TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT: 
​East branch Community trails, Keene

Work will begin this season on the East Branch Community Trails - a new multi-use, non-motorized trail system in the Town of Keene.

The project is the result of a partnership between the Town of Keene, Keene Youth Commission and Barkeater Trails Alliance, who worked with Peduzzi Trail Contracting in 2021 to develop a concept plan for a new trail system and pump track system along with a phased approach to trail development. 

Work on Phase 1 will begin in May, 2022, with $50,000 in funding provided by BETA's Sterling Watchorn Trail Fund and a matching grant of $25,000 from the Stewart's Shops Foundation & Dake Family.  

Our fundraising goal for this summer is to raise an additional $25,000 to help complete Phase One and lay the foundation for Phase Two in 2023.  We're launching a fundraising campaign today - to support this project please donate here or click the button below.

Construction of the Phase 1 trails will bring over 2 miles of new trails to the Town of Keene.
To keep the community aspect at the forefront of the project, a series of multi-use trails is at the top of the priority list. These trails will allow hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners and non-motorized winter travel to access key points of the property and serve as the backbone of the larger trail system.  All trails will maintain a natural character by being built sustainably and with an effort to blend with the natural landscape. 

DONATE HERE

More on Phase One (refer to map above)
The easiest trails are closest to the trailhead and will offer a 1.1 mile loop with mellow grades and wider tread widths where terrain permits. With multiple locations for benches and the close proximity to parking, these trails will be ideal for quick walks or rides and be accessible to all ages and fitness levels. 

A singletrack-style trail will bring trail users higher up on the property, winding through open hardwood forests and passing rocky outcrops on the way to two potential vistas. For walkers, this will be a relatively easy and scenic hike to a worthy destination. 

For mountain bikers, this will serve as a climbing trail to access the bike specific trails planned in later phases. A short singletrack-style loop around the high point at the top of the climb will add some variety and mileage to the trails as well as access to additional bike specific and multi-use trails in future phases. 

Background
In 2021, the Keene Youth Commission came together with the Town of Keene, Barkeater Trails Alliance and members of the community. Their aim was to address the town of Keene’s  strategic plan goal to “provide safe, positive and ecologically sound recreation experiences for residents and visitors alike.”  More specifically we identified a need for more youth-oriented biking opportunities like pump tracks, as well as a new trail system in Keene to be designed to be inclusive to people of all ages and abilities, with some trails built for mountain biking only while others are designed to accommodate hiking and other non motorized recreation.

Planning, Construction and Stewardship
Through a site analysis of numerous locations in the town, this piece of Essex County owned land on Route 9N was identified as an ideal location to implement this vision. The property has enough space to include a pump track and bike skills area near the road and parking area as well as a scenic hillside to accommodate a community-oriented trail system. Terrain features include numerous outcrops and possible vistas that will be attractive destinations for walkers, trail runners and winter travel in addition to dry gullies and natural terraces that are favorable for mountain bike trails. 

In order to communicate the vision of this project, a conceptual plan was developed that outlined a potential trail system at this location. This concept plan allowed agreements for land use to be drafted, fundraising to be initiated, and helped to organize efforts toward construction of the trail system and accompanying skills area. A phased approach was decided on for the design and construction of this trail system in order to create realistic goals for fundraising, construction and community acceptance. 

The construction and further maintenance of the trail system will be conducted through BETA with an agreement similar to the one it has with other towns such as Elizabethtown and North Elba. BETA has contracted Peduzzi Trail Contracting, LLC to perform the majority of the design and construction. Luke Peduzzi is the owner/operator and a professional trail builder with many years of experience developing quality, sustainable trails for mountain biking and other human powered activities. He is a graduate of Keene Central School and resides in Jay.  ​

Multi-use trail constructed by Peduzzi Trails Contracting

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We have designed the new trail system to be a gathering place for our community, and the community helped decide on its new name.  

"East Branch Community Trails"
is the winner with 62% of the vote

The "Town Line" and "Downriver" names may be used for individual trails in the future.

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Photo taken this spring on the property. New trails will allow Keene residents to enjoy this beautiful forest and views of the Sentinel Range

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Thank you to the Stewart's Foundation / Dake Family for generously donating $25,000 to make it possible for us to begin work on Phase 1 of the new trail system this summer!

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This pavilion at the base of the East Branch Community Trail system dates back to at least the 1950s.

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