Pownal Superfund Recreational Reuse Plan Kathryn Cunningham, Natalie DiNenno, and Johanna Wassermann Williams College Environmental Planning
Recreation Inventory Trails Children’s Recreation ● Strobridge Hiking Trails ● Pownal Elementary ● Broad Brook Playground ● South Stream Wildlife Area ● Center Street/Bartels ● The Dome ● Pownal Youth Baseball ● Mountain Meadow and Grace ATVs Niles River/Water Access ● Very few legal trails ● Clayton Park Beach Barber Pond ●
Mission Statement The mission of the Williams-Pownal Task Force is to... 1. work with the Pownal community to reuse the Tannery Superfund Site for recreation, 2. provide a space for social gathering, community engagement, and outdoor activity, 3. make site recommendations that are high need, high feasibility, and low cost.
Project Goals 1. Assist with GPS mapping of trails along the site 2. Help Pownal apply for a grant to develop trails along the berm by the Hoosic River/WWTF 3. Identify and assess community recreation needs 4. Recommend accessible, sustainable, and engaging recreation options for the Pownal community
What is a Superfund? ● Former contaminated site Often manufacturing, processing ● plants, landfills, mining sites ● Goal: clean up, remove hazardous materials, and reuse land for community benefit ● Pownal: ○ Former Tannery Clean-up completed in 2005 ○
Site Overview
Prior Studies and Reports 2001 Reuse Study ● 2004 Woodland Management Plan ● ● 2005 EPA Report ● 2017 Town Plan All have suggestions for reuse that we ● consider in our plan https://www3.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/pownal/24 0690.pdf
Legal Considerations and Contacts ● Digging Restrictions Floodplain ● ● Off-limit areas ● EPA and VT DEC approval needed ● Kevin Heine, EPA Jim Sullivan, BCRC ● Beth Goodman, GE ● Pittsfield Superfund
Interviews and Community Engagement Interviews/Contacts Site Visits and Other Meetings Bruce Martel Wyatt Vargas Recreation Task Force Meeting Nelson Brownell Kevin Heine Fifth Grade Site Design Jason Olansky Cory Campbell Trail Assessment Traci Cristofolini Jim Sullivan GPS Mapping Jim Henderson Shannon Barsotti Rebecca Dragon Ray & Dawn Rodrigues Bill Scully Lauren Stevens
Site Visit Summary Mapped with GPS: ● Existing trail along the berm Path from the edge of the WWT site to the ● hydro-plant (using access road) ● Trails in the lagoons Identified: ● Potential spots for river access/boat launches ● Walking and bike paths
GPS Trail Mapping
Map of Existing Trails: Fig. 1
Topographic Map: Fig. 2
Grant Information ● 2018 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) ○ Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation ● Example: Charlotte, Vermont Next year: Land and Water Conservation Fund ● Grant
2017 RTP Grant Pre-Application
Examples
Solvent Recovery Site (Southington, CT) ● Former hazardous waste treatment facility with lagoons Capped consolidated soils ● ● Construction of new trailheads connecting to Farmington Canal Heritage Trail ● Partnerships
GE Superfund Site (Pittsfield, MA) One of country’s largest Superfunds ● PCB contaminants found in groundwater, ● soil, wildlife, Housatonic River ● $200 million settlement with EPA Recreation center at Allendale School ● Baseball diamond, soccer field, jogging track, ○ playground
CCI Superfund (Olathe, KS) ● Former chemical recycling, storage, repackaging and distribution facility ● Partnerships Priorities: ● ○ Habitat Education and Recreation ○ ○ Nuisance Mitigation ● Now a community space and pollinator habitat
Chisman Creek Site (Hampton Roads, VA) Former site of ash dumping ● ● First Superfund site to be redeveloped ● Created a series of athletic fields ● Also unable to dig or use groundwater on the site ● Created ‘clean corridors’ for electricity wiring ● Successful because of intense collaboration between relevant groups
Partnerships ● Vermont Youth Conservation Corps ● Hoosic River Watershed Association (VYCC) (HooRWA) ● Mountain Bike Community ● Williamstown North Adams Bike Path Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association High School Community Service ● ● (VASA) ● Bennington County Regional ● Boy and Girl Scouts Commission ● Fire Department ● Bruce Martel (construction community) Pownal Elementary School Homeschool Community ● ●
Recommendations
Recreational Options and Alternatives 1. Hiking/walking trails 5. Picnic tables, trash cans and benches a. 3 foot trail b. 1.5 foot trail 6. Restrooms c. Natural trail a. Conventional 2. Bike path b. Porta Potty a. Pump track c. Composting toilet b. Use access roads 7. Boat Launch 3. Pavilion 8. Skating Rink a. Community constructed a. Freeze lagoon b. Professionally constructed b. EZ Ice Signage 9. Footbridge a. Necessary b. Educational
Hiking/Walking Trails Option A: 3 Foot-wide Trail Option B: 1.5 Foot-wide Trail Option C: Natural Trail Pros Pros : Pros: ● Half the material and cost ● Easiest to use ● Most cost-effective Cons : Cons Cons : Not as wide ● ● Expensive Signage, maintenance ● Requirements : Requirements : Requirements : ● Same as option 1, only 80 yds ● Materials, equipment, permits ● Permits, signage Costs : Costs : Costs : ● $22,500 for VYCC, imported ● $30k for VYCC $15k for VYCC ● ● $10-30/yard of material material tc
Bike Paths Option A: Pump Track Option B: Use Access Roads Pros: Pros: ● Low cost, community built ● No digging, imported material, or labor Cons: Cons: ● Digging obstacle labor-intensive ● Less exciting, small loop, shares road Requirements: Requirements: ● Dirt, manpower, shovels etc ● Signage Costs: Costs: Potentially borrowing equipment ● Signage ●
Pavilion Option A: Community Constructed Option B: Professionally Constructed Pros: Pros: ● Promote community engagement ● Experienced contractor ● Lower cost Cons: Cons: ● Expensive ● None Requirements: Requirements: ● Bidding process ● Materials and instruction guide ● Volunteer overseer
Signage Option A: Necessary Option B: Educational Pros: Pros: Requirements: ● People know exactly what ● Teach about site history they can do ● Create intentional, ● Design and install signs ● Accessibility organized space ● Safety ● Encourage tourism Costs: Cons: ● Covered by grant Cons: ● None ● May be more intrusive
Picnic Tables, Trash Cans, Benches Requirements: Pros: Someone to empty trash cans Comfortable space ● ● ● Accessibility Costs: Variety of activities ● ● Keep space clean ● VYCC: $7,500-$8,000 Cons: Material options: Installation considerations ● Wood ($350) ● ● Recycled plastic ($1000)
Restrooms Option A: Conventional Public Option B: Port-a-Potty Option C: Composting Toilet Restroom Pros: Pros: Pros: ● Lower cost ● Clean and hygienic ● Clean and hygienic ● Saves water Cons: ● Creates fertilizer Cons: ● Bad smell, unhygienic Cons: ● Expensive ● Maintenance ● Intrusive ● Unattractive ● Maintenance ● Maintenance Costs: Costs: Costs: ● Individual quote ● Varies ● $1500 - $8000
Boat Launch Pros: Requirements : ● Satisfy community need ● Easy access ● Make use of river ● Measurements for staircase ● Provide safe access to water ● Materials (wood or stone) ● Permit Cons: Costs : ● Not easily accessible/ may not be ADA compliant/ property restrictions ● VYCC: $15,000 Staircase out of wood ($1000) ● ● Staircase get damaged in flood ● Staircase out of stone (import/purchase) ● Staircase might disturb vegetation
Skating Pond Pros: Costs: ● Option 1: Freeze lagoon water: VYCC to clear ● Community need lagoon: $15,000-$30,000 Promote partnerships ● ○ Fire Department: low cost ● Potential revenue source ○ Unpredictable water/air temperatures ● Option 2: DIY Ice Rink (EZ Rink) Cons: ○ Built using no tools and on any surface in 60 minutes Might not appeal to all ● ○ Cost depends on size demographics Requires skates ● Size Kiddie Small Medium Large XL XXL Professional ● Pavilion too small for rink Dimensions 15x30 20x40 25x50 30x60 40x80 60x100 85x200 Weather dependent activity ● (ft.) Cost $1,900 $2,200 $2,900 $3,900 $5,900 $7,900 $14,900
Footbridge Pros: Requirements: Provide legal access to Taconic Trail Measurements ● ● System ● Location Expand WWTF hiking trails Materials ● ● ● Source of attraction to site Costs: Cons: ● Upwards of $166,000, which is >3x the Very costly in construction RTP grant ● ● Trails in forest need to be maintained
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