Current Projects
Current Projects: Seaside Park Trails Restoration Plan
Seaside Park was originally laid out in 1895. By 1902 a playground had been installed and in 1906 through 1947, additional land was acquired to expand the Park. It now consists of 33.7 acres of which we estimate about 20 are forested with trails. We also estimate there are about 4,000 feet of trails.
The Recreation and Parks Department approved the Trails Committee’s proposed Phase 1 plan in August of 2010 and Trail Crews started working in September.
Trails Committee Phase 1 Goals for Fall 2010 thru Spring 2011
1. Cut invasive plant species primarily adjacent to the two main trails being careful to limit work to vegetation located on town property.
2. Trim vegetation along the sides of Crow Fly Trail and where needed along the Seaside Cliffs Trail to make the two main trails more comfortable and to reduce exposure to ticks.
Future Trails Committee Goals
3. Repair eroded and muddy trail sections.
4. Regrade and re-route trail sections as needed.
5. Cut fallen limbs if they represent a danger to trail users.
6. Cut invasive plant species in the interior sections of Sea Side Park.
7. Protect views from knoll overlooking Marblehead Harbor with selective vegetative trimming.
8. Improve trail entrance signage.
9. Maintain and/or improve vegetative screening with neighboring houses.
10.Restore small pond(?).
Current Projects: Author’s Grove
In the spring of 2011 the Conservancy dedicated a planting of native trees to those who contributed to the book “Discovering Marblehead” published in 2001, also the year the Marblehead Conservancy was founded. This dedication is in the names of the principal authors, but all who contributed are given our most heartfelt thanks both for this wonderful guide to Marblehead’s open spaces and for their generosity in turning over the proceeds from sales of the book to the Marblehead Conservancy. By this action, the Conservancy, an all-volunteer organization, was funded to begin the mission. We are particularly grateful for what the book has done to enlighten Marblehead residents about the wonderful open spaces we enjoy.
Larry Simpson of Simpson Garden Design, an experienced local architect of gardens using native plants, developed a proposal for the grassy area known as the lower Lafayette St. entrance to the Forest River Conservation Area – opposite Carna Rd. The main feature of Larry’s design is the planting of six native Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) trees in the area. Additionally, there are low native bushes at the entrance near Lafayette St., plus three Eastern Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana) towards the far corner of the grassy area to screen the building atop Leggs Hill. We also provided a large stone sitting bench and another stone near the entrance with a bronze plaque noting the significance of the grove.
Because the Grove is on conservation land, Town Conservation Commission approval was required. After two presentations to the Commission (first the concept and then the final planting plan), the Commission expressed their endorsement of the idea and unanimously approved the plan.
We wish to note that this project was funded in part by the generosity of “Discovering Marblehead” author Beth Houghton’s estate, for which we are grateful.