Design Spotlight: Wetland Area Trails

New trail segments are created and woven into the existing trails to create an all-persons trail that a greater diversity of people can use.

The all-persons trail begins at the parking lot of the Keep Homestead Museum, descends through a hayfield, and connects to a wetland boardwalk trail and another forest trail. Composed of a series of three shorter loops, these trails connect to each other and form a longer loop.

The trails traverse through a diversity of ecological interesting environments including a wetland, a deciduous forest, an early succession forest, and an extensive under story plant palette. Rest stops are incorporated throughout the trails to meet accessibility guidelines for an all-persons trail, and for the enjoyment of these landscapes. Boardwalks are placed along the wetland and wetter areas for the comfort of visitors throughout the seasons, and to minimize wetland disturbance. Additionally, two bridges are placed: one to cross an intermittent brook, and another one along a wetter area.

Wetland Boardwalk and Observation Platform

An observation platform is connected to the boardwalk, which invites visitors to gather, and to observe a wetland environment. Informative signs educate visitors on wetlands, providing an educational opportunity in addition to recreation.

Intermittent Brook Rest Stop

An extended rest stop and a bench is placed along the intermittent stream where visitors can rest and experience a diverse understory ecology, including ferns and skunk cabbage. The intermittent stream rest stop also provides a sight, hearing, and touch sensory experience.

Connecting Flynt Park and the Keep Homestead Museum

An all-persons trail connects Flynt Park and the Keep Homestead Museum by regrading the southern segment of the Chestnut Avenue Trail, which allows for a greater diversity of users to connect to Flynt Park's eastern side.