A brief meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission on March 6 revealed a rough-timeline for the construction of the Point Road path that will install a walking and bicycling path in that part of town.
Commission Chair John Rockwell reported in the Zoom-cast meeting that the $48,689 contract for the work has been signed, and construction likely will start soon. He said that if the contractor has not started by the time of the panel’s next meeting, he will seek more input from that contractor and report what that start date will be, and he will do so in a “broadcast email” to all members.
He and Marion Conservation Commission member Shaun Watson estimated, however, that substantial work likely will be completed by Memorial Day. Watson asked, if the contractor starts in a couple of weeks, what is the estimated end date? Rockwell responded by noting that part of the contract is installing two 2700-foot-long grass strips. Watson answered that the key will be that the contractor will not want to start sooner than he would be able to get the grass established. “I would assume the grass would be the last thing he would do,” Watson said.
Rockwell agreed when Watson added, “If he starts within the next several weeks, you’re probably looking at substantial completion by Memorial Day.”
Before the commission moved on from that agenda item, Kerri Reynolds of 65 Joann Drive expressed her concerns over the fact the contract describes the project as merely a walking path. She said she wanted to make sure the road surface would be hard enough for bicycling and baby strollers. Rockwell assured her that, in fact, the path will have a hard gravel surface. “We have specified a very robust compactor to go over the material once it’s been added,” Rockwell said. “It’s important to us that everybody can use it. I like to call it a ‘bike hike’.”
The commission ended its agenda with a presentation regarding a project being planned by Bridgewater State University researchers at Grassy Bog. Bridgewater State graduate student Anatash Sayor informed the board that Grassy Bog is one of 10 abandoned or restored cranberry bogs across Southeastern Massachusetts being studied to see “how healthy” they are in terms of the stream’s ecosystems, its animal species and plant life.
The commission did not set its next meeting before adjourning.
Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco