2022 RTP Grant
The Bonney Woods Corporation has been awarded a 2022 Recreational Trails Project Grant for maintenance and expansion of the Powder House Hill Trails.
Notices and Announcements
Bonney Woods Corp is accepting Bids for Trails Rehabilitation
The Bonney Woods Corp. is soliciting bids for the Powder House Hill Trail Rehabilitation Projects - RTP2251. This is a cooperative effort between Bonney Woods Corporation, Maine Recreational Trails Program and is partially funded by a Federal Highway grant.
We have the following three sections of trails to be rehabilitated: Pole Line Parkwway, Old Well Trail and Orchard Street Access Trail. Complete Bid Documents are here on our web page.
Bids are due 4/18/22, 10:00 PM. Bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes marked Peter Broderick "Powder House Hill Trail Rehabilitation" 261 Main Street Farmington, ME 04938
Bonney Woods Corp. reserves the right to refuse any and all bids. Any questions or to arrange a pre-bid site visit, please contact Peter Broderick at 207-670-5778. The Bonney Woods Corp appreciates your interest in this bid.
Part 1: Pole Line Parkway
The Powerline Parkway Trail is a multiuse route that can connect Mount Blue Middle School with the trail network on Powder House Hill. The route is 1,976 feet long and provides access to several trails on the hill. The lower portion of the route is used primarily in winter. Completion of the proposed reconstruction will provide year-round access. The work should also allow low snow passage over the difficult roadside crossing in winter. Two trail building approaches are planned, the lower 900 feet will support a gravel surfaced trail, the upper portions generally rework the natural surfaces to provide better drainage and a raised tread surface. Each section is envisioned as a six-foot-wide smooth, easy, and maintainable surface. It is used mostly by runners, cyclist, those out for a brisk walk, as well as snowmobilers and Nordic skiers in winter. The ground is typical of powerlines, some areas are maintainable, and have grassy surfaces with moderate undulations. Other areas are unmaintainable, these are rocky, full of hummocks, and soft. The route has a couple of pitches in the 10%- 15% range as it climbs north and away from the road. After the first 800’ the hill flattens and grades range in the 5-10% range. The plan calls for smoothing all of the surfaces, adding three additional culverts, several new ditches, adding fill to taper and raise the tread between undulation, and removing the bigger rocks. Upper portions will require minor relocations, ditching, and a base layer of 1 1⁄2” crushed stone over fabric. Surfacing on the lower sections will include geotextile fabric, six inches of 1 1⁄2” crushed rock, and 6-8” of 3⁄4” crushed gravel. Earthwork including grubbing, grading, and filling will be completed using a tracked loader, vibratory roller and excavator. Surface will be compacted, reseeded, and provide a firm, stable surface. Geotextile fabric will be layered under the gravels and where required on the higher ground.
Part 2: Old Wells Trail
The Old Wells Trail is 500 feet long and provides access to remnants of two old Town wells. This route is one of the primary access trails from the parking area to many trails on Powder House Hill. This route terminates at one of the wells, now a small pond, a bench, and a picnic table. The pond provides room for young children to puddle and dogs a place to rinse before heading towards Bonney Woods and downtown neighborhoods. The trail passes through an Eastern Hemlock stand, it is eight feet wide. It used mostly by older folks, families with young children and as an initial access by walkers. This route has some crushed stone, lots of wood chip, and mostly a forest duff surface. The ground, typical of many hemlock stands, is full of roots, hummocks, and has poorly defined drainage routes. The trail is in use, but is difficult to negotiate for the elderly and youngest users. The goal is to provide a very easy and stable route to the pond, and harden this trunk line trail. The plan calls for two additional culverts, several new ditches, fill to taper steep grades at hummocks, removal of bigger roots, rocks, and the wood chips, as well as resurfacing with eight inches of 3⁄4” crushed gravel. Surfacing the picnic table area is also planned. Not specifically an accessible route, several 10% pitches run longer than recommended, attempts to bring these pitches under 8% are planned. Still the route holds average grades of 3,42%. This trail is managed solely for foot traffic. Earthwork including grubbing, grading, and filling will be completed using a tracked loader and mini excavator. Surface compaction with a plate compactor is expected to provide a firm and stable surface for this short run. Geotextile fabric was already layered and will be added in areas where it doesn’t exist.
Part 3: Orchard Street Entrance
The Orchard Street Access Trail is 348 feet long. The trail provides access for downtown neighborhoods to the ten-acre Bonney Woods, parcel. Used mostly for recreation, the trail network is two blocks from the elementary school, three blocks from many university buildings and adjacent to a physical rehabilitation and living center. The trails are used as the quick way to town, but also as an access route from town to the larger Powder House Hill parcels across Titcom Hill Road. The trails at Bonney Woods are obvious and mostly smooth. This route has a crushed stone surface but is low and grown in. It is in use, but is rough. A small 15’ high hummock sits at the end of the original route. This old route climbs the hummock on a narrow, slightly akimbo rock staircase that has no scree. Most users avoid the rocks, and the hillside route has widened and formed erosion ruts. The planned relocation passes beneath the knoll but also raises the tread through the damp area and hold grades under 5%. This trail is generally a single six-foot wide lane and is managed solely for foot traffic. It can be ideal for the mobility impaired, walkers, running, and snowshoeing, the trail proposed relocation is easy. This plan calls for a adding few drainage pipes surrounded by 1 1⁄2” crushed stone. These will allow storm water passage to an existing Town waste pipe crossing the property just east of the trail. Additional surfacing with 8” of 3⁄4” crushed gravel will raise the tread through the low area, and provide a dry access trail. Earthwork including grubbing, grading, and filling will be completed using a tracked loader or small tractor. Compaction with a plate compactor is expected to provide a firm and stable surface for this short run. Geotextile fabric was already layered and will support additional crushed gravel.