Outdoor Recreation Resources
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CHAPTER 4 Outdoor Recreation Resources CHAPTER 4 here are many outstanding outdoor recreational resources located along the northern section of the Route 122 Scenic Byway in Franklin County. The Millers Rivers and vast Quabbin Reservoir, as well as the forested and T mountainous terrain located close to the Byway, provide unique recreational opportunities. The diverse outdoor recreational activities include camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking, road bicycling, and wildlife watching. This chapter of the Corridor Management Plan provides an inventory of these facilities by type of activity, identifies issues related to the existing and potential increase in the use of the recreational facilities, and recommends future actions to ensure that the recreational resources remain an asset to the region’s economy and quality of life. While the Corridor Management Plan primarily focuses on resources within a half-mile radius of the Byway, the recreational resources section of the report also includes attractions that are located outside of the project area boundary, but within the towns of Orange and New Salem. State Forests Federated Women’s Club State Forest The Federated Women’s Club State Forest is located in the study area directly off of the This 984 acre forest is located in the Byway in the towns of New Salem and watershed of the Quabbin Reservoir on the Petersham. The New Salem State Forest is border of New Salem and Petersham, directly dispersed in four locations in the town of off of Route 122. Groves of pine and stands New Salem, and is not directly within the of maple, birch and hemlock line the roads study area but is accessible from the Byway. and trails. A wildlife sanctuary comprising Both forests are owned and managed by the 140 acres has been set aside in the center of Massachusetts Department of Conservation the forest, and a dam on Fever Brook holds and Recreation (DCR). Together the forests back sufficient water to attract migrating and comprise over 1,000 acres available for native wild fowl. In the southwest section is hiking, cross-county skiing, camping, fishing, the forest's chief geological feature, the Swift hunting, and wildlife viewing. A brief River Gorge. Pets are not allowed. The description of the facility and a summary of facilities and activities include: camping, the activities available at each of the sites are fishing, hiking, hunting (restrictions), scenic included below. viewing area, cross-country skiing. Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/ central/fwsf.htm 34 ROUTE 122 SCENIC BYWAY — Franklin County Section New Salem State Forest Fittz Family Memorial Forest There are four areas in New Salem known as The 75-acre Fittz Family Memorial Forest is New Salem State Forest that together total adjacent to the Orange Town Forest and 185 acres. One parcel extends from other protected land. It provides a valuable Blackington Road near Michael Lane to link in the North Pond Ridge Trail and the Eagleville Pond and is about 60 acres. larger Chestnut Hill Trail system. Another is located off of Wendell Road, and Recreation, forestry, and scientific and two other parcels are between West Street educational activities are the management and the Shutesbury town line. The facilities goals of the New England Forest Foundation and activities include: hiking, cross-country (NEFF) for this land. The facilities and skiing, fishing, hunting. activities available include: hiking, horseback-riding, hunting, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Website: http:// Other Recreation Areas and www.northquabbinwoods.org/entries/109 Parks Hosmer Woods Orange The Hosmer Woods consists of two parcels Battle-Dorrance Memorial donated by two different families, the 187- Forest (55 acres) acre Hosmer Woods and the 49-acre Webb The Battle-Dorrance Forest is located on the Forest. The New England Forestry north side of Route 2A, approximately 1.75 Foundation actively manages this area and miles west of Downtown Orange. Mr. Harry the forest is dominated by wonderful stands A. Battle gradually acquired the four separate of white pine. The haul roads through the parcels that now make up the forest from parcels serve as inviting trails for visitors. various members of his family. He built a The facilities and activities include: hiking, cabin for shelter and moved to the property horseback-riding, hunting, mountain biking for summers, after wintering in Mexico. Mr. and cross-country skiing. Battle was less than five feet in height, so he Website: http://www.northquabbinwoods. carefully pruned every tree in his forest to org/entries/141 five or six feet. Also, he built a pond entirely by hand, moving the materials and earth with his wheelbarrow. His infrequent trips to town were made on foot or bicycle. In 1974 a fire from his wood burning stove destroyed his cabin, so he sold the property to his cousin and left for Mexico. Elizabeth Dorrance, a conservationist, made the gift to the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) to protect the property for the public. The facilities and activities available include: hiking, horseback-riding, hunting, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Website: http://www.northquabbinwoods. Memorial Park and Peace Statue org/entries/153. CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 35 Memorial Park and overlook and a gazebo. The facilities and Orange Peace Statue activities available include: picnicking, kayak and canoe access to the Millers River. The Orange Peace Statue was designated as Website: http://www.frcog.org/services/ the official peace statue of the state by the natural_res/natres_riverfront.php Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1998. The statue is located in Memorial Park on the banks of the Millers River in the center of the town of Orange. The 12-foot bronze sculpture was created by Joseph Pollia in 1934 as a memorial to veterans of World War I. It depicts a weary doughboy with one arm around a young schoolboy. A plaque on the base carries the inscription “It Shall Not Be Again” against a shrouded figure of grief. Thirteen stars honor Orange veterans who died in the war. The facilities and activities include: picnicking. Orange Riverfront Park Orange Riverfront Park The Orange Riverfront Park is located on the Orange Wildlife Management southern bank of the Millers River on East Area River Street in downtown Orange. The park The Orange Wildlife Management Area consists of .72 acres and provides access to covers more than 1,500 acres and includes a the river for canoes and kayaks via a concrete beautiful beaver pond of about 80 acres on boat ramp. Paddlers can travel North Main Street. The area includes mixed approximately 6 miles to the Alan Rich hardwood and softwoods forests, brushy Environmental Park in Athol. A bike trail is fields, open fields, several small streams and also planned to begin at the site and run wetland areas. Deer, bear turkey, coyote, along existing roadways to Athol. Catch and beaver, raccoon, woodcock and various non- release fishing is allowed (the Millers River is game species visit or make their homes a Class B waterway). Pathways and benches within the area. The property is owned by provide places to enjoy views of the river and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and of the native vegetation planted throughout Wildlife. The facilities and activities include: the park. fishing, hiking, hunting, and camping by permit from MDFW. Website: http://www. The park incorporates Low Impact Design mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ (LID) elements such as rain gardens, swales, valleywma/orangewma.pdf and soil amendments that treat the stormwater runoff on the site, eliminating pollution found in stormwater before it flows Tully Mountain into the river. Subsequent phases of Tully Mountain is the focal point of the Tully construction will add a building for use as a Trail and of the Tully Mountain Wildlife canoe/kayak rental facility and a system of Management Area. The mountain rises 1,163 handicapped accessible docks with an feet above sea level and appears dramatically 36 ROUTE 122 SCENIC BYWAY — Franklin County Section above the relatively flat land around it. It is Website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/ of geologically interest. From the northwest, habitat/maps/wma/valleywma/ the effect of the glaciers can be seen on the tullymountainwma.pdf smooth northern face of the mountain, while the southern face is much more irregular by New Salem deposited debris. There is a 1½-mile loop- The Bear's Den trail that leads to outcrops near the summit. This 6-acre scenic tract of land is owned and From this trail there are views of the operated by The Trustees of Reservations surrounding land, water bodies and distant and is noted for its 75-foot waterfall created mountains. Tully Mountain is also home to by the Middle Branch of the Swift River as it diverse plant and animal habitats. The area crashes through granite cliffs. A 1/4-mile, is owned by the Massachusetts Division of moderately difficult trail, provides access to Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW). The the falls and a gorge, and travels along the facilities and activities include: hiking, river and the site of an old mill. The facilities hunting, and camping by permit from and activities include: hiking, bird watching, MDFW. Website: http://www.mass.gov/ hunting, picnicking. Website: http:// dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/valleywma/ www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/central- tullymountainwma.pdf ma/bears-den.html#t1 Tully Mountain Keystone Bridge Wildlife Management Area The Keystone Bridge is a mortarless stone- This scenic and ecologically diverse 1,200 arched bridge that was built in 1866 by acre area encompasses Tully Mountain itself. Adolphus Porter over the Middle Branch of There are 3,000 feet of frontage on the West the Swift River on Orange Road, the main Branch of the Tully River and one of its road from the Millington Village in New tributaries (Collar Brook).