First, a BIG THANKS to everyone who showed up last night for our first planning meeting for this years Sullivan Renaissance Project under the umbrella of Mountaindale Community Development Project, with a special thanks to Legislady Leni Binder who was a wealth of both information, and support for our vision for 2011. Want to also thank all the businesses here in town that had a presence at the meeting, including Diversified Realty Services, Radiant Yoga, HospitalityGreen, and our own Upstate Karate...as a small rural community, support from citizens, and our local Main Street business community is imperative to the success of these projects, so thank you very much everyone for showing up, contributing your ideas, asking questions, and being a part of this years project.Group consensus was found, and we will be doing a three component project in the area of our Mountaindale entrance to "Rails to Trails" this year as a Category B grant applicant.
Part 1-clean up, re-staging, and improving the formal entrance to the trail, building upon the bones of the entrance to give it a more formalized crisp look. This project will include some new landscaping elements, and builds upon work our volunteers have carried out in previous years as we look to build upon past successes as we take a previous project, and elevate it to the next level.
Part 2- Just inside the entrance off to the left is one of the original concrete blocks belonging to the old O&W lines that would have been used as a mounting block for various kinds of equipment. At almost six feet in length, and over two feet in height, this piece of history is a perfect backdrop for a small multi-season perennial bed, and if fund allow, perhaps a flowering ornamental for a beautiful spring POP just inside the entrance to "Rails to Trails", as well as serve to draw the eye into the trail, where part 3 of our project will be installed.
Part 3-Just down from part two of this project is an old concrete switching box (complete with rusted out hinges) as well as an old siding where cars/locomotives would be parked just off the main track. Phase one of this project will be the cleaning up of, and grooming of a large area of the woods from the front entrance of the Rail's to Trails back to and including this siding area including and encompassing the Switch Box. The siding area and switch box will see a large landscaping statement which will include the construction of a Mock of of the old O&W number 70 locomotive.
These three projects incorporate several elements that make them a perfect selection for this years project. First, we are building upon projects from previous years, both upgrading existing projects, and expanding their footprint and visual appeal. Secondly, are the historical elements that will embrace and bring into our projects actual relics from this bygone era, giving them new life as significant parts of our landscaping project. Additionally will be two environmental aspects (at least) to this project that are exciting. First we will be adding cans (or if we can find them old barrels) into the project that will be used for litter control/recycling of the debris that those using the trail may need to dispose of. Secondly, the sculptural element of our main project (the train) is going to be built in such a fashion as to act as a water collection system, thus allowing us to meet some of our project's water needs through the collection of, and reuse of rainwater.
Today we took our first measurements of the project spots, and this weekend are planning on taking extensive project photographs, begin the task of laying out some of the design plans. If you have questions or suggestions at this stage, or would like to volunteer for this years projects, please email Sherwood (http://www.blogger.com/news@mountaindaleproject.org) or give him a call at (845) 693-4513
