Board, police
chief warn against ATV use
By
Leslie H. Dixon / Daily News Staff
Sunday, July 31, 2005
MILFORD --
A walk down woodland trails, past sparkling lakeside parks, scenic vistas
and wildlife habitat with the noise of all-terrain vehicles in the
background simply don't mix.
That's
the problem officials are trying to head off
as more and more people find and use Milford's
Upper Charles Trail.
Once
completed, Milford's 6.4-mile stretch will run
through town from the Holliston town line to
the Hopkinton town line, providing access to
Milford Pond, Louisa Lake and the town forest.
The
first phase, which runs from the municipal parking
lot across from Sacred Heart Church on Main Street
to Dilla Street, has been completed. Funding
for the second phase will be sought at the fall
special Town Meeting.
The
trail is unfinished, but enthusiasts from as
far away from Florida have been spotted using
it.
"It's
a great use of their tax dollars," said Christine Pepin, a Florida
resident who is visiting friends in Milford and took her first ride on the
trail Thursday. Pepin, who has bicycled in the United States and across
Europe called Milford's trail "wonderful" and
said if the greenery is kept along the trail,
it will rival some of those she has traveled
on in Europe.
But
Upper Charles Trail Committee Chairman Reno DeLuzio
said people on unauthorized vehicles are beginning
to show up on the trail and that is causing problems.
"There
was a young fella zipping down the trail behind the Milford Water
Company," said DeLuzio.
An
all-terrain vehicle was spotted recently on an
unpaved portion of the trail where construction
equipment was being used.
The
trail was built to accommodate bicycling, walking,
skating, cross-country skiing but motorized vehicles,
with exceptions such as public safety vehicles
and electric motor scooters used by people with
physical handicaps, are prohibited.
"It's
dangerous," said DeLuzio said of the activity,
which is also illegal.
Bylaws
were developed with the assistance of Police
Chief Thomas O'Loughlin, who is also an attorney,
and have been approved by both town meeting and
the attorney general's office.
O'Loughlin
said the bylaw specifically prohibits motorized
vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles from the
Upper Charles Trail, but his officers will have
to patrol the trail on motorized vehicles.
"It's
the only way I can patrol the trail," said O'Loughlin.
O'Loughlin
said he has had no first-hand complaints of illegal
use of the trail but did receive a call from
DeLuzio about ATVs.
"I
passed it on to patrol," said O'Loughlin.
O'Loughlin
said ATV riders using the trail, whether on the
paved section or where it is under construction,
are breaking the law.
"It's
trespassing. Don't," he said.
Officials
say the illegal use is not only dangerous, but
results in more work costing additional money.
Each time someone crosses the trail where the
dirt has been graded but not paved, it means
the area has to be re-graded.
"People
should just hold off and let it be built and everyone will be able to
enjoy it," said O'Loughlin.
DeLuzio
said a key to successful monitoring is the formation
of the Friends of the Upper Charles River Trail.
Close to 30 people have joined so far. Anyone
interested in helping maintain and preserve the
trail is welcome to join, he said. DeLuzio can
be contacted at 36 Asylum Street, Milford, MA
01757, calling him at 508-473-7790 or e-mailing
him at reno@110.net.
Meetings
are held on the first Wednesday of each month
beginning at 7 p.m at the Senior Center on North
Bow Street.
Once
completed, the Upper Charles Trail will be approximately
27 miles and run from the downtown Framingham
commuter rail station, through Sherborn, Holliston,
Milford, Hopkinton and Ashland and back to Framingham.
Leslie H. Dixon
may be reached at 508-634-7521 or by e-mail at
ldixon@cnc.com.
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Police
Chief Thomas O'Loughlin |
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