WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission set condition last night for installation of a floating bridge at Stanley Park to replace a bridge damaged during the freak October snowstorm of 2011.
Consultant Rob Levesque, of R. Levesque Associates, presented details of the proposed bridge project to the commission last night. Levesque said the proposed bridge has been designed to minimize environmental impacts on the Little River wetland system and that the damaged bridge, which has been removed, was part of the wildlife trail.
“Stanley Park is trying to replace the bridge to reestablish the trail,” Levesque said. “There are a number of resource areas in the scope of work, so we came up with an innovative idea: a floatable bridge.”
Levesque said the bridge, which can be removed, is installed in interlocking sections.
“The idea is to have small removable sections which can be taken out of the water in an emergency, such as a flood, and seasonally,” Levesque said. “Because it floats on the water, it displaces a minor amount of water and creates a minimal disturbance.”
The bridge sections are supported on pilings that screw together and can also be removed to eliminate obstructions to the flow of water. The pilings also have stops to prevent the floatable bridge from grounding in periods of low water.
Conservation Coordinator Karen Leigh said “given the removable nature of the bridge, it will have no permanent environmental impact” on the surrounding resource areas.
The bridge is located at the end of the riverside boardwalk and provides access to trails located between branches of Little River. Normally several of the branches are dry and can be crossed on foot, but fill rapidly when water is released at Cobble Mountain Reservoir for hydroelectric generation, and during periods of heavy rain.
Levesque said that some brush and damaged trees will be removed as part of the work to reopen the walking trail system.
Commissioner Thomas Sharp commended the park administration for its efforts to protect the park environment and to provide residents access to the entire park facilities, including the nature preserve.
“Stanley Park is a jewel for the city,” Sharp said. “All of its projects are first rate.”
