The city officially agreed to the buffer zone requirements and the mandatory site walks with our trail stewards. I spent years hiking these paths with my kids and seeing them protected this way means everything to me. We have successfully secured the future of our woods.
January 19, 2015
Final supporters
The
City of Leominster is in the process of awarding logging contracts
to harvest wood on the city’s watershed land. This
practice benefits the city with revenue and provides a healthier
forest environment. However, commercial logging frequently has a
negative impact on recreational trails. Repairing and
maintaining these valuable recreational assets is currently done by
volunteers of the Leominster Trail Stewards and the Wachusett
Chapter of NEMBA. Hundreds of hours have been put in to
develop and maintain this trail network. The standard
DCR watershed practice is to establish a 50’ buffer zone on either
side of the trail and to carefully consider any trees to be
removed within this buffer to ensure that the trail corridor and
the character of the trail remain intact. This can best be
done through a joint site walk with representatives of the trail
community and the consultant forester.
We, the undersigned, are concerned residents and trail users who urge our leaders to act now to create a 50 foot buffer zone (on either side) during logging activities on Leominster’s recreational trails and to work with members of the Leominster Trail Stewards prior to marking areas for logging where trails exist.
Updates
November 18, 2014
I have spent my mornings walking these paths and picturing them destroyed by heavy machinery. Your stories about how much this land means to your families keep me pushing for this meeting with the foresters.
November 18, 2014
Seeing this level of support for our trails is overwhelming because I know how many weekends we spent clearing brush and maintaining those paths by hand. This momentum proves that I am not the only one who refuses to let our hard work get destroyed by heavy machinery.
Reached 100 supporters
November 18, 2014
65 Comments
We are fortunate to have so many trails that are enjoyed by many. The Leominster Trail Stewards should be involved in the plans for tree harvesting. They volunteer many hours and know the trails and what is the best way to deal with this issue.
Urging the City of Leominster and logging contractors to partner with Leominster's trail stewards and NEMBA to recognize established trails and create a buffer zone, the standard in other DCR watersheds. Help save the trails!
I've seen loggers leave behind a mess on what should be public use land. Selective cutting is great in theory, but loggers need to be held accountable for what they leave behind in terms of debris and skidder damage.
Friends and I ride these trails very often. They are some of the best in the state and attract hikers and riders from many parts of New England who purchase local gas and food during visits. There's still visible damage from the last time this area was logged. Some trails never came back.
This is one of the best mountain biking destinations within an hour's drive of Worcester and is a valuable community resource. Please do not log over existing trails, whether marked or unmarked, on the Park map or not. I ride here weekly, year round.
Leominster State Forest is one of the most popular riding/hiking destinations in a 50 mile radius. I've been riding/hiking there for nearly 20 years. Please extend us the courtesy of being able to continue to utilize such a wonderful resource.
Commercial are working to accomplish one goal. Making a profit. The timber is taken out. Everything else is left behind to rot. The existing corridor is taken over by undergrowth.
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The city officially agreed to the buffer zone requirements and the mandatory site walks with our trail stewards. I spent years hiking these paths with my kids and seeing them protected this way means everything to me. We have successfully secured the future of our woods.
January 19, 2015
Final supporters
The
City of Leominster is in the process of awarding logging contracts
to harvest wood on the city’s watershed land. This
practice benefits the city with revenue and provides a healthier
forest environment. However, commercial logging frequently has a
negative impact on recreational trails. Repairing and
maintaining these valuable recreational assets is currently done by
volunteers of the Leominster Trail Stewards and the Wachusett
Chapter of NEMBA. Hundreds of hours have been put in to
develop and maintain this trail network. The standard
DCR watershed practice is to establish a 50’ buffer zone on either
side of the trail and to carefully consider any trees to be
removed within this buffer to ensure that the trail corridor and
the character of the trail remain intact. This can best be
done through a joint site walk with representatives of the trail
community and the consultant forester.
We, the undersigned, are concerned residents and trail users who urge our leaders to act now to create a 50 foot buffer zone (on either side) during logging activities on Leominster’s recreational trails and to work with members of the Leominster Trail Stewards prior to marking areas for logging where trails exist.
Updates
November 18, 2014
I have spent my mornings walking these paths and picturing them destroyed by heavy machinery. Your stories about how much this land means to your families keep me pushing for this meeting with the foresters.
November 18, 2014
Seeing this level of support for our trails is overwhelming because I know how many weekends we spent clearing brush and maintaining those paths by hand. This momentum proves that I am not the only one who refuses to let our hard work get destroyed by heavy machinery.
Reached 100 supporters
November 18, 2014
65 Comments
Please protect the trails they provide priceless recreational opportunities and bring people and therefore money to the City of Leominster. Many man hours have gone into building these trails in a responsible manner. It would be a shame to have to reroute or rebuild such an expansive trail network.
We are fortunate to have so many trails that are enjoyed by many. The Leominster Trail Stewards should be involved in the plans for tree harvesting. They volunteer many hours and know the trails and what is the best way to deal with this issue.
Urging the City of Leominster and logging contractors to partner with Leominster's trail stewards and NEMBA to recognize established trails and create a buffer zone, the standard in other DCR watersheds. Help save the trails!
I've seen loggers leave behind a mess on what should be public use land. Selective cutting is great in theory, but loggers need to be held accountable for what they leave behind in terms of debris and skidder damage.
Friends and I ride these trails very often. They are some of the best in the state and attract hikers and riders from many parts of New England who purchase local gas and food during visits. There's still visible damage from the last time this area was logged. Some trails never came back.
This is one of the best mountain biking destinations within an hour's drive of Worcester and is a valuable community resource. Please do not log over existing trails, whether marked or unmarked, on the Park map or not. I ride here weekly, year round.
Leominster State Forest is one of the most popular riding/hiking destinations in a 50 mile radius. I've been riding/hiking there for nearly 20 years. Please extend us the courtesy of being able to continue to utilize such a wonderful resource.
Commercial are working to accomplish one goal. Making a profit. The timber is taken out. Everything else is left behind to rot. The existing corridor is taken over by undergrowth.
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Please protect the trails they provide priceless recreational opportunities and bring people and therefore money to the City of Leominster. Many man hours have gone into building these trails in a responsible manner. It would be a shame to have to reroute or rebuild such an expansive trail network.