cooperation with the Lancaster

Community Development and Planning Office, conducted a public workshop to provide a

forum for the public’s input for the Lancaster Trail Vision. The purpose of this document is to

create a comprehensive eco-tourism planning tool for Lancaster. This tool will be a single

source of information for trail and bikeway visioning, planning and implementation. The

workshop’s intentions were to:

Look at Lancaster’s current trails/networks, proposed/potential trails, trail

connections and trail networks.

To hear from the public regarding the future of Lancaster trail developments

through questions such as “What would you like to see?”; “What should the town

focus on?”, and “What are the priorities?”

This process was preceded by an in depth meeting where public officials and stakeholders

created the context for the workshop. The workshop allowed participants to identify areas of

concern and priority, and offer their feelings of positive, negative and transitional areas in the

network. The MRPC staff created flyers that were distributed through the town departments, as

well as throughout the Town of Lancaster to make business owners and residents aware of the

event.

Picture 1: Participants of the workshop

Source: MRPC

The workshop occurred on November 10, 2015 in the Lancaster Community Center & Senior

Center. A total of 35 people attended the public workshop, which started with a presentation

28

from MRPC staff, where the project was explained, and the inventory of existing trails

displayed.

Next, the workshop proceeded with four tables working as discussion groups, with one member

acting as table moderator and note taker to record the responses. With approximately ten

participants at each table, the participants spoke about general feelings relating to the existing

trails in Lancaster and the Trail Network Vision.

Picture 2: Table with maps and flip charts for discussion

Source: MRPC

The participants were asked to discuss and answer to the following questions:

1. What types of recreational activities do you want to see related to

trails? Seasonal/holiday events, guided hikes, uses, etc.?

2. What are the trails best used for? What types of users or activities?

29

3. Where do you see or hear of people using trails? What are the most popular

trails? Why? What is the general feel of these trails?

4. What aspects of connecting trails to points of interest are important to you? What types

of points of interest should be incorporated?

5. How can we maintain the trails?

In the Appendix, it is possible to find a transcription of the discussions held at each table. The

transcriptions are exactly as was in the original discussions. Such a step is important to ensure

that the results from the public workshop were processed in its entirety.

B. Conclusions from the Workshop

After making a word count from all answers, it was easy to see that the favorite use for the

trails is for passive recreational activities such as hiking, followed by cross country skiing, dog

walking and biking. In terms of cultural and natural use of the trails, the favorites related to the

historic character of the area, followed by bird watching and photography.

The favorite spots ranked by the participants appear to be the Cook Conservation Area,

Nathaniel Thayer Memorial Park, Lancaster Town Forest, and the Ballard Hill Conservation

Area.

In terms of how to promote the shared use of the existing trails, improvements were suggested

about wayfinding (signaling) and regulation of uses allowed/forbidden in each location such as

motorized vehicles, bikes, hunting, etc.

Finally, the recommendations that address the future management and maintenance of the Trail

Network consisted of using the help of the local Scout groups, other local community groups

such as businesses and schools through volunteering and sponsorship (e.g., Adopt a Trail), as

well as the presence of the local police department.

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VIII. ROAD MAP

Once all the input is collected and processed, it becomes possible to formulate the next steps to

provide the necessary actions that will kick start this vision of a trails network. Throughout this

process, the main locations to be included in the network were mentioned, followed by the

preferred modes of use and limitations or constraints that can be addressed to foster the network.

In addition to the local perspective, it is also possible to verify best practices in terms of trails

management from places like Western Massachusetts (via Amherst and the Norwottuck Trail),

Groton (via the literature from Groton Trail Vision) and New York State.

A. Wayfinding

An adequate Wayfinding System is greatly important, as it allows for people to navigate through

their desired destinations with the guidance of visual signals, as well as communicating about the

nature of a trail, possible restrictions to using modes, convergence between different uses, etc. In

order to assess examples of wayfinding signals for trails in Massachusetts.

The following are a variety of types of signs that could be tailored for use on Lancaster’s Trails:

Mountain bike

trails

Historical sign

Multi-trail sign

Equestrian trail

Handicapped

accessible

sign/activities

No mountain bikes

Geological

education sign

Bicycling and XC

skiing trail

Point of interest

sign

Directional signs

Caution sign

Courtesy sign

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Design

It is helpful if signs are small, distinctive and consistent from parcel to parcel (and even

town to town) because they will not need to be read each time they are seen and they will

seem less obtrusive.

Challenges

Costs are significant for the number of signs that might be needed for the Town of

Lancaster

What is helpful and reassuring to one person using a trail may be clutter on billboard

advertising to another. A difficult balance must be achieved between

information/education, safety and aesthetics.

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B. Road Bicyclist Pathways Based On “Complete Streets”

“Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be

planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel

and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation. Complete

Streets allow for safe travel by those walking, bicycling, riding automobiles….”13

The photo below shows a wide shoulder marked clearly with the white stripe that can be used by

bicycles. The road was reduced to one lane in each direction for motorized vehicles by the

addition of the wide shoulder and the median strip. Note the curb protection/visibility for the

pedestrian crossing in the median strip, which allows pedestrians to cross the road one lane at a

time if necessary.

The photo below shows a bicycle lane clearly marked with a border line and a bicycle symbol.

The road width has been reduced from two lanes to one lane for motorized vehicles by the

combination of the bicycle lane and the marked median strip. In addition, no parking is permitted

on the side with the bicycle lane.

13

Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complete_streets

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In addition to markings on the roadways, road signs such as those shown below, can also notify

drivers of motorized vehicles that the road is a bike route. These signs will also serve to

concentrate bicyclists on the bike routes thereby increasing the number and visibility, which will

improve their overall safety.

Design

The specific design elements of Complete Streets vary based on context, but for bicycles they

may include:

Traffic calming measures to lower speeds of automobiles and define the edges of

automobile travel lanes

Elimination of free-flow right-turn lanes, angled and face-out parking

Protected or dedicated bicycle lanes, with appropriate markings and signage

Wide paved shoulders.

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Challenges

Since many bicyclists cover long distances, bike routes that Lancaster designs need to be

coordinated with Lancaster’s neighboring towns. It is hoped that the neighboring towns will also

develop bike routes of their own, but which roads each town identifies as bike routes really

becomes a regional issue because the increase in bicycle traffic along particular routes in one

town will obviously create more traffic on the streets in neighboring towns to which they

connect. Complete Streets design concepts should also be considered in Lancaster Center.

Roadway changes can be very expensive. But there are financial impacts of reduced exercise,

increased motor vehicle use, more accidents, building more parking areas, having fewer business

visits due to inconveniences in getting to them, and becoming a town that is not as appealing to

people searching for a place to live because it does not allow them to walk and bike safely to

places they want to go. A more balanced approach to accommodating both bicyclists and

motorized vehicles in Lancaster is certainly possible and we believe it would enhance our town

in many ways.

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C. Increase Connectedness of Trails Network

While some areas of Lancaster have many miles of continuous connected trails, other trails are

disconnected from those nearby. In some cases, these gaps are short as measured by distance, but

they are large in terms of limiting the usefulness of the trails for getting from one place to

another. There are some cases where even a short disconnected trail or group of trails may still

be very popular because of a particular point of interest to which the trail leads, but generally a

trail that is disconnected will not be used by many people and it will thus require more work to

maintain it. Another benefit of a more connected network is that it reduces the amount of

traveling by motorized vehicle that is required to get people to where they want to go.

In order to address the lack of continuity between trail sites, the Town of Lancaster has already

been stepping in to fill such gaps, as the recent new connections that were created can attest:

New Trail Connections

1) Bolton Flats → Harvard → Oxbow Wildlife Refuge (Harvard)

2) Thayer Memorial Forest → Town Forest → Devonshire → Ballard Hill → over Nashua

River → Cook CA (Greenbelt)

3) Parker Family Forest → Winsor CA → Rowlandson Rock -- done

4) Eagle Ridge → Rowlandson Rock

5) Rowlandson Rock → Thayer Memorial Forest

6) Town Forest → Moreira → Wekepeke → Bartlett Pond

7) Trail extensions over the Atherton and Ponakin Bridges

8) New Hilltop Road parcels → Eagle Ridge CA

9) From Lancaster → Bolton Flats WMA → Bolton Loop Trail (Bolton)

10) From Lancaster → Lastella parcels (Sterling)

The map on next page, developed for the Lancaster Open Space and Recreation Plan, shows,

among other features, the extension of walking pathways and/or sidewalks within Lancaster’s

boundaries delineated by a pink outline. By comparing this map with the Lancaster’s Formal

Trail Inventory Map from page 15, it is possible to foresee where the connection between the

trails can be built, sometimes by simply expanding and/or enhancing the preexisting sidewalk

network.

37

38

Design

Expand trail network by making new connections within existing trails in Lancaster when

opportunities arise through purchase of land or easements.

Expand trail connections with Lancaster’s neighboring towns when opportunities arise

through purchase or easements.

Connect sidewalks to trails wherever possible.

Challenges

The gaps in the trails network are private property parcels. Some property owners may be

unaware of the value of their property for improving the trails network. Other owners

may not want their property to be purchased or used by the public regardless of its value

to the public. Attitudes will change over time, so communications regarding the needs for

public trails with private property owners should be sustained over long periods even if

they do not occur frequently.

Opportunities for purchasing land or easements cannot be planned and may last only

briefly due to personal time constraints that the buyer may have. Funds must be built up

and reserved so that they can be used rapidly if needed.

There will always be limited funds available for land or easement purchases, so the gaps

need to be considered in their totality and then prioritized to get the most value out of the

money that is available when opportunities arise. Selecting one purchase over another can

be very difficult when most all potential opportunities only arise once in a lifetime, and

then are not available again for another lifetime, but funds must be used strategically to

get the most value from them.

39

D. Pathways along Major Roadways

Some of the major roads in Lancaster would be very attractive and useful pathways for

pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians, but they cannot be used safely as they are too narrow,

often having no shoulder at all, and they have many blind corners. There are no realistic

solutions for making any of these roads safe for non-motorized use in the foreseeable future, but

a vision where the Town of Lancaster has found a way to give non-motorized travel a more

balanced position with respect to motorized travel is a powerful one. Therefore ideas like

widening of Rt. 117 and/or bike lanes on Rt. 10 are worth being brought up. It may be a long

time away, but it is a goal that is worthwhile to keep in mind should an opportunity to redesign

any of these roads ever arise.

40

E. Develop Blue Trails along River

This project would develop trails on the Nashua River both within Lancaster and connecting to

Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, Groton and Ayer with maybe expanding it up until the existing

Nashua River Rail Trail up north. Maps could be developed to show the river in sufficient detail

to aid in navigation and to identify points of interest along the river.

Rest/picnic areas could be developed at intervals on the riverbanks, and intersections with land

trails could be developed so that a combined canoe and hike could be planned.

Design

Maps of the river could be developed for download and distribution.

Signage could be designed and installed on trees or posts at strategic locations along the

rivers.

Rest areas with rustic benches could be created in public parcels along the rivers. Places

to park boats could be created on the riverbanks where land trails come close to the river

so that people could combine their boating with a hike on land.

More put-in and take-out spots.

Challenges

Permission from the landowners would be required to develop rest areas and install

signage.

F. Funding

Federal Resources

Surface Transportation Program (STP) - Provides flexible funding that may be used by

states and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance

on any Federal-aid highway, as well as for projects on any public road, pedestrian and

bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) - Provides

federal funding for states to support projects and programs intended to improve air

quality and reduce traffic congestion.

State Resources

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) - Provides funding for a variety of

transportation project types, including construction, planning and design of on-road and

off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of

transportation (including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals,

traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, and

transportation related projects) to achieve compliance with the Americans with

Disabilities Act of 1990.

Chapter 90 – Entitles municipalities to full reimbursement for capital improvement

projects for highway construction, preservation and improvement that create or extend

the life of capital facilities. The funds can be used for maintaining, repairing, improving

or constructing town and county ways and bridges that qualify under the State Aid

Highway Guidelines issued by the Public Works Commission. Items eligible for Chapter

90 funding include roadways, sidewalks, right-of-way acquisition, shoulders, landscaping

and tree planting, roadside drainage, street lighting and traffic control devices.

Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Trails Grant - The Recreational

Trails Program provides reimbursement grants up to $100,000, based on need, breadth

and reach of the trail project. Grants are awarded for a variety of trail protection,

construction and stewardship projects throughout Massachusetts.

Non-profit Resources

MassBike - The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) promotes a bicycle-friendly

environment and encourages bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation. - See more

at:http://massbike.org/aboutus/mission/#sthash.glGQB

APPENDIX

A. Analysis of the Results Collected in the 11/10/2015 Public Workshop

Table 1 answer analysis:


Town organizations (Boy/Girl Scouts)

Community Service (schools)

Sponsorship (Businesses)

Police Present

4. What aspects of connecting trails to points

of interest are important to you? What types

of points of interest should be incorporated?

Drumlin to center of Town

Fishing destination

Sightseeing

Town beach

Paths to walk to school

Trails to shopping (Walmart)

Connecting to go longer

Well marked

3. Where do you see or hear of people

using trails? What are the most popular

trails? Why? What is the general feel of

these trails?

Cook

Blood Town Forest

Dexter Drumlin (add to Map)

2. What are the trails best used for? What

types of users or activities?

(Prioritized on 1)

Photography

Educational

Hiking

Cross country ski

History

Percentage for motorized vehicles

1.What types of recreational activities do you

want to see related to trails?

Seasonal/Holiday events, guided hikes, uses,

etc.

Photography

Educational

Hiking

Cross country ski

History

Cycling

Fishing

Family

Elder activities

Dog walking (off or on leash)

Organized hikes or runs

Dog sleds

Decompressing

Trail running

Camping



Contact info – each area/trail

Trail steward

Compost area – Cook Conservation

Eagle Scout/Community service

Volunteer coordinator

4. What aspects of connecting trails to

points of interest are important to you?

What types of points of interest should be

incorporated?

Historical markers (Eagle project?)

Cook Conservation

Well

Shoes hawk

Mark historic roads

Geological

Slate

Cross state

3. Where do you see or hear of people using

trails? What are the most popular trails?

Why? What is the general feel of these

trails?

Scouts – Hiking

Cross country skiers

Families

Hunters

Thayer

Blood Forest

Cook Conservation (bridge needs

maintenance)

Ballard Hill



Hikes – Scouts Camping – Blood

Forest

Biking

ATV-motorcycles

Dog walkers

Families



Seasonal/holiday events, guided hikes, uses,

etc.

Biking trails

Measured hikes to historical sites

Limited range hikes

Cultural hikes – historical

Warning signs for hunting

ATV-only? Unipurpose


1. What types of recreational activities do you want to see related to trails?

Seasonal/holiday events, guided hikes, uses, etc.

Birding

Historical

Multi-use, ability, ADA, rail-trail (W. Boylston)

Dog friendly

Longer trails

Winter friendly

No hunting

Signage

Trail etiquette

3. Where do you see or hear of people using trails? What are the most popular trails? Why?

What is the general feel of these trails?

Cook – beauty, terrain, dogs, horses

Town Forest

2. What are the trails best used for? What types of users or activities?

Birding

Skiing/shoeing

Hiking

Horses

Dogs – off leash

No motorized (separate?)

Mountain bikes (separate)

Connect to rail trails

Water trail + access



Trail association w/ schedule

Clean up day

Commitment from Town for trash

pickup

Adopt a trail

Local businesses to support (sponsor)

Sheriff’s Dept. work crews

Snowmobile clubs

4. What aspects of connecting trails to

points of interest are important to you?

What types of points of interest should be

incorporated?

Resting places

Access

Parking

Loops for variety!

Points of interest with interpretative

signs

Better trail markers

Maps

Distance markers

Cell phone access on trails

Safe, well maintained parking

North/South connector

Connect Ballard Hill to Cook

3. Where do you see or hear of people using

trails? What are the most popular trails?

Why? What is the general feel of these

trails?

Cook

Parking, scenery (river), width,

easy to walk, geocaching, history,

clear, good variety of wildlife,

loop… diversity

Town Forest

Needs work

Trail markers

Beaver dam

Thayer - Memorial Cemetery

Hidden gem – 2 mile

Arboretum – trees

Thayer Campus

Memorial Park

Easy access, short, flat

Trails are all under-utilized!!!



Cross country skiing

Mountain biking

Horseback riding (?)

Hunting (?)



Seasonal/holiday events, guided hikes, uses,

etc.

Snowmobiles ok in winter (Thayer

Memorial)

Snowshoe

Dog walking trails

Object to trails w/ motorized vehicles

Specific trails for motorized…

Possible grooming with club

(snowmobile)

Guided hike with history

Bird watching

Benches for resting… Eagle project?

B. Further feedback from stakeholders involved with the Trail Vision discussions

Besides the conversations held at the November 10 workshop, MRPC and the Town of Lancaster

have also kept an open line of communications with other stakeholders about the Trails Vision.

Such conversations have not only helped to give shape to the workshop, but also complemented

the overall visioning. Some of these additional inputs are as follows:

1. We would like to see the historic Ponakin and Atherton bridges (spanning the Nashua River)

included in the trail planning as pedestrian walkways.

Both of these bridges have SIGNIFICANT structural designs and have been on the National

Register for decades. Both are in dire need of refurbishment as well.

We have files of information on them here in the Lancaster Historical Commission office.

2. We would like to have ALL TRAILS include appropriate interpretive signage denoting

special features of the land, historic structures (some no longer extant), and historic site events.

3. In addition to trail planning for forested and outlying areas, we would like to see walking

trails developed for our three historic villages (North, Center and South) as well as for our

historic "Old Common" Area. These village trails could easily include a number of historical

markers and signs ALREADY in place just connect the dots).

It would be good if these trails could be "distance measured" for those interested in walking for

health and fitness. Further, it would be good to have crosswalks painted on the roadways for

safety.”

“We are interested in snow shoe walks, dog walks, nature walks, moonlight walks and owl

prowl.”

“I've always been drawn to history walks, and most especially ghost walks, if we have any

haunted history around here? Always wanted to try snowshoeing. And of course nature walks /

owl prowls are always excellent.”

“Did anyone else mention the possibility of haunted history walks?”

“Maybe if we can get any confirmation of the stories about Blood Town Forest that could be a

good one. I still swear I heard screaming in the distance the first day we walked through there.

Suppose it could have been an American Marten, but it didn't sound like the one I've heard.”

C. Interpretation of the Results from the Workshop

Questions 1 and 2 were combined, as both addressed the preferred uses for the Lancaster trails.

The word cloud is built by counting each of the words entries, taking in to consideration the

frequency that they were mentioned (thus weighing in the participants priorities). Therefore, the

word cloud illustrates how the trails are used most often is:

Figure 1 – Word cloud from questions 1 and 2 combined

Questions 3 and 4 were combined, as they provide geographical links to the participants

preferences on the existing Lancaster trails. In other words, the cloud illustrates what the most

popular trails are and how they function:

Figure 2 – Word cloud from questions 3 and 4 combined

Lastly, Question 5 was sorted individually, since this was the only question with alternatives

addressing potential ways to maintain the Trail Network in the future. Below is the result:

Figure 3 – Word cloud from question 5

Documents

Lancaster_Trails_Vision_Report_2016