Volunteer reports progress on Penny Pond Trail, urges occasional police presence after near-miss

Neil Linsky, who identified himself as the volunteer designer and builder of the Penny Pond Trail, updated the Select Board on Aug. 4 and asked for help addressing roadside safety near the trailhead.

Linsky said grant money arrived in late July, and volunteers and in-kind donations — including two loads of stone from Hussey Construction Company — allowed him to continue building. "I am the volunteer, designer, and builder of the Penny Pond Trail project," he told the board, noting he has constructed additional boardwalk sections and plans a volunteer day to place heavy stall mats and furniture in a new sitting area.

He described a recent incident in which a passing vehicle knocked over cones protecting his work area and swerved near his vehicle. Linsky said motorists and some youths on e-bikes frequently speed along Sullivan Street and that he has been left to rely on cones he stores in his truck, which have been stolen in the past. He asked the board to consider occasional patrols or more official signage; board members suggested he notify the police station or a patrol sergeant when he will be onsite and staff offered to explore placing more visible signage.

Board members and staff offered practical steps: Linsky agreed to phone or email a staff contact before he goes to the site so patrols can be aware, and staff said they would look into signage and the town's cone inventory. The board did not adopt a formal directive during the meeting but agreed to assist with coordination.