Nederland parks staff gives detailed RankLink trail update; neighbors and conservation easement shape design

Nikki (parks staff) told the advisory board the RankLink trail (referred to in discussion as 'Rink Link'/'Wrinklink') has been reworked after multiple public walkthroughs and neighbor feedback. She said changes were made to reduce tree removal and to move the primary entry point slightly "20 ft off from where it was before" to balance neighbor concerns.

Neighbor disputes and property lines: Nikki said some neighbors placed flags and spray paint marking alternate lines; staff determined some flags crossed private property and would be disregarded. "They put the yellow flags where you could look directly into their hot tub," she said, describing why staff rejected some citizen‑proposed alignments.

Conservation easement constraints and accessibility: Nikki said conservation easements on town parks restrict allowable improvements to trails only and prohibit playgrounds, pump tracks or other non‑trail amenities. She warned that attempting incompatible facilities could prompt legal action: "It's not going to work. We are going to get push back and we are going to be sued," she said. Nikki emphasized the trail must meet accessibility standards, describing minimum widths and passing zones: "The trail has to be at least three feet wide, if not five to six feet wide...and if it's only three‑foot wide trail, then we have to have pullovers every certain amount of feet."

Contracting and timeline: The board discussed a pending contract with Jesse Severs' crew; Nikki said she will finalize detailed design sketches and markings so the contractor can mobilize. Board members asked for a timeline for construction before the school year; Nikki said she would coordinate and send an update after staff and contractor coordination.

Volunteers and fire mitigation: Members and staff discussed volunteer roles for hauling slash and non‑chainsaw tasks. Nikki noted liability limits for unsupervised chainsaw work but said the town will seek trained volunteer pathways and coordination with the fire department for Sawyer training to scale mitigation work.

What remains unresolved: Final construction schedule, the exact alignment of the exit point near the elementary school, and precise easement boundaries are pending. Staff committed to share detailed schematics and a public update before major on‑the‑ground work begins.

Bottom line: Staff say the RankLink trail is ready to move from design to mobilization once contract items and a public layout are finalized; conservation easements and neighbor input shaped the current alignment and accessibility requirements will guide construction.