Neighbors raise safety, connectivity concerns about Castle In The Trees boardwalk

The Littleton Conservation Commission reviewed a proposal to build a roughly 72-foot boardwalk across wet areas near Castle In The Trees to provide an off-road connection from the playground to town property and the library. Staff said the boardwalk would use the existing access easement and should be ADA-compliant.

Tim, staff, described the design and said the deck would be below 30 inches and therefore likely would not require railings, and that the plan aims to keep children off the busy roadside. Multiple residents who live adjacent to Hager Homestead raised safety concerns: Susan said she feared “unsupervised young children next to a pond that is not fenced off at all” and asked how the boardwalk would connect to the library when the opposite end is not yet constructed. Another resident and a member of the public questioned how many middle-schoolers would actually use the boardwalk and whether the project responds to demonstrated need.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether bicycles would be allowed across the easement and to coordinate signage and enforcement plans with Hager Homestead; Tim said he will meet with Hager Homestead staff and the select board liaison to ensure coordination. The commission also noted the project’s wetland impacts and replication plan discussed earlier for Webster Woods and requested the DEP filing number before taking final action. Because a DEP number was not yet available, the commission carried the Castle In The Trees boardwalk item to a future meeting for additional detail and follow-up with Hager Homestead and the select board.