Rocky Glen––

Arguably ‘The Prettiest View In Town’

By Dottie Evans

Open Space Task Force members Al Goodrich and Pat Barkman have been encouraging volunteer groups to work on sections of the proposed seven-mile greenway trail to be established between the Reed Intermediate School and the Upper Paugussett State Forest.

One portion known as the Rocky Glen Trail already exists, but “it is difficult to follow,” Mrs Barkman said Monday as she and task force member Sally O’Neil bushwhacked down a Sandy Hook hillside to the Dayton Street Bridge.

They had hiked the Rocky Glen Trail up to the precipice, where “you can see for miles –– arguably the prettiest view in town,” Mrs Barkman claimed.

There are yellow markers on the trees pointing the way, but they peter out after awhile, she said.

The task force membership has been in contact with Lin Walsh, Girl Scout program master, and with Boy Scout master Edmond Breitling. Dan Tichon, an Eagle Scout candidate, will be working on this portion of the trail. He and other scouts under his direction will be eliminating invasive plants such as Japanese barberry and multiflora rose, and working on stream crossings while blazing the trail that goes over the top of the precipice and back down to Black Bridge Road.

Part of this trail is a scout trail established by Rev Paul Cullens through Rocky Glen State Park in the late 1940s, so it is especially fitting that the next generation of scouts become involved.

“There is much to be done to eliminate invasive plants, to build bridges, to protect the view of Sandy Hook below the precipice, and to blaze the loop trail that goes over the top and back down to Black Bridge Road,” Mrs Barkman said.

Youth and community groups are urged to call Ad Hoc Open Space Task Force member Pat Barkman, 426-8949, if they would like to become involved in helping to establish the greenway trail.

All project plans must be approved and a task force member may be on site while the work is underway. Among the suggested projects:

*Build a bridge across Deep Brook.

*Improve the trail from Reed Intermediate School to Route 84 along Deep Brook.

*Build a bridge across Tom’s Brook, approximately 20 feet.

*Improve the trail under Route 84.

*Improve the trail from Route 84 to the Methodist Church. This trail is on state property.

*Extend the trail through Methodist Church property.

*Erect a stile over two fences on I-84 boundary.

*Establish parking at the Dayton Street bridge in Sandy Hook.

*Establish a loop trail, including four rock steppingstone bridges across streams in Rocky Glen State Park. This project will be undertaken by Dan Tichon, Eagle Scout candidate.

*Establish a trail from “The View” over the precipice to Black Bridge Road via Walnut Tree Hill Road and Antler Pine Road.

*Construct a log ladder to the Black Bridge Road parking area.

*Construct a cable handhold and stairs by the old gold mine to natural bridge view.

*Construct a ten-foot bridge at McLaughlin’s Vineyard over the brook near Eagle Hill.

*Build a bridge connecting the vineyard to Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) land.

*Create a handicapped trail at McLaughlin’s Vineyard. Permission has been granted.

*Establish a trail through CL&P land.

*Create a brochure for explaining outstanding features of the trail.

*Brushing and blazing is a continuous task. Sign up for any section.

*Help clear invasive, nonnative plant species such as Japanese barberry, bittersweet, autumn olive, euonymous, and goutweed.

*Help organize a celebration, such as a cross-country race, to celebrate completion of the seven-mile greenways trail. Estimated date for completion is June 2004.