By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Marlborough – A neighbor's persistence, a mayor's vision and the hard work of a local Eagle Scout candidate and municipal employees and volunteers have all paid off as the city of Marlborough officially opened a new trail on Lake Williams Oct. 18.
The new trail, which is approximately one- mile long, starts in a small area adjacent to the Marlborough District Court, across from Williams Street. It then skirts along part of Lake Williams before it loops back to the start.
Tony Valerio, a resident who lives nearby, said he has long hoped to see just such a trail along the lake.
“I often thought it was such a waste that nothing was here,” he said, pointing to the area where the trail starts. “There were such beautiful Beech trees here that were covered up with brush.”
“So I started “bothering” people,” he said. “And then this administration with Mayor [Arthur] Vigeant really got behind it.”
At a press conference to announce the new trail, Vigeant agreed that this project has been a priority for him. ?It could not have been done, he noted, without the hard work of a local Eagle Scout candidate, Brenton Sullivan, the Department of Public Works (DPW) employees and summer interns who worked with the city's Conservation Commission.
The DPW, along with the summer interns, spent many hours, according to Priscilla Ryder, the city's conservation officer, clearing away brush and then constructing the actual trail.
Brenton, 16, is a resident of Marlborough and a junior at Hudson High School. For his project, he designed and constructed a boardwalk system where the trail crosses a large wetland and a bridge to span across the concrete spillway to Lake Williams. Before the actual work was done, he said, he spent many hours meeting with Ryder and other officials to discuss his proposal, as well as pursuing funding.
“My family donated some money as well as the [Marlborough] American Legion,” he said.
Although it was his project, Brenton noted that he could not have accomplished the work without the support of his friends, family members and fellow Troop 2 Scouts.
“I am so grateful for everyone's help. I could not have done it without them,” he added.
Ron LaFreniere, the DPW commissioner, also praised the work done by all involved.
“Residents are going to be able to see things [along the lake] that no one has seen before,” he added.
Brenton's project was just another example of how the local Boy Scouts had helped the city, Ryder noted.
“The Boy Scouts are always willing to be our work crews,” she added. “We love them!”
There is also parking and access available for the trail from Lizotte Drive, near the youth baseball fields, officials said.
“Because Lake Williams is a water supply, the trail can only be used for passive recreation,” Ryder noted.
Walking, jogging, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are the only permitted activities at this time.
A map of the new trial will soon be put up on the city's website, http://www.marlborough-ma.gov.
Vigeant noted that he had walked on “most of the trail” and was looking forward to his next hike.
“Everyone did a fantastic job,” he added. “It's a great addition to the city.”