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Commission hears updates on Pinnacle Park work, Head Pond access funding, Clay Pond stewardship and Riverwalk maintenance
Summary
The Conservation Commission received several operational updates: Keep It Native’s invasive‑species work at Pinnacle Park; signs and bench installation; a Kiwanis donation and hiring Stantec to design a more accessible Head Pond Trail entrance; Clay Pond stewardship updates; and Riverwalk maintenance and boundary concerns.
During other business the Hooksett Conservation Commission discussed multiple stewardship and public‑access projects.
Pinnacle Park and signs: Commission members praised contractor Keep It Native for substantial clearing work at Pinnacle Park and planned a volunteer installation day for new signs. The group purchased a bench for the summit and approved up to $100 for posts and rebar to secure new trail signs. Volunteers from Stantec are scheduled to help install signs and do stewardship work.
Head Pond Trail access: The commission reviewed a plan to make the Head Pond Trail entrance more accessible. Engineers told the commission an access‑for‑all ramp would need a maximum slope of 8 percent and rest platforms approximately every 50 feet; the required ramp length was estimated at about 200 feet and would likely be s‑shaped to meet grade constraints. Kiwanis offered to fund much of the work, including up to $20,000 toward construction and $2,100 toward engineering. The commission accepted a $2,100 donation from Kiwanis to cover engineering and voted to hire Stantec to perform design and survey work without issuing a public RFP for the engineering contract; the commission said an RFP will be issued for construction bidding.
Clay Pond stewardship: Staff reported that Clay Pond III was not included in the conservation commission’s existing stewardship plan; Moosewood Ecological will provide a cost estimate to add the parcel to the stewardship plan.
Riverwalk and boundary issues: Commission members reported follow‑up actions from a Riverwalk site walk. The list included installing additional boundary markers, addressing an abutter mowing into conserved land, confirming permissions for a farmer’s access road, and installing bollards and signage to discourage bicycles where the easement prohibits wheeled vehicles under the LCHIP conservation terms. Members also discussed ephemeral beaver blockage on trail drainage and plans for periodic mowing to preserve grassland bird habitat.
Staff and member notes: The commission recognized administrative assistant Katie Towne, who is leaving for graduate study, and thanked departing member Deb Myville for 12 years of service.
