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Resident urges Select Board to keep Sunny Meadow Farm open year-round
Summary
At the July 20 Select Board meeting a resident urged the board to restore year-round public access to Sunny Meadow Farm, saying winter closures hinder volunteer maintenance of greenhouses and remove important winter recreation space for families and seniors.
At the Select Board's public comment period, John Ray (Speaker 8) spoke in favor of keeping Sunny Meadow Farm open all year, saying the property provides valuable winter outdoor space for families, seniors and educational activities. "Sunny Meadow should remain open all year round," Ray said, noting the Storybook Trail sees heavy winter use and the site historically accommodated winter visitors without significant issues.
Ray told the board that winter closures have not prevented damage to the farm's greenhouses and argued that restricting access prevents volunteers from performing preventive maintenance after storms. He said the town purchased Sunny Meadow in 2009 and that the site "has demonstrated agriculture and responsible public access can be successfully coexist." The board did not discuss the comment in detail during the meeting because public input is not typically debated at that time, but members acknowledged the comment and signaled the matter could be raised on a future agenda.
