Balance of Recreation and Preservation at Hill's Hill Woods

We support biking at Hill's Hill! Full Stop.

But we also support habitat protection.

Here's our letter to Park and Rec

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March 29, 2024

Dear Mr. Connelly and Park and Recreation Commissioners,

Thank you for organizing the Public Input Meeting this week. The presentation was very helpful as was the public discussion.

Save Hill’s Hill supports a balanced compromise for this project. This framework would allow construction of a pump track in the “low-value” tree area along Summer Street, along with two access trails, as shown in the meeting presentation, in return for preservation in the rest of the property. 

It’s important that details of the preservation measures for habitat, safe access and quality of life are clearly incorporated in planning documents -  and there must be a commitment to permanence for these protections. To us this means three critical points:

• Preservation of the habitat: the "as is” area has no new trails or enhancements; recent rogue trails are blocked off; native trees get particular care in the pump track area.
• Preservation of safe access: a walker-only trail is made at the current center/meadow trail, with fencing along the pump track border and appropriate signage.
• Preservation of quality of life for neighbors:  noise, parking, and hours restrictions are implemented per neighbor requests.

We look forward to seeing this balance of construction and preservation in the coming proposals to PRC and CPAC.

Thank you for your collaboration to deliver a “middle path,” which makes this project work for all parties.

Save Hills Hill Members and Supporters

Before any funds are spent, three principles are essential for this project:

1. Move construction plans including the Pump Track outside the woods, where they won't harm nature.  There are several potential spots: at the edge of the soccer field at the foot of Hill's Hill, on the other side of the Burns Arena where an outdated play area is collecting weeds, or at McLennen Park, where a skate park has been established.

2. Make bike trails eco-friendly.  Current "un-authorized"  trails are a hazard to trees and walkers alike. Kids have dug large, three feet deep,holes to make jumps. This hurts tree roots, kill pollinators, and endangers walkers. The redesign of these trails can be done cheaply and with biker safety, walker access and ecology in mind.

3. Engage Community Groups and Schools to participate in the project and restore the habitat. Several groups have expressed interest in habitat study, invasive species removal, and natural restoration. The invasive species group ArMI is already seeing progress after a year's work removing invasives.