To: New Hartford Board of Selectmen: Dan Jerram, Bruce Greczyk, Tom Klebart

From: Jean Cronauer, member, Brodie South Study Committee

Re: Saving the Landscape Character of Brodie South – who owns the park? Is it the First Selectman, one interest group or all of us residents and taxpayers of New Hartford?

The Issue

Last week, August 8-12, members of the town maintenance crew reported to neighbors and other citizens that the First Selectman was planning and had directed them to cut the major stand of trees at Brodie South and mow more of the fields to facilitate expansion of the football practice area. An abutting neighbor of Brodie South has written to the BOS in opposition to these actions. Numerous citizens called or emailed the First Selectman about the issue.

However, none of the stakeholder groups such as Recreation, Friends of Brodie, Youth Sports, Conservation, Open Space Commissions have been informed, consulted or involved in any discussions or decisions regarding tree removal or changing the mowing schedule of the ground-nesting bird habitat.

Permanent damage to the natural resources of Brodie South is not justified to satisfy the needs of one park user (football) over the long term needs of many other park users: walkers, hikers, skiers, scouts, bird watchers, nature study, picnicers, dog walkers etc especially since football’s use of Brodie South is only temporary and seasonal.

Background

The Brodie South Study Committee was formed in 2010 to develop a long range plan for uses of Brodie South. At the time, there was interest in Brodie South from both Senior Citizens and youth football. An in-depth natural resource inventory of the land was conducted and can be found at New Hartford Plus.

Subsequently, the Senior Citizen Group formally withdrew their interest in a Senior Center at Brodie South in favor of a site at Brodie North with parking and infrastructure.

Members of the Study Committee represent the New Hartford Recreation Commission, Friends of Brodie, Youth Sports, Conservation Commission and Open Space Preservation Commission. Each group represented on the study committee drafted their position statement for uses of the park. Recreation Commission is on record as stating that Brodie South is not the best site for football fields. Friends of Brodie are on record as opposing athletic fields at Brodie South. Conservation has recommended the permanent preservation of the Park. Open Space has recommended a comprehensive long range planning approach for athletic fields that will secure enough land to meet long term town recreation needs.

In March of 2011, the study committee notified the townspeople via the Recreation Newsletter that Youth Sports was seeking “a large, well located flat parcel of land of 5-10 acres” for athletic fields.

The study committee currently has several properties under consideration for potential athletic fields. One of these is above Antolini School and one is a level well drained site in the south of town. Developing Athletic fields at Brodie South is seen only a last resort. The Paxton (highly erodible) Soils, slopes, public drinking water supply watershed, lack of infrastructure and narrow rural road all make development of athletic fields at Brodie South prohibitively difficult and expensive.

The issues raised by the neighbors demonstrate clearly that football is not a compatible use in a residential area such as Niles Road. Good planning requires sufficient buffering between such uses as exists at Brown’s Corner.

The youth football program is regional and enrolls children from surrounding towns. Football fields already exist at Torrington Middle School and at Gilbert School. Why should developing infrastructure for youth football be the sole responsibility of New Hartford? Lands at the Regional Refuse site could be jointly developed by New Hartford and Barkhamsted.

Natural Resource Value of the Trees at Brodie South

The stand of Norway Spruce Trees in question may be inconveniently placed for football practice; they are magnificently placed in the view of many others. Trees of this quality would be described as arboretum or estate specimens for their size, age and spread. They have been growing undisturbed for nearly 100 years or more all the while providing all kinds of benefits to us in New Hartford.

A certified forester who examined the trees on August 15, 2011 described them: “The Norway Spruce trees that have not been limbed have wide crowns that extend all the way to the ground and provide ground cover that is used by all sorts of wildlife. I saw piles (middens) of spruce seeds probably left by red squirrels, and a few burrows among the roots of the larger trees.

The uncut clump of spruce north of the football field and the goal posts contains the largest specimen tree, which is 35″ (DBH: diameter at breast height), about 100 years old, and just under 100 feet tall (95 feet), with a spread of over 40 feet. Some of the others are the same age or close, and some are probably younger.

I really love that part of Brodie, with its big wide-open spaces and wildlife meadows. The spruce trees are an important part of that because when I’m back in the meadows they screen the goalposts, port-a-potty, etc. I would hate to see them removed, or even any more pruning. “

These trees are absorbing tremendous amounts of water thus preventing the fields from being soggy and unusable. Removing them would permanently alter the hydrology of the site especially since the rest of the field has been compacted from mowing and traffic and does not drain as efficiently as the forested portion.

The habitat value of these trees for birds and a variety of other wildlife is immense. In addition they provide clean air for all of us and let’s not forget that all of these Ecosystem Services are provided every day for FREE. Their majestic scenic beauty and landscape value is irreplaceable.

Conclusion

In summary, the trees at Brodie South are a valuable town asset owned by us all. We all have a stewardship responsibility to protect and maintain their health. Our selectmen have a special fiduciary duty to preserve and protect town assets. It would be extremely irresponsible for one selectman to order removal of these trees to satisfy the demands of a particular temporary user group. There would be quite an outcry if a First Selectman unilaterally ordered the removal or destruction of another asset such as a town owned building. These trees are no less valuable an asset.

Protecting town assets is not simply “operational” as the office of the First Selectman stated to a neighbor. It is the valid responsibility of the entire BOS as well as the various land use agencies in town.

There is absolutely no valid reason to consider damaging or destroying these trees. Effective government must be open and good decision making results from a consensus of all interested parties. Our elected officials are required to represent the needs of all citizens and work in a transparent, collaborative fashion.

No permanent changes to Brodie South should be considered until the Study Committee finishes its work and reports its findings to the town.

____________________

Jean Cronauer is a resident of New Hartford. Jean is the Executive Director of the Northwest Conservation District.

The stand of trees in question are shown in the center of this image. Photo: Maria Moore

The meadow area at Brodie South which provides a habitat for birds, butterflies, bees and dragonflies, among other species. Photo: Maria Moore

Parking at Brodie South as dusk begins to fall during football practice which takes place from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. three evenings per week. Photo: Maria Moore