Memo 2
DRAFT/ kjm 4/2/2024
Memorandum of Understanding
Grantor: Piotr Masiakowski
Grantee: Town of New Ashford/ Town of New Ashford Conservation Commission
The following memorandum of understanding came about because the Town of New Ashford was seeking a solution to Sugarloaf Trailhead parking on Ingraham Road.
In FY22, with a grant from EOEA, the town created a small parking area off of the Bauer Road of the eastern end of the Sugarloaf Trail. The western end of the Sugarloaf Trail ends in Ingraham Road directly across from the driveway of Piotr Masiakowski.
Piotr Masiakowski has offered to donate a small parcel of his land to the New Ashford Conservation Commission for the purpose of parking to replicate a similar parking area on Ingraham Road Trail Head. The gift parcel is approximately 80 feet along Ingraham Road and 60 feet in depth. Exact measurements to be determined by a surveyor paid by the town. The actual parking area will be sized for six cars not to exceed the 80 feet by 60 feet parcel. The town with the assistance of the grant money will construct the parking area which will have a gravel or crushed stone surface. It will never be paved to allow for natural drainage. Boulders will be spaced along the permitted area once the parking area is usable.
The following goals to enhance the project are:
Parking area will be snow plowed in winter – goal for FY26/27 snow plowing contract
Purchase a picnic table and place on grassy area next adjacent parking space
If financially feasible purchase ruggedized trail cameras for monitoring
Install no littering signs optimally visible to the parking area
Install trail head markers and directional signs to from the parking area to the trailhead
Annual maintenance to address any potholes and/or vegetation management on parking lot surface
The town will post signs designating public parking at 3 different locations as determined by the Road Commissioner.
For planning, the distance from Ronnie's Mail order entrance to first parking area on west side approximately 0.2 miles. The distance to the second sign on the east side will be 0.9 miles from the Ronnie's entrance. The distance to the NEW parking area on the west side of Ingraham Road is 1.1 miles from Ronnie's entrance. The town with signage, will prohibit parking along Ingraham Road as off-street parking has now been provided. This will allow for compliant tow management by the governing local authorities
The town will reclaim material that has built up on the road shoulders through the decades of road maintenance to use as fill to bring the parking area up to grade. The Town will use the concrete blocks no longer used to close the road in winter to stabilize the parking area, and if feasible will move the gate that was used to close the road until the plow zone was extended to the current location.
The Selectboard will consider posting a weight limit for trucks and other measures such as placing a Seasonal Use road sign after Kelly Lane.
The Town of New Ashford is very appreciative of Piotr Masiakowski’s generous donation to enhance the Sugarloaf Trail experience for generations to come.
