Groton Open Space Association

Opinion: In Some Areas, Leave Only Footsteps

GROTON — The following opinion piece by Bruce McDermott of Mystic appeared July 20, 2009,  in The Day:

Regarding the Groton Open Space Association wanting to limit wheeled vehicles, dogs and horses from their property: if only such a thing may come to pass.

When we moved to Mystic many years ago, it was as much for the opportunity to walk the neighborhoods and local forests, as the ambience of the town. We are blessed with many fine woods walks nearby, in place, because of organizations like Avalonia, the Groton Open Space Association and the foresight of Groton.

But if one is of the mind that only footsteps should be left behind, they are decidedly out of sync with those who believe that they have a right to do whatever they want to in parks and woodlands, all in the name of their chosen activity. Consideration of others is not their problem, and the damage they do to these areas is just not part of their mental landscape. And they have a point. It is their park, too – if it’s a state park, of course.

Haley Farm is a mecca for people walking their dogs. Unfortunately, most ignore the posted signs and walk their dogs off leash. But at least most pick up after their dogs. Yet one must exercise caution as you still need a sharp eye for those who can’t be bothered.

Nearby Bluff Point trails have been completely denuded of grass cover because of trail bikes that have stripped them bare to rock. And worse, bikers will ride when the ground is wet, and so where once grassy areas existed, they have become muddy ponds. The ring path on the Mumford Cove side of the park is a quagmire and impassable to walkers except after a lengthy dry spell.

The park should repair the worst spots, but has not. I ride there too, but only on established paths when the ground is dry. I have confronted all-terrain vehicles at Haley farm, where they do spin-outs on the stone-dust paths, and motorcycles at the Copp property, where they have worn deep ruts. They simply ignore the prohibitive signs.

Horses are just beyond any legitimacy on a narrow woods path such as Moorelands, and will tear up the ground while leaving a great steaming pile of excrement right in the middle of your footpath. Ah, nature. It is not what one longs for on a contemplative outing. I guess horse owners aren’t bothered by that trifle, or perhaps they can’t find baggies big enough for that problem.

As members of Avalonia, and the Groton Open Space Association, which have some of the finest properties in the area open to all for passive recreation, can we not let some of our land be free from depredation by animals and vehicles, and kept as near as possible to an original state? There are those of us who would like our wishes for such an environment respected. And at least in some selected areas, we can really leave only footsteps behind.