Hi Lincoln, There was a string of discussion that didn't have a subject line about trail use - I appreciate many comments there including the one I am pasting below my own comments here.
As a daily dog walker on a variety of Lincoln Trails at Mt. Misery, Harrington (aka Stonybrook) and near Sandy Pond, it is my hope that the Conservation Commission and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, each which manage different parcels of open space in Lincoln, would consider leaving trail use as is for now - no changes. There is another meeting and potential vote on July 13 by the Conservation Commission. I am not sure of the timeline for LLCT. My hope is that neither group makes trail use changes at this time. I believe, the Conservation Commission proposal to open many more trails to biking, including half the trails at Mt. Misery, would bring in large bike groups that would negatively impact walkers from Lincoln, Concord, Maynard, Sudbury, Wayland and beyond that walk our trails, and be detrimental to wildlife and habitat. It is not about being exclusive. It is about being inclusive. Everyone, including mountain bikers, can walk with their kids, dogs and on horse back on these trails. The wildlife and habitat we have in Lincoln now and over the last decades are accustomed to our current trail use. In some cases, people donated land or donated money to buy conservation land based on the off-leash dog trail/no bike current maps. Truth be told I see single mountain bikers on some of these "no bike" trails now, but because they are officially no bike trails, bike groups don't come. The proposed changes would not only open half the trails at Mt. Misery to bikes, it provides a process for large bike groups to get permits to use them. Asking for no changes, is not about being exclusive, it is about being inclusive and nature-minded in a Lincoln way. The wildlife that calls Lincoln home, along with in-town and out-of-town walkers using the trails today, appreciate that Lincoln is inclusive and has a history of protecting nature. I appreciate very much the mountain bikers who have posted on Lincoln talk their love of nature, too. The current trail use map gives some mountain biking opportunity while at the same time does not encourage large bike groups in our parking spots and on our trails. This is one of the comments in the other string that touched on this: "LIncoln is a very progressive town, and despite the nickname "the white-hairs" involved in Lincoln town governance with their long experience and memories of Lincoln and society they kept Lincoln on a good path. I have seen this over my lifetime of 70 years, starting as young boy taken to town meetings by my father. A lot of discussion and views, but the resultant path has been a good one. Without them and younger ones too there would not be the conservation land and accessible Nature we have in Lincoln: We would have lost the Nature we have to develop and over usage. Wisdom existed, no change just for change's sake. I see that there need be no rush to change trail usage, there is still much to consider. For example, my recent observation in the area around Mt. Misery: the signage is really confusing to users. My bottom line: I think we are at a point where no more detrimental impact placed on Nature is worth considering." -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara Peskin *My Moments in Nature Photo Gallery: barbarapeskin.com <http://barbarapeskin.com>*
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