“We’re not looking to wipe out 1,620 acres of forest.”
Haverhill City Councilor Thomas Sullivan.
A public meeting is scheduled Saturday morning to review Winnekenni Park tree cutting.
Haverhill’s Forest Management Committee and conservation department are expected to provide updates on the “hemlock tree salvage project” and other improvements around Winnekenni castle grounds. Speaking at this week’s city council meeting, Environmental Health Technician Rob Moore said it would be the second of such informative meetings in three months.
“Back in early September, we conducted one to engage interest from the residents about a second project, that being the Merrill Trail project in the Winnekenni Park. There was certainly interest in that about 10 or 12 people attended. Four had attended the site walk to see the Merrill trail grounds. Since that time, we concluded this castle vista component, as well. And we have more detail, we actually have painted trees for folks to look at,” Moore said.
Haverhill City Councilor Thomas Sullivan, a member of the Forest Management Committee, supports the hemlock project moving forward. He said the tree-cutting projects at Winnekenni and other city trail sites are about taking care of long-neglected forest areas. He points out each tree-cutting area is different. “We’re not looking to wipe out 1,620 acres of forests.”
“What we’re trying to do is preserve and regenerate forests that will be needed to be done somehow, someway, sometime. Why not get a good start on it now so that future generations can enjoy these public areas. And that’s really the goal. Particularly, for me, the goal up at Winnekenni, because there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ve got hundreds and hundreds of acres that deserve a little better attention than they have received over the past hundred years,” Sullivan said.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, with a presentation at the castle, followed by a site walk to view current and proposed project areas.