DALTON, Mass. — The Open Space and Recreation Committee is looking for new members and developing ways to engage the community, especially in the neighborhood around the Pines Trailhead. 

 

The seven-member committee has three vacancies and more members would allow it to be more efficient in managing the Pines as well as strengthen its efforts. 

 

"It's a low time commitment, because we're not talking about a committee that meets three hours a week [and it is an] opportunity to be able to help out the community and try to improve resources that we already have," Chair Jared Shannon said at Thursday's meeting.

 

The committee was established in March 2020, following the update of the open space recreation plan with the goal to protect the town's "treasured natural resources and parks and [maintain] the scenic beauty of the town."

 

Having more people on the committee will help it generate more ideas, member Jenny Gitlitz said. 

 

Not every town has open space in a residential neighborhood that is on a fairly well used street. It's a rarity, Gitlitz said.

 

Dalton has open space like that all over town, Shannon said. 

 

"In general, an appreciation of the value of open space requires that people get out in it to realize it's value," member Cheryl Rose said. 

 

"If you just drive from your house to the mall, maybe you don't even think this matters that we have it, but it does matter."

 

Gitlitz agreed adding that it has been proven that people are happier when they spend time in nature. "They call it 'vitamin N.'"

 

"It's been proven people's health improves when they spend time in nature. So … if we can make [The Pines] a destination for people to go locally, then it'll just make everybody in our town healthier by spending more time in the woods," she said. 

 

The members want to involve the community more in the work that they are doing and juggled around ideas such as a survey and utilizing the town's newsletter to spread the word.

 

In the spring, the committee hopes to host a walkthrough of the trail to gather feedback and get residents involved. This would make the neighborhood feel invested in the community forest, Rose said. 

 

The committee has been working with the youth environment community organization Greenagers to make the trail Americans with Disabilities Act accessible. 

 

A $49,450 Mass Trails grant is being used to increase accessibility and complete various improvements, such as implementing a lookout area that will have benches. 

 

In addition, the committee will be exploring other grant opportunities to make further improvements such as addressing invasive species, adding signage, and developing a map of the area. 

 

Gitlitz also recommended they work to get youth more involved in the trail because it will make them feel invested in the community forest — and that may deter graffiti, which has been an ongoing issue.