SIGNS THE EAST-WEST IS COMING TO LIFE

Amidst the public health crisis and changes to the norms of civic participation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the East-West Trail Committee has been Park Spirit’s most active volunteer operation in 2020.

East-West Trail Committee Chair Rick Miller has led the group through a final push to complete outstanding work for the 2017 Recreational Trails Grant for the design and installation of informational and directional signage. This year, Miller has been coordinating the construction and installation of kiosk signs to be installed at 22 locations along the trail, working with local Eagle Scouts for installation assistance. As of this newsletter, sixteen of the kiosks have been completed and installed.

N. Lake Ave at Coal Mine Brook

Two-panel width kiosk installed near trail terminus at Lake Quinsigamond at the Coal Mine Brook trail entrance

Institute Park at Park Ave

Kiosk installed on pre-existing park sign at trail crossing at Park Avenue and Salisbury Streets at Institute Park

Coes Park

Two-panel width kiosk installed at Coes Park on Mill Street

Columbus Park

Kiosk installed on pre-existing park sign at park entrance at Columbus Park at Circuit Ave N.

Knights of Columbus Park

Single-panel width kiosk installed near parking lot at Knights of Columbus Park (Reed Field)

Newton Hill at Highland Street

Kiosk installed on pre-existing park sign at park entrance at Newton Hill at Elm Park on Highland Street

Hundreds of volunteer hours have been logged by the Committee to make the kiosks possible: Brittany Legasey has spearheaded the graphic design and research to outfit each kiosk with location-specific history and information, Conor McCormack contributed custom maps for each kiosk, and Greg Doerschler has assisted with research, writing, and design. Committee members Brian McCarthy and Matt Reidy have also readily advised and assisted.

In August, the East-West Trail Committee received approval from the state to expand the scope of the project to fund two murals to complement kiosks to be installed on park buildings at Beaver Brook Park and Binienda Beach. Conor McCormack worked with POW! WOW! Worcester to identify local artist Eamon Gillen to create both murals. Gillen completed the first mural at Binienda Beach in October, featuring wildlife that can be seen along the trail along with a colorful array of classic Worcester scenery. Gillen’s work on the mural at Beaver Brook Park along Mann Street is on-going, featuring many of the East-West Trail’s historic and cultural landmarks. 

The Committee is working on designs for six final kiosks and coordinating the purchase and installation of street signs, trail blazes, and granite posts to mark both trail terminuses prior to the deadline for the grant at the end of this year. 

The Committee wants to send a special thank you to Serrato Signs for their work printing the signs.

Written by Brittany Legasey with contributions from Rick Miller. Photos taken by Brittany Legasey and Rick Miller.