Making Open Space Accessible in Westbrook, Connecticut

WESTBROOK - The need to protect open space parcels, and at the same time, provide appropriate access to them is a balance that the town's Conservation Commission is working hard to create.

Residents at an Oct. 4 town meeting unanimously voted to prohibit ATV and other vehicles which have caused harm to the town's various open space parcels and provide a safety threat to those walking on its trails.

Specifically automobiles, trucks, farm and agricultural equipment, motorcycles, motorbikes, motor scooters, go-carts, snowmobiles, motorized bicycles, mopeds, and all-terrain vehicles are all prohibited from those parcels.

Those who violate the ordinance can face a $100 fine.

At the Dec. 20 Board of Selectmen meeting, selectmen approved allowing the prohibition to apply to five parcels which include Horse Hill Woods, Horse Hill Gorge, Chapman Mill Pond, Salt Island Overlook, and the Westbrook Community Forest.

Additional parcels can be recommended by the Conservation Commission and forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for approval.

At the Jan. 10 Westbrook leadership meeting, O'Dell told selectmen that accessing these open space properties can be a challenge and his commission has applied for grant money that could solve these problems.

While the parking lot at the Mulvey Municipal Center can be used as municipal parking for access to one open space parcel, O'Dell said work is needed to increase access to the others.

According to Oct. 16 Conservation Commission minutes, a Natural Resources and Mapping Study of Horse Hill Gorge and Horse Hill Woods has been completed by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District.

The study has allowed a management plan to be formulated with the objective of improving access and being sensitive to vulnerable areas.

O'Dell and representatives from the district have walked the Salt Island Overlook and identified overgrown areas that need to be cleared by a contractor for the creation of trails.

Those on the commission are considering the creation of a wooden platform that would overlook the salt marsh.

Before such a platform could be built, wetlands must be surveyed and flagged.

The commission hopes to create a parking area near Chapman Mill Pond to improve access to that open space area.

Chapman Mill Pond is near the town's new public works facility on Route 145.

It is hoped that creating necessary parking and improving public access will allow more people to enjoy those properties.