Milton committee recommends advancing Deerfield-area trail layout; seeks public input on name, branding, app and signage

City staff recommended moving forward with the current consultant layout for a citywide trail loop that will connect neighborhoods, commercial areas and Deerfield Active Park, and asked the Trails Committee to help shape the trail’s name, branding, signage and a companion mobile app.

The recommendation, presented at a committee meeting, stressed that the trail map may see minor changes but that staff intends to follow the city’s normal naming process led by the Communications Department — public call for names, shortlisting and a poll — and return a timeline to the committee. Staff also said the city will explore mobile-app options, QR-enabled signs and distinct wayfinding elements that remain consistent with Milton’s brand identity.

Why it matters: the project ties to the Deerfield implementation work and to an upcoming local funding decision (TSPLOST) the city will consider when allocating roughly $40 million for transportation projects. Committee members emphasized the trail’s potential to connect schools, shops and parks, offer safer walk-and-bike options, and provide an experience that can include public art, historical markers and family-friendly programming.

Staff overview and branding City staff presented the consultant’s most recent trail map and a branding study approved in 2024. The branding work identified Milton’s “equestrian farm lifestyle” as a key element and offers gateway, wayfinding and directional sign designs that use materials such as stone, cedar and iron. Staff said those visual elements could be incorporated into trailheads, banners and signage so the trails read as part of Milton’s overall identity while also allowing a distinct trail look (for example, trail-specific color accents such as green).

Mobile app, signage and trail experience Staff and committee members discussed adding an interactive mobile app that would let users layer features (bike-only routes, dining, historical markers), show estimated route times and include QR codes on signs to link to park hours or downloadable content. Staff said they will evaluate apps with offline map support and confirm coverage and functionality with the consultant before recommending a product.

Committee suggestions and programming Committee members proposed many programming and interpretive ideas to make the trail a community asset: rotating music or audio by local artists, plaques and audio history tied to the Historical Advisory Committee’s resources, school-led projects (for example, a birdhouse design competition), public art and small scavenger games (horseshoes and other Milton-themed elements). Staff encouraged structured proposals so the items can be included in a master plan as different trail segments are built over time.

Deerfield Active Park, timing and costs Staff clarified that Deerfield Active Park is a city-funded project and is expected to move faster than the broader Deerfield implementation plan; construction on the park is hoped to begin next year. On costs, staff referenced a recent local trail connection (Mayfield/Lakeside Crabapple) that they expect will provide hard numbers, noting that a short connection built a few years ago cost “a little over a million dollars” (staff framed this as an example, not a precise estimate for Deerfield-area segments). Committee members and staff discussed surface types (soft trail, gravel, asphalt), conversion costs and the tradeoffs between equestrian/pedestrian use and bicycle-focused surfaces.

Next steps and scheduling Staff said they will: (1) confirm and publish a timeline and communications plan with the Communications Department; (2) capture the ideas raised at the meeting in a summary and circulate it to the committee (staff aimed to provide a summary within a week and a more complete document by the end of the next month); and (3) present the project at a council work session tentatively scheduled for May 12 at 6:00 p.m. Staff requested committee engagement on the May 12 work session and follow-up offline conversations with council members so the project is not a surprise at a public meeting.

Votes at the meeting The only formal motion recorded in the transcript was to adjourn the meeting; the motion carried. There were no recorded votes on trail layout, naming, funding or approvals during this session.

Community context and funding relevance Staff noted the trails initiative will be one of many projects competing for TSPLOST funding the council will consider in mid-2026 and said the Trails Committee’s priorities and cost estimates will inform how strongly the city can advocate for pedestrian and bicycle improvements in that allocation process.

Ending Staff thanked the committee for ideas and said they will continue to engage the Historical Advisory Committee, developers working on Deerfield parcels, and the Communications Department as the trail master plan and related park improvements progress.