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03/24/2020 02:01 PMAs restrictions on movement and activities become more strict and widespread as governments continue to fight the spread of the coronavirus, some experts and town officials are reminding residents that spending all day indoors is not healthy either, and that there are safe ways and places to spend time outside.
Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard recently put together an email blast encouraging Guilford residents to find positive, healthy, and even relaxing ways to get out of doors while maintaining social distancing and other healthy practices, and representatives from the Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT) said that its 3,000 acres trails and parks are perfect for people and families who are feeling the stress and anxiety of a prolonged quarantine.
“Everything is so negative right now,” Maynard said. “Let’s tell people what they can do. Instead of saying, don’t do this, don’t do that. Let’s put some ‘do’s’ in there.”
While Maynard and others continue to emphasize the vital importance of social distancing and hygiene practices—keeping a six-foot buffer between yourself and others in public, avoiding touching things such as doorknobs or fence posts, and washing your hands regularly—there is nothing unhealthy about getting outside of a hike or walk.
Though the town has shut down all playgrounds in response to the pandemic, most of Guilford’s parks remain open, according to Maynard. GLCT Director Bill Bloss said that the organization’s large array of hiking and walking trails also remain open and available to the public.
“It’s one of the only places that’s still there for us,” said GLCT Secretary Sarah Williams. “And it’s all free for everyone to access.”
The largest single-town land trust in the state in terms of area, GLCT seeks to preserve land for passive recreation and conservation purposes. It recently moved to purchase 121 acres of land near Bluff Head—in part from a “extremely generous” donation from the Bartlett family, according to Williams, though the organization will be fundraising to cover about $425,000 in costs for that property.
Bloss detailed a wide variety of outdoor hiking, walking, or wildlife viewing opportunities on GLCT properties.
Westwoods, accessible off of Dunk Rock Road west of Route 1 and from Peddlers Road south of I-95, is GLCT’s most popular and well-known trail area, according to Bloss, and with 39 miles of paths on 1,200 acres, it has plenty of room for residents to spread out.
The White Circle Trail in Westwoods, reachable from the Peddlers Road entrance, is particularly well-suited for families with young children, Bloss said, with plank-walks and opportunities to view wildlife in the nearby salt marshes.
In North Guilford, Bloss recommended Broomstick Ledges as a slightly more challenging series of trails, reached from Durham Road just north of Great Hill Road. Bloss described that area as having some “really beautiful views,” passing by a variety of vernal pools, with more potential of seeing wildlife.
A lesser known park area is the Jared Eliot Preserve, which offers 36 acres of hiking and picnicking areas off Mulberry Farms Road and gives good access to the West River, according to Bloss, and is another good place to bring children.
GLCT’s website guilfordlandtrust.org offers maps, driving directions, and other information about its properties, as well as links to an app to help navigate the trails.
On the town’s side, Maynard said residents were encouraged to trek around Bittner Park, Jacobs Beach, Chittenden Park, Chaffinch Island Park, Barbara Pine Beach, and Shell Beach. He said he had heard that a good number of people had continued to use Jacobs Beach and nearby outdoor areas while maintaining those good practices.
The dog park is also open, though Maynard said Health Director Dennis Johnson specifically is telling people to avoid touching the gate with their hands.
The skate park at Bittner Park is also open, Maynard said, as is the disc golf course, though Maynard said he was not sure if he could recommend residents use that, as players are likely to have to touch the metal baskets once their discs go in.
But Maynard emphasized that there are plenty of safe, fun and positive things to do outside, whether it is collecting seashells at the beach, holding a scavenger hunt in a park, or even just cleaning up your own yard—again, as long as all the proper practices are followed, and people don’t congregate.
“If we all stay shut up in our houses...that’s not so healthy anyway. Get outside in the fresh air...I would strongly encourage that,” Maynard said. “What’s healthier than getting outside and getting fresh air?”
A list of Guilford’s parks can be found at www.guilfordparkrec.com.
For maps, directions, or to donate to GLCT or to donate, visit guilfordlandtrust.org.