A plan for the Wilton Reservoir has emerged, including an expanded beach area, a 20-car parking lot, and light management of the area.
A community committee, appointed by the Select Board, presented its recommendations to the board during its meeting Monday.
“When I boil down what I’m hearing, the people want to use the reservoir, they want to keep it in its most natural state possible, at it’s lowest cost possible, and the recommendations that are set forth, in my opinion are completely adequate,” Select Board Chair Matt Fish said Monday.
The plan presents three stages of work, some of which would be implemented in the spring, and some later in 2021.
Phase one would include one of the most requested items by users of the reservoir: Dedicated parking. The town has identified a cleared area that was formerly used for logging equipment that could be turned into a gravel or grass parking lot and provide access to the reservoir beach and reservoir peninsula.
The proposal also included an increased beach area in the year 2021, by adding sand to an area to the west of the current beach along Sand Hill Road. The current beach could be designated as a dog-friendly area, and the new beach area would be exclusively for swimming.
Fishing would be prohibited at the beach area during the summer months.
The committee recommended that the Conservation Commission be charged with the management of the property, and that there be a strict carry-in, carry-out policy for trash. The plan also called for the installation of a kiosk with a small receptacle for dog and fishing waste.
The committee recommended forming a volunteer group for the maintenance of the reservoir and to collect donations for its ongoing maintenance, and installing a donation box at the parking lot.
The board did not make any final decisions on the plan, and put it on the agenda to continue discussions during its next meeting.