The Trails Committee on July 17 agreed to advance design and installation of interpretive signage and a trail kiosk tied to a MassTrails grant, and set steps to finalize sign text and contractor outreach before the grant closes at year-end.

Committee members said the project needs sign text and a map resource to complete kiosk artwork and locate interpretive panels. A committee member said they will bring draft wording to the next meeting for review and then reach out to the historical society and historical commission for fact-checking once the text is ready. The member added the committee has not been able to find a contact for the Native American material mentioned for the signs and will try to locate that information before publication.

The committee clarified the kiosk will include a map plus accompanying text and that interpretive signs will appear at other locations along the trail. Will Warren volunteered to continue finding a map resource but said he has been busy and asked for more time. The committee noted the kiosk panel will be a manufactured sign (roughly 2x3 to 4x3 feet, per committee discussion) with a mounted map and some text.

On installation, a committee member said the installation will be outsourced to a sign-install company and will use post-driven, double-pedestal posts anchored into the ground. The member said the town’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the municipal authorities responsible for the parcels were aware of the planned mounting method and had not objected in prior discussions.

The committee set a near-term schedule: drafts of copy to be circulated at the next meeting, outreach to historical reviewers after text is ready, and contact with an installer in the coming week to confirm interest and availability.

Committee members emphasized the timeline is driven by the MassTrails grant closeout date (Dec. 31). Several members asked staff to prioritize the sign text so reviews and installation can proceed this fall.

The committee also discussed logistics for sign content review, who would be asked to provide historical or tribal context, and the need to keep text and map materials coordinated so the kiosk and interpretive panels are consistent.