Vassalboro trails committee discusses maintenance work

Vassalboro Trails (photo by Laura Jones)

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Trails Committee members discussed maintenance work for 2025 at a Jan. 21 meeting. At chair John Melrose’s suggestion, they agreed by consensus to ask town voters for a $1,250 budget allocation for 2025-26, the same amount as in the current year.

Melrose said this year’s funds are two-thirds spent, and the rest will be used before the fiscal year ends June 30. Town funds are supplemented by a great deal of volunteer work, assistance from the public works department and gifts.

The meeting agenda listed trails for which the committee is responsible: Town Forest/Red Brook, Seaward Mills, Davidson Preserve, Spectacle Pond, Sturgis Sanctuary, Willow Walk and Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat, plus snowmobile trails.

Individual committee members reported on several trails they had checked recently. They found only minor storm damage and generally good conditions.

Proposed projects include widening parts of some trails by cutting brush; dealing with wet areas in various ways, from adding gravel to building bridges; and adding signs, both trail signs and, if possible, signs identifying different tree species.

Committee members endorsed working with the Kennebec Land Trust to provide additional parking for the Seaward Mills trail. Melrose said public works director Brian Lajoie intends to have the town crew improve parking at the Sturgis Sanctuary later in the spring.

From the audience, resident Dave Richard offered assistance with trail work in general and especially if committee members were interested in allowing mountain biking on some trails.

Committee members did not set a new meeting date. They will schedule a trails work day this spring; Melrose suggested in May.