Hartland Completes ADA Accessible Trail at 17-Acre Wood

The Hartland Conservation Commission has successfully completed construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible trail at the 17-Acre Wood, a public parcel adjacent to Hartland Elementary School. This new trail provides improved access to outdoor recreation and educational opportunities for people of all abilities.

Project Background

The 17-Acre Wood is a wooded parcel that has been owned by the town since 2002, when developer Martin Jefferson Davis transferred the land to Hartland for $1 rather than face a tax sale. The property is adjacent to Hartland Elementary School and has been regularly used by students for outdoor education.

Planning for the accessible trail began several years ago. In 2019, the Hartland Conservation Commission reported working with Hartland Elementary School to "obtain a grant for the survey for a handicap accessible trail into the 17-Acre Wood" and had "contacted Timber and Stone to get on their schedule to develop this plan."

By 2022, the Commission announced they had "received a large grant to build an ADA-accessible trail down to the outdoor classrooms on the 17-Acre Wood." The project required careful planning, including a wetland delineation conducted by Arrowwood Environmental in 2023 as part of the trail project.

Trail Construction

Construction began in 2023, with Timber and Stone serving as the contractor for the project. In September 2023, the contractor completed the "cutting stage for the new trail, and hosted a Big Rig day when students were able to view and learn about the equipment."

By April 2024, the Conservation Commission was already planning for a celebration of the completed trail, noting in their list serve posts that the 17-Acre Wood "will soon feature an ADA-accessible trail, so that anyone will be able to enjoy the setting."

The trail was officially reported complete at the Hartland Selectboard Meeting on April 21, 2025, when Rob Anderegg from the Conservation Commission provided an update stating that "the ADA accessible trail at the 17-acre wood is complete."

Community Impact

The accessible trail provides a significant benefit to the community by making outdoor recreation and educational opportunities available to people of all abilities. The trail leads to outdoor classrooms that are used by Hartland Elementary School students.

Jennifer Waite, the longest-serving member of the Hartland Conservation Commission, highlighted the project as one of her proudest accomplishments, noting that she "raised money for a partnership project with our school to build an accessible trail to their outdoor classroom." Waite was recognized with a Hartland Conservation Award in 2023 for her service, "including playing a key role in the ADA-accessible trail for the 17-Acre Wood."

Future Plans

The Conservation Commission is planning a celebration event for the trail opening. In March 2025, the Commission discussed preparing for "a public event this spring to celebrate the completion of the accessible trail," which might "fit well with National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June." By April 2025, they confirmed that a "celebration for the accessible trail is likely this spring" with "a date to be chosen before classes end."

The Commission is also working on additional improvements, including measures to avoid erosion, installing signs, and amending the agreement between the school and the Town to define allowable uses and guidance for timing of public access. There is also potential for future expansion, with discussions of "a walking loop along the wetland to the south, following an old road" as a possible "future project for the Commission."

The completion of this accessible trail represents an important step in making Hartland's natural areas more inclusive and available to all community members, regardless of physical ability.