Committee members used the Nov. 18 meeting to update the group on trail maintenance, volunteer projects and the newly approved town purchase of the Kofsky property, and to set near-term event plans and grant activity.

Members reported recent volunteer maintenance across Vanderbilt and Pine Tree Forest trails, the widening of blue and white trail sections, and a cleared bypass near Mill Street credited to volunteer Doug Bean. The committee’s maintenance leads described inventory plans for materials and sandbags, possible winter staging at the DPW garage, and the need for additional sleepers and stringers to finish a large airport trench project.

The committee also noted approval for three interpretation kiosks — planned for Meadow Street, the Todomax parking area and Ellis Field — with construction and installation tentatively scheduled for Nov. 23 or Dec. 7 depending on weather. The kiosk materials are pressure-treated lumber assembled by Scouts and volunteers.

Chair and others encouraged applying for the state MassTrails grant (a webinar invitation was circulated for Nov. 20); the chair said wayfinding work is among the most shovel-ready items for a competitive application. Members discussed timeline realities (applications due in early February; awards typically announced in late summer) and noted that even if applied for now, contract awards and state fiscal-year timing push project starts into the following summer.

Finally, committee members celebrated town-meeting support for the Kofsky acquisition, described the roughly 20–23 acre parcel as a ‘‘blank canvas’’ for future programming and urged careful, phased community planning before major development. The group tentatively planned a New Year’s Day hike, a Black Friday walk/maintenance day and a December gathering instead of a formal meeting on Dec. 9.

"We want to keep the momentum going," one member said; volunteers and staff will coordinate logistics for events, kiosk installation and grant application steps.