How
This Management Plan Was Prepared
The Natural Resources
Trust of Bridgewater (NRTB), working with graduate students of The Conway
School of Landscape Design (CSLD), prepared the Stiles & Hart Park
Design and initial Management Plan. Graham Claydon of Nature’s Refuge Landscape
Design in Shirley, MA prepared this Management Plan Handbook after graduation
from CSLD.
The park design and
management plan was the result of a public process that involved Bridgewater
residents and representatives of Massachusetts’s state agencies. There
were a variety of publicly advertised opportunities for input into both
of these plans. A public meeting was held at Bridgewater State College
in May, when goals and objectives along with analyses and design concepts
were presented. Comments were received from neighbors, land stewards, and
interested town residents. On June 2, 2002 neighbors, land stewards, and
state college representatives accompanied Graham Claydon on a visit to
review the site and perform a biodiversity inventory. On June 19, 2002,
final presentations of the park design recommendations and the initial
management plan were made at Bridgewater State College.
Context
The Stiles &
Hart Conservation Area is currently one of seven developing parks in Bridgewater’s
Family of Parks. These sites offer different conservation values and passive
recreational experiences for the residents of Bridgewater. These parks
connect to the Bay Circuit Trail System around Boston, and are part of
the bigger regional Taunton Heritage River Park System. The Town River
is one of the tributaries to the Taunton River and is included in the Federal
Wild & Scenic River Feasibility Study now being conducted by the National
Park Service.
The NRTB is
coordinating the initial development of this local project, providing the
Town of Bridgewater with a turnkey park facility. The park is to be governed
by the Municipal Park Commission who will work with the town maintenance
staff, volunteers, and stewards to ensure the smooth operation of the park.
Introduction
This
management plan will guide the future park development of the Stiles &
Hart conservation property. This is a working document and should continually
change to reflect future needs and conditions. However, changes need deliberate
and careful consideration. It is suggested that a review of the document
occur in conjunction with rhythmic updating of the Community Open Space
& Recreation Plan.
Description
and History
This 75-acre site
was an agricultural fairground with a grand exhibition hall from c1820-
1875. In 1895, a local teacher, Mr. William Basset, Sr., purchased the
land and founded the Bridgewater Brick Company. The company mined
clay and produced bricks on the site. In 1913, Stiles & Hart Brick
Company purchased the operation. Due damage to buildings in the hurricane
of 1938, brick production ceased, but clay mining continued until after
World War II. The site has been recommended as a National Register District
by the Massachusetts Historical Commission .
The four large ponds
and the many smaller ponds along with the mounds of defective bricks up
to eight feet in height give further historical evidence of this earlier
activity. A neighbor now owns the private property that was the site of
the former grand exhibition hall, and later a shoe factory. This private
property is located on the southern end of the Stiles & Hart site and
is bisected by the sewer easement, which runs from Broad Street along the
east bank of the Town River to where the wastewater treatment plant is
off Morris Avenue.
To the west of the
property is Broad Street (Route 18), a busy state road with a park entrance
adjacent to the Town River. Many local residents, however, use the
wide trail that crosses a private five-acre plot midway along Broad Street.
To the south of the Town River on Broad Street is the Campus Plaza shopping
center, and to the north of the property is High Street, a moderately busy
residential road. Immediately to the north of High Street is Sprague Hill,
one of the higher elevations in Bridgewater. The Town River borders to
the south and east; due to its many meanders, the river border is over
7,000 feet long.
Location
Soils
The site is 95% clay
or poorly draining sand. A narrow strip of Windsor loamy sand between the
river’s floodplain and the boundary at the Broad Street entrance is rapidly
draining, and is susceptible to wind and water erosion. Bordering the river
and forming its floodplain is a Saco very fine sandy loam.Wet sandy loam
surrounds the poorly draining clay center. Running west/east is a broken
band of Scarboro fine sandy loam.This
silty subsoil is extremely wet due to slow permeability of the underlying
material.To the north, at the base
of Sprague Hill, is Deerfield sandy loam.Though
well drained, it has a high water table in the winter.To
the south is Walpole fine sandy loam, which is saturated throughout the
year.The wet soils will influence
where trails will go and may require boardwalks to cross them.These
wet soils also create specific habitats for wildlife.
Slopes
A gentle slope
from an elevation of 90 feet above sea level in the north, to 25 feet above
sea level in the south has been extensively modified by the clay mining
operation.This change has resulted
in many short steep hills and valleys.Although
there are a few slopes over 10 %, they are not long; most of the site has
slopes in the 2-5 % range.There
are a few very flat areas with slopes of less than 2 %; these tend to accumulate
water when it rains.Slopes over
10 % are not desirable for trails.Slopes
of 5-10 % are ideal for cross country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking.Slopes
of 2-5 % are suitable for universal) access and ideal for parking areas.
Drainage
The
hills and valleys created by the clay mining affect the drainage.The
drainage basin to the north drains through the three excavated ponds.A
total of 90 acres, including private land to the west of Broad Street,
drains onto the site and through an intermittent stream.All
the drainage basins flow into the Town River.The
water flowing over the site is cleaned by the various wetlands that it
passes through before entering the Town River.Overall,
this area could be characterized as a northern swamp forest.
Vegetation
Nature
has been reclaiming the clay pits for over 50 years; pioneer trees such
as aspen (Populus sp.) and cherry (Prunus sp.) are being
replaced by oak (Quercus sp.) and maple (Acer sp.).Skunk
cabbage (Symphocarpus foetidus) is the predominant wetland plant
in the shaded interior wetlands.There
are small areas of cattails ( Typha latifolia) in the river marsh
at the eastern end of the property and there are large areas of phragmites
( Phragmites australis), an exotic invasive plant, along some areas
of the river.
The
whole site is virtually impenetrable due to the thick vegetation; the northern
border and an area south of the largest pond are the only areas without
dense undergrowth.Poison ivy is
present virtually throughout the site, making off-trail exploration a potentially
itchy experience.Some areas have
extensive amounts of catbrier ( Smilex rotundifolia).Because
the site was extensively disturbed, exotic invasives have a firm hold.Morrow’s
honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) is virtually everywhere.Oriental
bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculata ) along with norway maple (Acer
platanoides ) are the other predominant exotic invasives.Present
in various quantities are garlic mustard ( Alliaria petiolata),
japanese barberry ( Berberis thunbergii), japanese knotweed (
Polygonum cuspidatum), purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria),
autumn olive ( Elaeagnus umbellata) and multiflora rose ( Rosa
multiflora). The presence of so many exotic invasive plants reduces
the habitat value for wildlife.
Wildlife
Habitat
Dense vegetation
provides cover for deer, fox, and other small mammals.Water
creates swamps, vernal pools, ponds, and a small brook.This
site characteristic provides habitat for fish, amphibians, reptiles, and
waterfowl.Sandy ridges provide burrowing
opportunities.Dead mature trees
along the river provide snags and large trees growing in brick piles are
susceptible to blowdown creating food (insects) and shelter.Steep
riverbanks reduce river access for animals.Although
animals can easily follow the river corridor down river, they cannot move
up river because there is no riverbank under the Broad Street Bridge.
Site
Access
Access
to the site is limited.There is
no legal, easily useable, vehicle access.Many
people park on adjoining property (at Broad Street just north of the billboard)
and follow an old trail to the large pond to fish.Although
the sewer easement entrance on Broad Street does allow vehicle access,
only vehicles connected with the water & sewer department have legal
rights to pass over the privately owned former site of the grand exhibition
hall.This sewer easement entrance
is not wide enough for a small car to turn around, and reversing onto Broad
Street is extremely dangerous.
A trail from High
Street enters the northern part of the property but does not connect to
other trails.The trail from the
Broad Street / Town River entrance does connect to the large pond but is
extremely difficult to find.The
river is canoeable most of the year, but there are only four places that
offer easy canoe egress within this conservation area. Access is available
at other points along the river.
Features
Physical access
to view the many historic and natural features is difficult. Historic features
from agricultural fairground and brick works days include:
·granite
boundary markers towards the north-west of the site,
·four
large ponds and many smaller ponds excavated during the clay mining process,
·tailing
piles which consist principally of defective bricks,
·an
old railroad spur stemming from the present MBTA line that served the brickyard
in the 1920’s, (it crossed Spring Street and the Town River, onto the southern
end of the property),
·the
ruins of the brick factory adjacent to the foundation of the grand exhibition
hall.
The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts has recorded the site as an important historical
industrial site.
The
combinations of the forest, river, ponds, vernal pools and springs combine
to produce many natural features.Natural
features include:
-
a locally famous old beech tree ( Fagus
grandifolia),
-
an american basswood tree (Tilia americana)
with elevated roots that enter the tree at a height of five feet off the
ground,
-
a large tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipfera).
The predominant views are of either ponds or the river.
Beech
Tree
Sixty acres of the
site are within the 100-year floodplain providing valuable flood mitigation
to the residents of Bridgewater.From
observation of the plants, soils, and maps it appears over 85 % of the
site is wetlands restricted, meaning that virtually all work on the site
will need approval by the Bridgewater Conservation Commission.The
Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act and Rivers Protection Act will not
hinder work done on this site, but will ensure that it is done in the least
damaging manor.This holds true for
all work, including removing vegetation as well as constructing trails,
benches, bridges, etc.Any work done
should also involve consultation with the Bridgewater Historical Commission,
due to the extensive historic resources located here as well.Because
the land is conservation land and is under the control of the local conservation
commission they will need to approve all final design plans before any
implementation can begin.While this
Management Plan will have the general conceptual approval of the commission
in place, implementation will need specific permitting.
This
complicated site dictates that desirable access to points of interest depends
on carefully considering many different factors.
-
Trail placement should avoid wet, steep,
and wildlife-sensitive areas.
-
Undesirable views should be avoided.
-
Bridges over streams will be needed, as
will boardwalks over sensitive areas such as marshes.
-
Handicap access to the southern quarter
of the property is possible.
Administration
and Management
Currently the Bridgewater
Conservation Commission administers the Stiles & Hart Conservation
Area as required by Massachusetts’s law.The
Commission has established the following “General Guidelines for Public
Use of Town Owned Conservation Areas”:
1.The
area is to be used for non-intrusive recreation only: hiking, canoeing,
fishing, tenting, bird watching, photography, etc.
2.No
dirt bikes or all-terrain vehicles permitted on Conservation land.No
automobiles are permitted off designated roads.
3.Only
hand-carried tents and watercraft are permitted: No boat trailers or camping
trailers allowed.
4.Area
is to be left undisturbed in its natural state.
5.No
person shall remove vegetation, soil or stones from the area or dig or
disturb any artifacts or archaeological remains. There shall be no unauthorized
use of chain saws.
6.All
fires must be in designated areas only and be completely extinguished before
you leave the site.All trash must
be removed by the user at the time of departure.
7.No
discharge of firearms, drunkenness, or chemical abuse is permitted on Conservation
Land.
8.Use
of premises is free of charge; the user however, is liable for any damage
to Town property.
These guidelines
will need to be park specific depending upon the activities allowed at
the individual park.In addition
to these guidelines, the site is subject to a degree of regulation by the
Massachusetts Historical Commission who will be reviewing this management
plan.
Although the Bridgewater
Conservation Commission is ultimately responsible for this site, the newly
formed Park Commission will be administrating the daily running of the
park.They will act as primary decision-makers
for the Volunteer Stewards and members of the Friends Groups.A
program to organize the volunteers is sponsored by the NRTB. The volunteers
can provide valuable services that help protect the natural resources of
the site and the safety of visitors.These
services could include maintenance, security, visitor education, safety
inspections etc.The Park Commission
will need to determine the tasks that are to be completed by volunteers
and those by town employees.
Management
of Physical Structures and Facilities
Additional
Easements
A
conservation restriction should be sought from the owners of the former
grand exhibition hall site.The restriction
could be structured to allow footpaths and exotic invasive plant control
as well as emergency vehicle and maintenance vehicle access.Retained
ownership would prevent the access to and /or construction of a parking
lot on this site, something that the present owners do not desire.An
emergency vehicle and maintenance vehicle access easement should be sought
from the owner of the five-acre plot adjacent to Broad Street
.
The community should
also look into extending the riverfront park downstream along the Town
and Taunton Rivers by obtaining additional acreage or obtain some public
access through Conservation Restrictions.
Brick
Tailings
To
improve the appearance and safety of the trails, bricks dumped by the trail
should be removed; there is a large quantity of bricks near the end of
the sewer easement.Useable bricks
should be saved and used where appropriate in walkways, at the future parking
area at the old town garage or as part of a brick historical designation
that highlights historical features that are connected with the brick manufacturing
history of the site.
Bridges
Footbridges
must be inspected, large footbridges once a year, small footbridges every
other year, for signs of damage and rot; repairs must be made as soon as
possible.Debris washed against the
bridge should be removed to help prevent washout of the bridge.
Broad
Street Entrance
Stop
private use of the entrance for the sale of used cars.Neighbors
are illegally dumping trash in the woods along the riverbank, which should
be stopped and the trash cleared up.A
small amount of Vinca, Myrtle ( Vinca minor, Vinca major) in this
area should be pulled up before it spreads.The
sewer easement should be mowed every month during the growing season.Oriental
bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculata) and autumn olive (Elaeagnus
umbellata) growing along the sides of the sewer easement should be
controlled.A large area of garlic
mustard ( Alliaria petiolata) should be mowed every year in the
spring before it flowers; with no seed setting, it will eventually disappear.
Canoe
take-outs
Depending
upon the intensity of use, these areas can quickly become muddy and unattractive,
resulting in silt washing into the river.Monitor
banks for erosion and reduce use by closing periodically if erosion is
a problem.The posting of a notice
explaining the need for closure should be sufficient; the area should be
fenced to allow natural vegetation to regrow.In
the event that there is too much use to allow native vegetation to grow
back naturally, a dock type structure will be needed. (See Conway Canoe
Launch Design Plans)
High
Street Entrance
Shrubs
should be removed in the entrance area to promote a ground layer that gives
a welcoming feel to visitors.The
guardrail by the road should be shortened by ten feet in length at the
western end, to allow easy access to the trail entrance. A small Stiles
& Hart Park sign could be installed at this secondary entrance.
Historic
buildings and structures
The
only building on the site is the remains of the brick-making factory. A
structural engineer should assess it for its structural integrity.An
inspection procedure and timetable recommended by the structural engineer
should be made to ensure that the area remains safe. Despite
the disturbance to the soil during early agriculture and clay extraction,
because Bridgewater was an area of ancient settlement, archaeological remains
could exist therefore diligence should be observed during any ground disturbance.If
an arrangement could be made with the present owners, the former site of
the shoe-factory and agricultural exhibition hall should be marked and
its history reflected in the brochure.
The
other interesting feature is the border marking granite posts.The
purpose of these should be researched and documented.However,
they are not in an area recommended for viewing.
Remains
of the Brick Factory
Parking
Parking
on the Stiles & Hart Conservation site is extremely problematic due
to the lack of access.With permission
from the management, potential parking in the shopping center lot adjacent
to the road will have the least impact on the businesses and may bring
them some extra customers.
The
old town garage has potential for a parking area that could accommodate
up to twenty cars.A bridge from
the old railroad bed, which is still elevated fifteen feet higher than
the surrounding area, could become a future park entrance.There
is a ten-foot drop in elevation from the town garage parking area to the
railroad bed, resulting in a 5% slope suitable for universal access to
the park.Extending a footbridge
to the railroad bed avoids wetlands and floodplain intrusion.Site
assessment and feasibility would need to be determined by professional
engineers or engineering students.A
reproduction of the old railroad bridge might be appropriate.
Picnic
Area
The
picnic areas may be subject to a high volume of foottraffic
and therefore should be kept clear of poison ivy.If
barren areas appear, they should be fenced off and stabilized with transplanted
vegetation from the immediate surroundings.If
areas experience high traffic, alternate sites should be made and sites
rotated so that the natural vegetation can recover.The
area must be posted to inform the public that this is a ‘carry-in/carry-out’
site.The picnic area should be cleaned
up once a month or more often if trash accumulates. Selected trees should
be removed to create views of the river and wet meadow and to provide a
sunny area for picnics.However,
a few of the larger trees can be saved to provide shade.Any
white oak (Quercus alba ) tree trunks should be saved for bridge
or bench construction. A few cut trees could be placed in the nearby ponds
perpendicular to the shore to provide basking places for turtles.Brush
should be placed in piles in the woods to provide cover for snakes, small
mammals, and amphibians.
Sewer
manhole
Periodically
this manhole overflows leaving debris on the ground.This
debris should be cleaned up on a regular basis.
Signs,
kiosk and maps
Interpretative
maps are to be available for visitors.These
maps should give sufficient details to orientate visitors to the park as
well as point out natural and historic points of interest that are outside
of wildlife sensitive areas.Many
of the abandoned bricks on site could be used to mark viewing points for
historical features connected with the brick making industry such as the
remains of the brick- making factory, the site of the kiln, the excavated
ponds, and the location of the railroad spur.A
small brick “patio” could exist at each of these locations enabling visitors
to locate themselves on the map.Information
maps give details of the site history, the brick making process, the ecology
of the site and its surroundings.Signs
and kiosk should be inspected yearly for damage, maps are replaced as needed.
Sitting
benches
These
should be placed in areas with views; vegetation should be trimmed in the
area to provide framed views.
Trails
Trail
suggestions from the Conway School of Landscape Design are intended to
visit both natural and cultural features of the site.A
knowledgeable consultant (see appendix) should perform sighting and detailed
design of trail routes.The
purpose of a trail is to provide not only a means of access, but also a
trail experience; therefore, existing vegetation along the sides of trails
needs to be maintained to give an experience of the area that the trail
is passing through.
Plants
such as poison ivy (Rhus toxidendorn ) should be removed for a distance
of five feet on either side of the trail.Trails
often offer means for the spread of exotic invasive plants.
Trails
should be monitored three times a year, once in spring, summer and winter
for the presence of exotic, invasive plants, obstructions across the trail,
and trail damage/erosion.Problems
found must be taken care of as soon as possible.Exotic,
invasive plants should be removed as soon as possible to prevent a larger
infestation in the future.Trials
have been designed to shed water, evidence of erosion along the trail indicates
a fault in the design or construction, and corrective action needs to be
taken as soon as possible.Although
trails normally tend to have relatively uneven surfaces, dangerous obstacles
such as protruding rocks should be removed.This
is especially important for trails that are universally accessible.On
steeper sections of universally accessible trail, rest stops need to be
kept clear of debris, as should culverts under trails to prevent water
flowing over the trail.
Although
most of the trails in this Stiles & Hart Management Plan are designated
for mountain bike use, the small section at the northeast end of the large
pond is restricted because of potential erosion problems. This restriction
is to be enforced to avoid damage to the trails.An
alternative route has been designed so that mountain bikers can get to
their destination without use of this erodable ridge.
The
trail at the northern end of the property runs parallel to the northern
shore of the pond. It then heads south and upon reaching the pond, follows
the shore of the pond in an easterly direction.This
results in the trails being visible from each other, allowing people to
cut across to the other trail.To
prevent this undesirable connection, the trails must be obscured from each
other by encouraging shrubs to grow between the trails.
Girdle
trees in this area to provide more light to the forest floor and encourage
shrubs.This will also create snags
for wildlife.If white oak trees
are present, they should be cut and the trunks saved for bridge or bench
construction.
To
reduce damage to the wetland, a boardwalk is needed at the southern end
of the trail that goes along the utility easement between the ponds.Once
installed, it needs to be routinely inspected for damage.The
middle section of this trail along the causeway should have a forty-foot
section opened up for views and to provide a vegetation-free area for turtles
to lay their eggs in the south-facing bank.
Trails
have been designed for the use of emergency vehicle ATVs only.The
public use of ATVs is not allowed in the Bridgewater Family of Parks.ATVs
damage trails and disturb wildlife.Police
enforcement of this policy is essential.
Trash
The
few areas of trash should be removed from the site and the area monitored
for signs of dumping. Tires and metal dumped on site should be recycled.
Typical
Trash Area
Wildlife
Underpass
Immediately after
the spring floods, check underpass for debris and remove if found.
Wood
Duck Box
Nesting
boxes will provide nesting sites for wood ducks ( Aix sponsa) until
more tree snags are available as the forest matures.These
boxes should be mounted no closer than 600 feet to each other at a height
of sixteen feet, on black locust posts in shallow water, or close to the
water so that the ducklings can quickly reach the relative safety of the
water when they first leave their nest. The
progress of baby wood ducks should be monitored; if more than 75% of the
ducklings are disappearing, it is probably due to the abundance of snapping
turtles (Chelydra s. serpentina). This should be ascertained and
if so, either the wood duck boxes should be removed or the number of snapping
turtles reduced. Construction details are in the CSLD design plans.
Natural
Resources
Animal
Species
The following animals
were observed to make use of this park during the Biodiversity Day walk
in June 2002:
|
Animal
|
Species Name
|
|
Red-tailed Hawk
|
Buteo jamaicensis
|
|
Wood Duck
|
Aix sponsa
|
|
Northern Cardinal
|
Cardinalis cardinalis
|
|
Gray Catbird
|
Dumetalla carolinensis
|
|
Redwing Blackbird
|
Agelaius phoeniceus
|
|
Mallard
|
Anas
platyrhynchos
|
|
Wood Frog
|
Rana sylvatica
|
|
Bullfrog
|
Rana catesbeiana
|
|
Common Snapping
Turtle
|
Chelydra s.
serpentina
|
|
Eastern Painted
Turtle
|
Hrysemys p.
picta
|
|
Coyote
|
Canis latrans
|
|
White-tailed Deer
|
Odocoileus virginianus
|
|
Gray Squirrel
|
Sciiurus carolinensis
|
|
Raccoon
|
Procyon lotor
|
|
Dog Tick
|
Dermacentor
variabilis
|
|
Mosquito
|
|
|
Pond Skater
|
Gerridae sp.
|
|
Damsel Fly
|
|
Exotic
Invasive Plants
Because
this conservation area has been heavily disturbed in the past, there are
many different types and large quantities of exotic invasive plants on
the site.These plants stop native
plants from growing and reduce the wildlife habitat value.The
control of these plants is essential. The appendix has specific instructions
on the best methods of control for these plants.These
plants should be removed in this order if possible: purple loosestrife
(Lythrum salicaria), phragmites (Phragmites australis ),
Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii ), oriental bittersweet
(Celastrus orbiculata), norway maple ( Acer platanoides),
multiflora rose ( Rosa multiflora), garlic mustard ( Alliaria
petiolata), japanese knotweed ( Polygonum cuspidatum), japanese
barberry ( Berberis thunbergii), autumn olive ( Elaeagnus umbellata).
Phragmites and Morrow’s honeysuckle are the most serious pests, having
the greatest impact and being the hardest to control.Norway
maple can be girdled, which will provide snags for wildlife. More unconventional
methods of control such as the use of goats may be useful on this site.
Forest
As
the forest continues to mature at the Stiles & Hart Conservation Area,
more economically valuable trees are growing.However,
owing to the lack of access to the site, its difficult terrain combined
with its fragile wetland nature, the sale of timber is not recommended.The
careful cutting of timber for use within the park is recommended; this
needs to be done with minimal damage to the surrounding vegetation. By
cutting logs to desired length at the felling site, they will be considerably
easier to handle and cause less damage when they are moved to the utilization
area within the park site.
Phragmites Marsh
Phragmites
(Phragmites australis ) decreases marsh habitat for wildlife and
must be removed. As this is a large area, it may not be possible to remove
it all at once.A concerted effort
should be made to remove it as soon as possible.
Plant Species
The following plants
were observed in the park during the Biodiversity day walk in June 2002:
|
Plant
|
Species name
|
|
paper birch
|
Betula paprifera
|
|
gray birch
|
Betula populifolia
|
|
elm
|
Ulmus Americana
|
|
green ash
|
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
|
|
quaking aspen
|
Populus tremuloides
|
|
bigtooth aspen
|
Populus grandidentata
|
|
norway maple
|
Acer platanoides
|
|
northern red oak
|
Quercus rubra
|
|
red maple
|
Acer rubrum
|
|
black cherry
|
Prunus serotina
|
|
apple
|
Malus sylvestris
|
|
shag bark hickory
|
Cary ovata
|
|
common juniper
|
Ju |
