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Committee recommends Bradley Park master site plan to council; committee opens public comment
Summary
The Culture and Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to recommend the Bradley Park master site plan to the town council, including an ADA-accessible trail, restroom and shoreline improvements required by a $200,000 grant.
The Culture and Recreation Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the town council approve the Bradley Park master site plan, a conceptual layout that shows a new accessible trail, restroom and shoreline improvements tied to an existing deferred-application grant.
Town staff explained the plan and its near-term obligations. Kyle (town staff working on parks planning) told the committee the town has a $200,000 deferred-application grant and a town match of the same amount; to finalize grant requirements the town must construct a multi-use ADA-accessible path from the parking area to the adaptive kayak launch and install a restroom facility. “The idea would be to at least have an ADA access path from the parking area down to the adaptive kayak launch and then around the park as well,” Kyle said.
Why it matters: approving a master plan puts the town in a stronger position to apply for additional funding (state DEP, recreation or transportation grants) because grantors generally prefer funded projects with a defined plan. The master plan also shows potential connections to nearby regional trails, including Doctors Lake Trail and Bartram Trail.
Committee discussion covered surface materials, phased construction and shoreline stabilization. Members asked whether trails would be hard-surfaced or mulch; Kyle said the initial priority would be a hard-surface connection from the parking lot to the kayak launch and boardwalk sections for shoreline crossings, with mulch used elsewhere as a temporary surface until additional funding allows upgrades.
Public comment highlighted local history and future interpretive signage. A public speaker associated with local historic preservation said the layout fits plans to place signage about Nelson Point’s turpentining and sawmill history and encouraged keeping the historical society involved as design proceeds.
Formal action: The committee moved and seconded a recommendation to council to approve the Bradley Park master site plan and recorded a voice vote. The chair called, “All those in favor, say aye,” and the motion passed 4-0.
Next steps: Staff said the master plan will be forwarded to council for final approval and that staff will pursue construction funding and phased implementation. The committee opened the matter to public comment before finalizing the recommendation.
