At a Town of Hubbardston meeting, participants discussed an Eagle Scout project to build a “bog bridge,” plans for interpretive trail signage and picnic tables, concerns about environmental sensitivity at local sand pits and the formation of a proposal-review team to evaluate a planning grant that could fund a larger trail plan.

The discussion focused on whether the scout’s proposed bog-bridge project should proceed as submitted, how signage and other volunteer projects could align with an all-persons trail now under construction, and which town representatives should sit on a review team for a planning proposal whose quotes are expected in early March. "Mark has made some good progress towards getting it all finalized," Participant 2 said of the open-space planning work, adding that final approval of the plan would require a formal vote.

Committee participants said the scout’s timeline is tight: the Eagle Scout project must be completed before the scout turns 18, and the student wants the work done before the trail itself is finished in the fall. "She wants to have her project done before we'll have the trail done," Participant 1 said. Participants discussed alternatives such as limiting the scout’s work to interpretive signage or picnic furniture if the full bog-bridge construction cannot be completed in time.

Speakers emphasized that volunteer projects should be developed in coordination with town staff rather than arriving as finished plans. "One thing I'd like to see with any scout project or volunteer project is for people to come to us and ask us for a list or something, and then work with us a little bit to develop a proposal," Participant 1 said, noting past projects that involved back-and-forth input before approval.

On infrastructure and amenities, participants noted that picnic tables are budgeted: "Mark has picnic tables in the budget for that trail," Participant 1 said. They discussed the condition of existing picnic tables at Mount Jeff and the possibility of reusing or relocating furnishings.

The group also discussed environmental sensitivities at the town’s sand pits. Participants said the area contains an aquifer and a small patch of state forest and that a MassMapper entry suggested the presence of a rare species. "It's the NH is natural heritage," Participant 1 said, describing how Natural Heritage records often withhold exact species locations to protect them. Participants agreed that factual elements — aquifer overlays, rare-species coding and state-forest parcels — should be documented in any planning materials.

On the planning grant and proposal review, participants said the specifications for the plan have been completed and that quotes from landscape architects or planning firms are expected in early March. The town can define elements for the plan (trails, open-space protection, surfaces and approximate routes) and then solicit implementation quotes. Participant 2 said the review team will likely include representatives from several town bodies; participants specifically mentioned the planning board, Conservation Commission and finance board as likely contributors, and suggested the board of health should be included.

No formal motions or votes were recorded during this discussion. Participants scheduled follow-up timing: members agreed to try to meet earlier in March to review incoming proposals and to confirm who will serve on the proposal-review team. The conversation closed with plans to coordinate next steps with Mark and Nate, who were identified in discussion as staff or project leads involved in the open-space and trail work.