Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management officials presented the agency's master plan for Echo Lake to the Burrillville Town Council on Nov. 12, saying the agency will prioritize open‑space recreational uses and trail development rather than full campground redevelopment.

"We acquired this in 2020," DEM Deputy Director Jason McElmy said in the presentation. He told the council a full campground redevelopment in the master plan carries a price tag of about $44,000,000, a figure DEM does not expect to fully fund. Instead, McElmy said, DEM plans to preserve much of the property as open space and develop lower‑cost, low‑impact recreation such as designed mountain‑bike trails, hiking routes, and connections for equestrian use.

McElmy said DEM has been working with the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) on a preliminary trail design and with local partners on stewardship and maintenance. "These are preliminary designs," he said. "The consultant got out to the site once or twice. We think it is a viable approach for this property," adding that trail-build methods will minimize tree clearing and work with existing topography.

The presentation emphasized inclusive access: some trails would be wide enough for adaptive three‑wheeled bikes and design elements could make an accessible fishing dock feasible in the future, though McElmy said funding for that specific improvement has not been identified. DEM also said the Echo Lake acquisition used state bond funds and that some other nearby parcels had federal wildlife funds tied to them, which can impose restrictions.

In the public comment period and Q&A, abutters and residents asked detailed questions about placement of trails, proximity to private property, policing and motorized vehicle use. "Our biggest concern is based on where these trails are gonna be at, behind our property…we're gonna have a lot more activity in our backyard," said Bethany Reed, president of the Courthouse Lane Association, who submitted a list of detailed questions to the town clerk for DEM response.

DEM representatives said they have not planned ATV or motocross trails on the property and that motorized vehicles are not an intended use. McElmy described enforcement as a mix of state law‑enforcement visits and on‑site stewardship by partner groups: "Our law enforcement officers will have routine site visits…we also partner with mountain bikers and equestrians who are on‑site and will contact us if they see problems."

Mountain‑bike advocates at the meeting described trail construction as small‑scale and low‑impact. "The types of machinery that goes in to help build these trails is smaller than a Toyota Corolla," said Dennis Wilson, chapter president of NEMBA in Rhode Island, noting the group's cleanup and youth programs.

Council members urged DEM to coordinate formally with Burrillville police and fire as work progresses, and asked questions about trail closures and protections for sensitive habitat. McElmy said DEM has consulted habitat layers and the Rhode Island Natural History Survey and would continue to incorporate data on sensitive species into trail planning.

Next steps: DEM said it will begin more detailed site design work this month, stand up a project webpage to keep the public updated, and continue outreach to local stakeholders. Residents who want to submit written questions or concerns were invited to forward them to the town clerk for routing to DEM.