A public hearing will be held by the Estabrook Woods Access Study Committee on Monday evening, October 24 at 7 pm. The hearing will be held at the Town House in the second floor hearing room. The Committee welcomes public comment on proposed solutions to issues related to parking and visitor use in the Estabrook Woods.

The Estabrook Woods Access Study Committee was appointed by the Concord Select Board at the end of April, 2016, to consider and make recommendations to the Select Board on how to address the increased pressure for adequate and safe parking at access points to the Estabrook Woods, and other impacts from visitor use. The Committee held an earlier public hearing in June, and has been meeting every two weeks since as it gathers information and prepares recommendations for its final report. The Committee will discuss its process, share learnings, and present its draft recommendations at the hearing on October 24, and welcomes further public input, either at the hearing or through email at estabrookcommittee@concordma.gov

The Estabrook Woods is one of Concord’s largest intact natural areas, but it is unique because most of the land is privately owned and voluntarily protected from development through deed restrictions. Public access is permitted in some areas subject to the terms of the restrictions. For many years the Towns of Concord and Carlisle, the land trusts of Concord and Carlisle, private owners, and thoughtful visitors have worked together to protect and enjoy this beautiful and important natural area. Recent conflicts over parking, obstructions to driveways and public roadways, unruly visitors and/or animals, improperly disposed dog waste and litter, and conflicts between users led to the Select Board’s creation of the Committee.
Minutes of the committee’s meetings can be found at
concordma.gov/agendacenter.