Slopes

Flynt Park and the Keep Homestead Museum have very few trails that fit accessibility guidelines, limiting the number of people who can enjoy the site.

f lyn T P ar K s lo P es

The highest point in Flynt Park is the peak of Mount Ella at 827 feet above sea level and the lowest point is on the northeast corner at 522 feet above sea level. The steepest slopes at Flynt Park are located on the eastern side between the playing fields and the peak of Mount Ella. This area is dominated by slopes of over twenty percent. Access to the peak of Mount Ella and the picnic area overlook from the Flynt Park is limited to people who can manage these steep slopes. On the northeast side where a great portion of the disc golf course is located, slopes between twelve and twenty percent dominate. In general, on the western side of Flynt Park, gentler slopes of less than twelve percent, with areas of less than eight percent, are common.

Sighting an all-persons trail that connects to the picnic overlook from Flynt Park might be challenging due to the steep slopes that bisect the property.

K ee P h o M es T ead M useu M s lo P es

The steepest slopes at the Keep Homestead Museum are located in the northern section of the property, as well as adjacent to the buildings. Gentler slopes are present along the farm fields located on the south, on the western side of the property, and along the intermittent brook that runs south to north on the eastern edge of the property. Along this brook, slopes of less than twelve percent are present as well as the start of three different trails.

The farm field edges and the area surrounding the pond might be better suited for an all-persons trail. In some areas, the natural slopes will need to be altered to meet accessibility guidelines.

T rail s lo P es

The majority of the trails at both properties are above eight percent, and are not an all-persons trail. Larger trail segments at less than approximately eight percent are located on the western side of the Flynt Park, along a Flynt Park trail that connects to the Hillcrest Cemetery (a town-owned cemetery), along Flynt Park Chestnut Road Trail, and along the Christmas Fern Trail at the Keep Homestead Museum.

Though the salvage logging road operation created new trails and opened the area to more trail users, these trails are not accessible to many users due to their steepness, cross slope, some exposed bedrock, and trail depressions. On a site visit, a forty-five degree slope was documented at one of the logging road trails. Additionally, the steepness and bareness along some of these logging road trails are contributing to erosion which impacts the health of the environment.

To create an all-persons trail on site, creating new trails might be necessary. Additionally, in a new trail alignment, portions of trails might need to be rerouted, graded or closed off for improved visitor accessibility and experience, and to promote ecological health, due to erosion concerns.