By Jack Shaida, Stewardship & Land Protection Manager
The 444-acre Meadow Brook Preserve in Swanville is one of the Land Trust’s most ecologically diverse properties, protecting large swaths of open marsh, riparian habitat, and upland forest around Hurd’s Pond. To make it easier to access this Preserve and its wonderful trails the Land Trust recently built a new parking lot on Oak Hill Road at the Hauk Fry section of the Preserve. This 2-3 car lot at the trailhead allows for access to an easy, 0.8-mile trail to Meadow Brook. A 1.3-mile trail extension that will cross Meadow Brook and continue to Swan Lake Avenue is currently under construction and is accessible from this parking lot. This trail is nearly complete, but signage has yet to be installed. If you have never been, or are a frequent visitor, we hope you enjoy the new parking lot and the trail.
Big thanks to earthwork and landscaping contractor Garret Cross for his awesome work. The area around the lot was filled with invasive honeysuckle and multiflora rose, and Garret did an awesome job removing those harmful plants before building the lot. Thanks to volunteers Bob Olfenbuttel, Steve Bird, and Dan Reeve for there help installing the new kiosk and roadside sign.
Directions: From downtown Belfast, take High Street north out of town. Cross Route 1 and continue as the road turns into City Point Road, and then Oak Hill Road (stay right at the fork). After passing the Rail Trail City Point parking lot, reset your odometer, and continue 2.2 miles, the parking lot is on the right.
