The Wilton Select Board has put a concrete barrier at the trail head leading to Garwin Falls, after the trail was damaged by vehicles attempting to drive down the trail.
Select Board Chair Matt Fish said the board was contacted by the Winter Wanderers Snowmobile Club, whose members were concerned about the damage caused to the trail. Wilton owns the entrance, and about one-eighth of a mile of the trail, up to the dam, and beyond the dam the trail is owned by a private landowner, who allows public access to the land.
The trail was blocked off by a chain attached to two trees, Fish said, but someone had lifted the chain high enough to allow a vehicle underneath.
The Winter Wanderers have volunteered to donate a lockable gate for the entrance to the trail, but until that is installed, the Department of Public Works have placed a concrete Jersey barrier to prevent further vehicle damage. Fish said emergency services do not use their vehicles on the trail, but have executed rescues utilizing the fire department’s utility vehicle, and the barrier is not a detriment to those rescue operations.
Garwin Falls has become a popular tourist site, and Wilton has been struggling with complaints of cars lining the roadway, despite making the entire surrounding area a no parking and tow-away zone.
“We decided to act sooner, rather than later,” Fish said. “The weekend before last, there were already 12 cars there. It’s starting already. Garwin Falls has been problematic for the town of Wilton for the past four years, and it’s becoming increasingly problematic.”
The Select Board approved two new signs for the area, advertising the $100 fine for parking on the roadway and more prominently advertising it as a tow area. The town has had signs stolen from the area in the past.
“We’ve tried every available option to mitigate the problem up there, from signs, to increased enforcement and proposing a parking lot,” Fish said. “We’re going to have to just increase enforcement.”
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.