A Walk along the Follybrook Blvd Trail

AKA the "Heritage Way"

Images and Impressions
by Dr.Ken at Wethersfield.Net

 

This presentation by Dr.Ken and www.wethersfield.net is intended to pique the visitor's interest in one of the newest recreational resources in the Town of Wethersfield (TOW), the Folly Brook Boulevard (FBB) trail, also know as the "Heritage Way", from Nott Street (in the North) to Brimfield Street (in the South). There it will eventually tie into the trails planned for Mill Woods, to the southeast. {{NB: Thank C. Barber, a newcomer to Wethersfield, for having pointed out that we had originally misidentified Brimfield Street here. Ed.}} The FBB trail is currently (7/7/2002) under construction by Town forces. North of Wells Road, this twelve (12) foot wide trail is well constructed, relatively level and finished with a usually even layer of stone dust (fine crushed stone). This makes walking, running or bicycling manageable. However this surface is not conducive to rollerblading, rollerskating, etc. This section of the FBB trail runs along the western border of the Wethersfield High School Property and the eastern border of Wintergreen Woods. South of Wells Road, down to Brimfield, the trail is still only has a rough and uneven infrastructure of gravel and fill, not particularly good for anything other than walking at this time. This section of the FBB trail runs through strictly residential neighborhoods. With a trail of this width and finish, the hiker or user of the trail is not exposed to the underbrush which is thick along side the trail. The most common noxious weed along the trail is poison ivy (pix 1). With the purported good sized deer population of this part of Wethersfield, deer tick would be a problem if the hiker ventured off the graded trail to investigate various paths that disappear into the lands to either side of the trail. Our visit to the entire length of the FBB trail was on a beautiful, warm, sunny day, 7/6/2002. It was a simple, flat hike with no hills or hazards. Since the Folly Brook Boulevard right of way intersects with many east-west streets in town (including Wells Road and Nott Street) caution is needed in their crossing, despite the zebra crossing indicators. Don't expect anyone on these east-west streets to be driving below the posted limit; don't expect them to stop for any pedestrian in the zebra crossing areas either. The decorative plantings at the Nott Street intersection with the trail have been donated by and are under the green thumbs and watchful eyes of the Wethersfield Beautification Trust. To quote directly from the website of their Wethersfield Beautification Trust: < CLIK, then [BACK] here      "Heritage Way, now in construction, will be a bicycle / pedestrian path running from Mill Woods to the Community Center on Greenfield Street. Folly Brook Boulevard is being reconstructed to provide this trail, and the Wethersfield Beautification Trust is working with town Physical Services staff to beautify the trail." Knowing that the trail passes through several marshy areas, particularly in the vicinity of the high school and Wintergreen Woods, we dressed (probably overdressed): long sleeve shirt, pants, hat and an adequate application of insect repellant. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CLICK on each small image to enlarge it, then use [BACK] button or arrow to return here. Images, large or small, may be downloaded for personal off-line viewing by RIGHT-clicking on image and "Save Image AS". Images have been optimized for rapid download. Under each "thumbnail" image is the name of the larger, parent image displayed when the the thumbnail is "clicked." Having viewed the larger image, just hit the [Back] button. The numbered comments under each row of images corresponds to those images left to right.

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1. Poison ivy, that ubiquitous, noxious, sun-loving weed was found in many sections of the trail, even among the tempting flowers. 2. Cattails flourished in several marshy areas to the western side of the trail in the Wintergreen Woods area. Remember: marshy areas are along side stretches of the trail. 3. Approaching the western end of Church Street from the south. 4. A family of four approaches northern entrance of the FBB trail at Nott Street.
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1. Traffic speeds eastward along Nott Street at the northern end of the Folly Brook Boulevard trail. 2. A closer image of the same intersection, showing a metal "saw horse" identifying the Public Works department of the Town Of Wethersfield. As yet, there are no signs which officially designate the FBB trail the "Heritage Way." 3. The decorative plantings at the northern end of the trail at Nott Street represent the handiwork of Wethersfield Beautification Trust. < CLIK, then [BACK] here 4. A closer view of the same image area. The "006" sign alerts work crews that a natural gas line follows the FBB right of way underground.
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1. Young lad bikes on sidewalk in front of the northern entrance of the FBB trail. 2. Cropped image of next large image to be used at Wethersfield.net on Calendar / Kiosk page. 3. Two ladies out for a power walk along the FBB trail too. 4. Family of four bicyclists proceeding north on the FBB trail; the boys lead; mom and dad bring up the rear.
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1. Cropped image taken from larger picture in preceeding row; to be used on Calendar / Kiosk page at Wethersfield.net for a while. 2. On of many drainage culverts under the FBB trail to minimize the chance of its erosion during heavy rains with run-off. 3. In many locations along the trail, the metal saw horses placed to keep vehicular traffic off of the trail have been severely damaged and / or displaced (at Church St.) The Wethersfield Police will need to regularly patrol the trail, year round. 4. Another indication that a natural gas pipeline runs under or along side of the FBB trail; call before you dig!
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1. A cropped section of cattails. 2. Run-off from the WHS fields passes into marshy area on the western side of the trail: lush green algae. 3. A wild flower along side the trial; can anyone identify it? Let us know; thanks. The former webmaster for the Town of Wethersfield, Jeff Roller quickly responded with this: "... your purple flower is an ecologically dangerous plant. It is purple loosestrife. Please read a bit about this plant at LOOSESTRIFE." Thanks, Jeff. p/s the TOW forces have been notified! 4. The back of the "box" and bleachers at Catone Field at Wethersfield High School not far from the trail.
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1. The former parking lot for the Wintergreen Woods has become a temporary staging and storage area at the western end of Eagle Drive near the Wethersfield High School. 2. The sign identifying the parking area and entrance to Wintergreen Woods at the western end of Eagle Drive. 3. Signage at the intersection of the FBB trail and Wells Road. Hopefully soon, each point of entrance onto the trail will need to have signs posting its conditions for use. Motorized vehicles (2, 3, or 4-wheeled should be prohibited as well as snowmobiles in the winter - just in case it snows!) 4. The still to be refined "southern" half of the FBB trail beyond Wells Road. The trail is still rutted and irregularly covered with fill and gravel.
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1. A fine furry critter (brown rabbit) crossing the trail. 2. Even further south on the trail in the vicinity of Dudley and Dale Roads. 3. A little suburban 'homesteading' in the FBB Trail right of way: 4. Homeowner has built a vegetable garden in the right of way.
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1. Tall marsh grass grows along part of the trail (near Wethersfield High School). 2. The three drain pipes from under the athletic fields at Wethersfield High School empty into Wintergreen Woods; single culvert passes under the FBB Trail (previously pictures). 3. The southern end of the Folly Brook Boulevard trail's right of way at Brimfield Rd. On October 10, 2002, the Conservation Commission, Town of Wethersfield, whose idea the Heritage Way was, scheduled an opening ceremony at the Wintergreen Woods parking lot behind the WHS track. Wethersfield.net provided a heads-up to the community: Grab your Bike - Grab your Walking Shoes and join official opening of HERITAGE WAY multi-use trail on Sat: Oct.19 at 10:00AM at Wintergreen Woods parking lot behind the WHS track. Located in Follybrook Boulevard right of way. Hosted by Weth' Conservation Commission whose chairman offers these thoughts. Refreshments! <<--then [BACK] (10.12.2002)

  A service of
Kenneth E. Sokolowski, DPM
Podiatrist dba Foot Health Services
1177 Silas Deane Hwy
Wethersfield, CT

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Published: 07.07.2002
Revised: 10.12.2002

This presentations and images here are
(c)Copyright Kenneth E Sokolowski 2002. All rights are reserved.
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