Residents and selectmen debate mapping and access for Bearcamp River Trail in Sandwich

Several residents and property owners told the Sandwich Selectmen they are concerned that online maps and recent public communications have created confusion about the status and management of the Bearcamp River Trail.

Susan Bryant Kimball submitted a letter explaining the trail’s history and said she has never closed access to her land and would like neighbors to continue to be able to use it. Chip Kimball and the Ripkeys said they are worried that outdated or inaccurate online information could be read as municipal control of trail segments that cross private property. The Ripkeys’ counsel had sent a letter asking the town to consider release of the town-held easement on part of their property; the Ripkeys asked that the town’s lawyer speak directly with their attorney.

Courtney Delaney told the board she is working to identify the source of the trail layer on the town’s GIS — she said the layer appears to come from a state dataset — and that information posted by outside sources is not under town control. Nancy Walser said the Conservation Commission recently met with a property owner seeking to continue public access and arranged for the Upper Valley Trails Alliance to provide landowner education; Walser said a Commission member who posted information online is working to remove a post that has caused confusion.

Selectmen did not take formal action but asked staff and counsel to follow up: town counsel will communicate with the Ripkeys’ representative, and Delaney will work to source and, where possible, correct or clarify GIS references and public-facing materials. The board noted communication and semantics matter when describing trail ownership, access and management.