Fitchburg Trails Vision Plan, 2020-2024 Prepared by the Fitchburg Trails Vision Committee Ralph Baker, Chairman Neal Anderson Sheri Bean Sharon Bernard Jassy Bratko Larry Casassa Elizabeth Gordon Nate LaRose Amy LeBlanc Dick O’Brien Jenn Tuomala Published by the Trails Vision Committee Fitchburg, Massachusetts 2020 MAYOR’S LETTER i Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge Paul Funch of the Town of Groton Trails Vision Committee for kindly permitting us the use of their Trails Vision document as a template for this plan, and for guiding us in forming a Trails Vision Plan committee. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ...................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... ix 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 2. How this Trails Vision will be used ..................................................................................... 2 2.1 By the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ...................................................................................... 2 2.2 By Other nearby Towns ................................................................................................................. 2 2.3 By the City of Fitchburg ................................................................................................................. 2 3. Trail Users Considered in this Report .................................................................................. 4 4. Benefits of Non-Motorized Pathways .................................................................................. 5 5. The Fitchburg Trails Vision Committee .............................................................................. 8 5.1 Organizations represented on or supportive of the Committee ...................................................... 8 5.2 Purpose, Vision, and Values ........................................................................................................ 13 5.2.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 13 5.2.2 Vision .................................................................................................................................. 13 5.2.3 Values ................................................................................................................................. 13 5.3 Public Outreach ............................................................................................................................ 14 6. History of Fitchburg’s Trails and Trail Networks .............................................................. 15 7. Current Trail Resources ..................................................................................................... 18 7.1 Coggshall Park Trail Network ...................................................................................................... 20 7.1.1 History ................................................................................................................................. 20 7.1.2 Overall description of trail system ...................................................................................... 20 7.1.3 Coggshall Park trail descriptions and assessments ............................................................. 23 7.1.3.1 Mirror Lake Trail .......................................................................................................................... 24 7.1.3.2 Lookout Loop Trail ....................................................................................................................... 25 7.1.3.3 Woodland Loop Trail .................................................................................................................... 26 7.1.3.4 Whale Rock & Cascade Trail ........................................................................................................ 27 7.1.3.5 Pond Passage Trail ........................................................................................................................ 28 7.1.3.6 Stones, Cliffs and Rock Loop Trail ............................................................................................... 29 7.1.3.7 Power Line Passage ...................................................................................................................... 30 7.1.3.8 Southwest Passage ........................................................................................................................ 30 7.1.3.9 Waterfall Trail ............................................................................................................................... 31 7.2 Coolidge Park ............................................................................................................................... 32 Coolidge Park Loop Trail ................................................................................................................... 32 7.3 Crocker Conservation Area .......................................................................................................... 34 7.3.1 Big’s Bushwhack ................................................................................................................ 34 iii 7.3.2 The Cart Road ..................................................................................................................... 34 7.3.3 Cush’s Coast ....................................................................................................................... 36 7.3.4 Flat Rock Road.................................................................................................................... 36 7.3.5 Jay’s Way ............................................................................................................................ 37 7.3.6 Lower Loop Trail ................................................................................................................ 37 7.3.7 Overlook Trail ..................................................................................................................... 38 7.3.8 Roey’s Ramble .................................................................................................................... 38 7.3.9 The Cutoff ........................................................................................................................... 39 7.3.10 Water Department Access Road ......................................................................................... 39 7.3.11 White Birch Trail ................................................................................................................ 39 7.3.12 Flat Rock Link Trail ............................................................................................................ 40 7.4 Flat Rock Wildlife Sanctuary ....................................................................................................... 41 7.4.1 Flat Rock Road Path ........................................................................................................... 41 7.4.2 Hemlock Hill Path ............................................................................................................... 43 7.4.3 Laurel Path .......................................................................................................................... 43 7.4.4 Lightning Path ..................................................................................................................... 44 7.4.5 Link Path ............................................................................................................................. 44 7.4.6 Loop Path ............................................................................................................................ 45 7.4.7 Main Path ............................................................................................................................ 46 7.4.8 Pigpen Path ......................................................................................................................... 46 7.4.9 Pipeline Path ....................................................................................................................... 47 7.4.10 Scott Road Path ................................................................................................................... 48 7.4.11 Swamp Path ........................................................................................................................ 48 7.4.12 The Bald Path ...................................................................................................................... 49 7.4.13 White Birch Path ................................................................................................................. 49 7.5 Northern Watershed Trail Network .............................................................................................. 51 7.5.1 History and background on the Northern Watershed .......................................................... 51 7.5.2 General Rules .....................................................................................................................