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Conservation subcommittee presents Sklar Waterfront Park stewardship plan; council asks staff to vet deed and parking options
Summary
Volunteers presented an updated stewardship plan for Sklar Waterfront Park and an adjacent town parcel and requested permission for the Conservation Commission to manage the two parcels as one for trail maintenance and limited parking; council asked DPW and town staff to review deeds, parking feasibility (5–10 spaces), and shoreline constraints before returning with recommendations.
Members of the Conservation Commission’s subcommittee presented an updated stewardship plan for Sklar Waterfront Park and an adjacent town-owned parcel and asked the Town Council to allow the Conservation Commission to manage both parcels as a single park entity for trail maintenance and limited parking.
Nick Eliottis, chair of the subcommittee, described trail connections between the parcels, historic informal parking locations and an old boat launch, and use data gathered from game cameras; he said the subcommittee’s plan aims to formalize trail locations, clarify where DPW should and should not perform work, and alleviate parking challenges. The subcommittee asked for space for roughly five to 10 parking spots to support trail and boat-ramp users.
Councilors asked staff to perform deed research, verify what actions are permitted on the town parcel adjacent to the river (including tree-clearing and revegetation limits in the floodplain), and to evaluate parking designs that minimize shoreline impacts. The council did not take a final vote to transfer or combine management authority; members encouraged the subcommittee’s work and directed staff to return with options at a future meeting.
Conservation volunteers emphasized public use of the property and volunteer maintenance; staff suggested DPW review and engineering input to identify a feasible small parking solution and to clarify whether conservation funds could be used for trail maintenance on the town parcel. The council encouraged continued volunteer engagement and requested a staff report on deed constraints and DPW capacity prior to any formal action.
