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Anonymous donation funds new public trail in Palmer, fishing ramp

Date: 6/15/2023

PALMER — The generosity of a stranger, or maybe strangers, has made it possible for the Conservation Commission to fund an ADA compliant pathway to a newly constructed fishing dock on the Swift River.

Located on First Street in Bondsville, this project was first approved in February by the Department of Fish and Game’s Office of Fishing and Boating Access, but has had ongoing revisions until a final plan and all amendments were approved at a public meeting on June 6, according to Conservation Agent Heidi Mannarino and Conservation Commission Chair Donald Blais.

Terry Smith of the Office of Fishing and Boating Access has been helping the project move along to completion, and has added amendments such as changing the original plan of a stone dust pathway to a paved pathway, which is easier for everyone to traverse.

The pathway and fishing platform are scheduled to be completed in mid-July.

Mannarino and Blais said a neighboring business to this same conservation area, Adaptas, is also planning to have a trail clean-up day on June 23. Adaptas employees utilize the nature preserve often, and the company has begun an annual day of trail maintenance with over 200 employees on duty clearing debris and doing other trail upkeep.

Blais said the commission plans to host a public event on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Madura Conservation Area at 568 Old Warren Rd. This event will focus on educational activities and once finalized, the schedule of activities will be available to the public at townofpalmer.com.

Blais also said the commission has ongoing concerns about the continued vandalism at the First Street conservation area. Blais said there is a lot of work that is put into keeping these areas safe and friendly for the public to enjoy, and is disappointed the vandalism has not stopped. He asks the public to be aware of the effort it takes to maintain this location and preserve the sanctity of the space.

Mannarino said they are looking to update the trail maps this year, and said she would be appearing before Town Council on Monday, June 12, after Reminder Publishing’s deadline, to discuss new land acquisition.

This can be watched as a recording on M-Pact TV at m-pact.tv.