Stiles & Hart Plan

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.


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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

Juniperus communis

hazel alder

Alnus serrulata

eastern white pine

Pinus strobus

elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

witch-hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

american basswood

Tilia americana

poison ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

goldenrod

Solidago sp.

blackberries

Rubus pensilvanicus

buttercup

Ranunculus acris

milkweed

Asclepias sp.

jack-in-the- pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

queen anne’s lace

Daucus carota

fox grape clover

Trifolium sp.

catbrier

Smilaceae rotundifolia

jewelweed

Impatiens capensis

oxeye daisy

Leucanthemum vulgare

skunk cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

virginia creeper

Parrthenocussus quinquefolia

high bush blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

low bush blueberry

Vaccinium angustifolium

arrow arum),

Peltandra virginica

netted chain fern

Woodwardia areolata

cinnamon fern

Osmunda cinnamomea

lady fern

Athyrium filix-femina

sensitive fern

Onoclea sensibilis

yellow pond lilly

Nuphar variegata

canada mayflower

Maianthemum canadense

yellow star grass

Hypoxis hirsuta

duckweed

wild sarsasparilla

Aralie nudicaulis

blue flag

Iris versicolor

smooth sumac

Rhus glabra

purple loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

phragmites

Phragmites australis

Morrow’s honeysuckle

Lonicera morrowii

multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

garlic mustard

Alliaria petiolata

japanese knotweed

Polygonum cuspidatum

japanese barberry

Berberis thunbergii

autumn olive

Elaeagnus umbellata

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	Juniperus communis
hazel alder	Alnus serrulata
eastern white pine	Pinus strobus
elderberry	Sambucus canadensis
witch-hazel	Hamamelis virginiana
american basswood	Tilia americana
poison ivy	Toxicodendron radicans
goldenrod	Solidago sp.
blackberries	Rubus pensilvanicus
buttercup	Ranunculus acris
milkweed	Asclepias sp.
jack-in-the- pulpit	Arisaema triphyllum
queen anne’s lace	Daucus carota
fox grape clover	Trifolium sp.
catbrier	Smilaceae rotundifolia
jewelweed	Impatiens capensis
oxeye daisy	Leucanthemum vulgare
skunk cabbage	Symplocarpus foetidus
virginia creeper	Parrthenocussus quinquefolia
high bush blueberry	Vaccinium corymbosum
low bush blueberry	Vaccinium angustifolium
arrow arum),	Peltandra virginica
netted chain fern	Woodwardia areolata
cinnamon fern	Osmunda cinnamomea
lady fern	Athyrium filix-femina
sensitive fern	Onoclea sensibilis
yellow pond lilly	Nuphar variegata
canada mayflower	Maianthemum canadense
yellow star grass	Hypoxis hirsuta
duckweed
wild sarsasparilla	Aralie nudicaulis
blue flag	Iris versicolor
smooth sumac	Rhus glabra
purple loosestrife	Lythrum salicaria
phragmites	Phragmites australis
Morrow’s honeysuckle	Lonicera morrowii
multiflora rose	Rosa multiflora
garlic mustard	Alliaria petiolata
japanese knotweed	Polygonum cuspidatum
japanese barberry	Berberis thunbergii
autumn olive	Elaeagnus umbellata

Ponds

There are four larger ponds and numerous smaller ponds that were created during the clay extraction process. The largest pond, bisected by the utility easement, is used extensively by anglers as are the two smaller ponds close by. The fishing pressure at present does not seem to have a deleterious effect upon the fish populations.If fish populations drop drastically as the park becomes more popular, restocking might be required.

Large Pond

An education program is needed to convince people that they need to take out their trash.There is ample evidence of fishing litter including fishing line that is most dangerous for wildlife.A clean up of trash in and around the ponds should be done biannually.There is phragmites (Phragmites australis ) present in some of the ponds that should be removed.Ponds need to be monitored for the presence of other exotic invasive plants and these all must be removed as soon as possible.The pond at the end of Brick Kiln Road is to be left in a natural condition and the public should not be encouraged to fish there.This pond is in an area of the park that is a sensitive wildlife area and must be disturbed as little as possible.

River

The Town River bordering this park site meanders extensively and may create some oxbow lakes in the immediate future.People fishing, although access is not that easy with the relatively steep banks, use it.If excessive bank erosion occurs due to human traffic, reduce use by closing periodically.The area should be fenced and posted to allow natural vegetation to regrow.

Town River

The same problem of fishing litter is present.An annual river cleanup needs to be carried out in the late summer or early fall; the use of canoes would allow retrieval of trash in the water. (The Conservation Commission has guidelines for river cleanups.)

Although the award-winning Bridgewater Sewer Treatment Plant across from the park discharges processed effluent into the river, it has no appreciable ill effect upon the water quality.In conjunction with the ongoing program at the Watershed Access Lab at Bridgewater State College, the water quality needs to be monitored, and a look out kept for areas of excessive plant growth indicating high levels of nitrates in the water, which typically are discharged from wastewater treatment plants and failed septic systems.

Perhaps the Stewards of the Stiles & Hart Conservation Area could become involved with the Shoreline Surveys Project via the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Environmental Law Enforcement’s Riverways Program as part of their training.

Species of Special Concern

The following species listed on the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Rare Species website at http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/townB.htm , are listed as species of special concern, threatened or endangered and are present in Bridgewater.They could find suitable habitat at the Stiles & Hart Conservation Park:

·Spotted Turtle ( Clemmys guttata)

·Wood Turtle ( Clemmys insculpta)

·Eastern Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina)

·Triangle Floater Mussel ( Alasmidonta undulata)

·Tidewater Mucket Mussel ( Leptodea ochracea)

Vernal Pool

Because vernal pools are disappearing due to development, the vernal pool in the trail should not be filled in.It is not deep enough to stop the entrance of emergency vehicles and may act as a deterrent to un-authorized vehicle entry.Other vernal pools in the woods should not be disturbed except for the removal of trash.

Vernal Pool

Wet Meadow

Removing the small amount of purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria) will prevent the whole meadow from being invaded by this rapidly spreading plant.

White Oak Trees

This area could be a source of white oak trees, to be used in construction projects within the park site. Exotic invasives need to be controlled.

Wildlife Sensitive Area

This area, around the southern pond and along the back of the houses up to Broad Street, must be left alone except for the removal of exotic invasive plants.The area should be divided into thirds and the exotic invasive plants controlled in one third per year. This will leave areas undisturbed so that wildlife is not driven out of the area.

Suggested Park Uses

Canoeing

A public canoe launch could be easily accomplished on the west side of the river from the parking area that is near where the corners of the two main buildings that make up the shopping center meet.Although the river is now fenced off at this point, it has traditionally afforded easy access to the river.The shopping center owner should be approached to see if reopening this area could be a possibility. Perhaps the Town of Bridgewater can reach an acceptable written agreement exempting the owner from liability.

The Park Commission should also look into establishing a canoe launch on the west side of the Town River at the old town barn site, especially if a parking lot and foot bridge are also built there.Only one launch area is needed.

Cross Country Skiing

Although less than 20 % of the site has slopes between 5 and 10 % (the ideal for cross country skiing) the variety of slopes and the shorter steeper slopes make this an ideal location for cross-country skiing.The very gentle slopes are an attraction to beginning skiers, whilst the steeper slopes offer challenge and excitement.To prevent accidents trails must be kept clear of obstructions.

Education/ Wildlife Observation

This is an ideal location for education with its river, ponds, and forestry.It provides many opportunities for learning about geology, history, and nature studies.Its close location to Bridgewater State College and the downtown Bridgewater area is an added bonus.The NRTB should partner with the local school system to hold educational walks.

Evening Events

Although the park closes at dusk in accordance with Bridgewater Park Policy, the Stiles & Hart Conservation area should be made available for evening/night-based activities such as an owl prowl or salamander migration watch.Special permits are to be issued to individuals or groups for these activities by the Park Commission.The area is not suitable for astronomy.

Field Activities/Community Events

Owing to the forested nature of the site, the park is not suitable for field activities; however it would be suitable for nature observation by organizations as Boy and Girl Scouts, The Garden Club, nature clubs, and photography clubs, etc.

Fishing

With the ponds and river, the park is already known to some of the local anglers.With easier access, more fishing should be expected.People fishing must be encouraged to take out their trash, especially fishing line.The use of lead fishing weights must not be allowed because waterfowl often consume these weights and lead poisoning results.The use of non-native live fish as bait should not be allowed.

Hiking

Although hiking does not have to be restricted to the trails, hikers should be encouraged to stay on the trails especially in the wildlife sensitive areas.People walking their dogs must keep them on a leash as per the local town law (article XXI, dog leash law, section 1).This not only protects the local wildlife but also safeguards the dogs from the busy roads that are only a short distance away.

Horseback Riding

Owing to the lack of access, the non-existent connection to other open space, and the potential damage to trails horseback riding is prohibited at this site.There are other sites in the park system that are suitable for riding.

Hunting

Owing to the close location to the downtown and the number of houses surrounding the property, hunting is prohibited at this park.

Ice-Skating

Although ice-skating on the river may be possible, access is difficult and flowing rivers often have areas of thin ice.The small shoreline at the western end of the large pond could allow easy access for ice-skaters, however the ice is likely to be thin because the ponds are spring fed.This danger is amplified by the fact that the ponds are very deep with steep sides.

The other major disadvantage with ice-skating on the river or ponds is that there is no easy access for emergency vehicles in the event of an accident.There are other more suitable ice-skating areas within the park system such as Carver’s Pond.

Model Boating

Radio controlled model boats can be noisy and disturbing to both wildlife and other people making use of the pond.A trial period of one month for the month of September could be experimented with.This is after waterfowl have raised their young.Impact upon wildlife, other park users, and pollution/trash levels should be monitored and then a decision should be made to extend the season, retain the same season or ban model boating.

Mountain Biking

Mountain bikes can make use of all the trails on site except for a short section of trail at the northeast end of the large pond.Here mountain bikes should be prohibited because the trail runs along a ridge that is extremely susceptible to erosion.An alternative trail could be installed to bypass this section.Mountain bikers can already bypass this section by going along the electric utility causeway between the ponds.If the ridge trail experiences a lot of erosion, a boardwalk needs to be installed to protect the ridge.

Picnicking

The park offers many opportunities for picnicking besides the picnic area adjacent to the river.Users must make sure they take out their trash.

Public Events

Public events should be permitted on a case-by-case basis.They should be compatible with the site and not cause undue erosion or damage.

Sledding

The park is unsuitable for sledding due to a lack of long hills and un-forested space.

Swimming

The ponds are used by local youths for swimming; the river has a slow current for most of its length.Swimmers swim at their own risk.There is no easy access to the river or ponds for emergency vehicles.

Tenting

This park is unsuitable for tenting, the lack of toilet facilities, and its proximity to downtown make it an undesirable place for this activity.

Universal Access

The southwestern end of the park has slopes that are suitable for universal access.Access from the parking area at the shopping center would need to be modified to make universal access easier.Trails following the sewer easement could easily be made accessible by smoothing the trail and removing any fallen branches etc.The trail spur following the railroad bed would need to have many trees removed to provide any trail access.

Maintenance Timetable


Date	Activity	Town responsible	Volunteer responsible
January
February
March
April
15^{t h}	Sewer Easement is mowed	x
	Mow Garlic Mustard near sewer easement.	x
	Restock kiosk with maps etc.		x
	Inspect Historic buildings	x
22^nd Earth Day	Clear debris from wildlife underpass.		x
	Clean up trash throughout the site, inspect bridges and trails, inspect river and pond banks for erosion problems, trim vegetation that is obstructing views and impinging on trails, note exotic invasive plants and plan for removal.		x
May	Monitor wood duck ducklings.		x
15^th	Sewer Easement is mowed.Mow Garlic Mustard near sewer easement.Clean up trash around sewer manhole and in picnic area.	x
	Restock kiosk with maps etc.		x
	Kill poison ivy that is along trails and in picnic area.	x
June	Monitor wood duck ducklings.		x
1^st Biodiversity Days	Inventory biological diversity		x
15^th	Sewer Easement is mowed.Clean up trash around sewer manhole and in picnic area. Restock kiosk with maps etc	x x


Date	Activity	Town responsible	Volunteer responsible
July	Monitor wood duck ducklings.		x
15^th	Sewer Easement is mowed.Clean up trash around sewer manhole and in picnic area.	x
	Restock kiosk with maps etc.Inspect trails for problems.		x
August
15^th	Sewer Easement is mowed.Clean up trash around sewer manhole and in picnic area.	x
	Restock kiosk with maps etc.		x
September
15^th	Sewer Easement is mowed.Clean up trash around sewer manhole and in picnic area.	x
	Restock kiosk with maps etc.		x
October
15^th	Clean up trash around sewer manhole and in picnic area.	x
November
December
15^th	Clear trails of obstructions for cross country skiing.Inspect trails for problems.Restock kiosk with maps etc.		x

Appendix I Exotic Invasive Plant Control

Notes

Appendix II Resources

Notes