Work Begins on Kensington Orchard Property
By David Huck | Correspondent at November 21, 2023 | 9:15 am | Print
Residents will have new hiking trails to use in the southern section of town now that work is underway on the former Kensington Orchards property on the Chamberlain Highway.
At the Town Council meeting on Nov. 4, officials gave approval to enter into a contract with Coastland Enterprises LLC to construct trails and make other improvements to the 55 acre parcel. The work is expect to cost around $134,000, funding which will come from bonds authorized for the purchase of the land more than a decade ago.
In 2012, the council gave approval to a management plan for the property, which is now being implemented. It includes the construction of a parking lot for about a dozen cars, trails, and a viewing area at the top of the ridge.
The scene from the top of the ridge will offer half-panoramic, but impressive views, according to Jim Mahoney, director of economic development. While not the highest point in the town’s cache of open space parcels, it offers prime views of area towns, Mahoney said.
“Because it was an orchard, it is relatively open and offers nice views to the west and south and north,” Mahoney said. “You can see the sun set toward West Peak or Ragged Mountain or look north toward Talcott Mountain.”
The town purchased the land, which is also known as the Bradley property, more than a decade ago. The parcel includes 55 acres at the front of the property and around 35 acres in the rear. At one point, officials were considering turning the land into athletic fields, but the topography and contamination due to past insecticide use led to lackluster support for the project.
The rear parcel was previously acquired as open space with assistance from the state and is part of the Hatchery Brook Conservation area.
There is a driveway that cuts through the parcel and connects to the former Girl’s Scout camp and which runs next to a home. The driveway will be relocated as part of the improvements to the property, but will be kept to provide access for maintenance, Mahoney said. A gate will be added.
Several trails are planned for the parcel, including ones that will go out onto the ridge to viewing areas, while others will connect into the Hatchery Brook Conservation area. All together, there will be 543 acres of interconnected open space.
Currently, much of the former orchard is overgrown with multi-flora rose, a prickly and invasive species. While a nuisance, it will actually help keep people away from areas where there is excessive amounts of the insecticide dieldrin, which was in wide use from the 1950s until the 1970s. Because of its toxicity to humans, it is banned in much of the world.
Officials are taking steps to mitigate exposure to the insecticide. This includes mixing soils and paving where the parking area will be, along with using wood chips in certain areas. Trails were also being placed in areas where the level of the insecticides are lesser than other areas on the property. Officials did extensive soil testing on the site and found areas with concentrations above “residential direct exposure levels.” Regardless, Mahoney said the levels are “not that extreme” and won’t be a cause for concern for those residents walking their dog.
Once the town closes on the purchase of 71 acres from the former Chotkowski orchard—located north of the Kensington Orchards—residents will be able to park at the new passive recreational area, walk through the Hatchery Brook Conservation area, through the Chotkowski orchard, and into Bicentennial Park.
Officials are hoping to close on that deal by the end of the year.
Work started on the Kensington Orchards improvements about a month ago and workers say that it should be completed by the end of the year.
Upon completion, the open space parcel will have a sign welcoming residents, similar to other parcels in town. A trail map will also be updated and added to the town’s website.
