Volunteer group identifies small triangle near Birds Pit Road as potential Miyawaki forest; ownership questions noted

A public commenter identified a small, triangular parcel near Birds Pit Road as a possible site for a Miyawaki-style mini-forest during the Northampton Urban Forestry Commission’s public-comment period on March 19.

Kent, who described himself as part of the volunteer group exploring Miyawaki plantings, said the site sits between a dog-park parking lot and an access road to the community garden near Ellenbrook Field. He said the roughly 30-by-40-foot space was “wasteland” with brambles and a single large existing tree and that it would provide a visible screening and high-visibility location for a demonstration planting.

Kent said ownership appeared to be complicated: the parcel is commonly called “Smith Folkland” in local usage but, he added, appears to be owned by the UMass Department of Agriculture and leased to Smith Folkland. He told the commission volunteers had noted the site’s high passerby traffic (garden visitors, walking trails and drivers on Birds Pit Road) and that water access would be a concern; the group was considering sourcing water from the community garden.

Commissioners raised practical concerns. Commissioner Molly said high-school cross-country events and running-club meets sometimes use nearby trails and staging areas, which could conflict with a demonstration planting or require site planning to accommodate those events. Commissioners suggested the group first confirm ownership and rights-of-way and, if the parcel falls within city right-of-way, to bring the site to the commission for formal review.

Rich Parceliti, the commission chair, and other commissioners offered to discuss the parcel offline and review any information about ownership, utility access, and City of Northampton right-of-way status before adding the site to a future agenda. No formal action or vote was taken; the exchange was recorded as public comment and exploratory discussion.