Vine-cutting Ceremony Opens Agnes Bowen Boardwalk Reroute

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The reroute of the Agnes Bowen Trail is complete! We have moved about 500 feet of the trail off Beaver Brook Road and completed the 840 feet of new boardwalk through the wooded wetland. The new boardwalk is now officially open after a wonderful dedication program on Sunday, May 22. We hope you can find time to enjoy this wonderful new section of the trail. It is wet, remote, and loaded with many kinds of ferns, red maple, alder, blueberry, and hemlock. It is a unique ecosystem and is a delight to explore. Walking there is like stepping into another world.

Our opening ceremony included guests from DEEP, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, Senator Witkos, and a surprise visit from Agnes Bowen* herself! (She died in 1925). “Agnes” (third from the left in the “ribbon cutting” ceremony shown below) was very happy with the work FALPS has done and just loved the new trail work!

Both the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation provided grant funds for the project. Other funds came from a FALPS fundraiser last fall and from our treasury. All labor was done by FALPS volunteers.

It is a wonderful addition to the forest and we hope you get out and enjoy it.

Hope to see you in the woods!

*From https://falps.org/our-forests/: “As the secretary of the Barkhamsted Chamber of Commerce, Agnes Bowen was responsible for suggesting that the state locate the Peoples Forest in Barkhamsted. She then personally led a tour of officials on the proposed 2500 acre site that would eventually become the Peoples State Forest.” From https://assets-global.website-files.com/6061df4fcc9017df34c941a2/60c8ceddd1c1963de8db97fc_19_agnes_bowen_loop_2018_pdf.pdf: “The Agnes Bowen Trail was named after a local artist and writer of Barkhamsted that guided state representatives on a tour of the forest in 1923. This tour resulted in the decision to establish Peoples State Forest in 1924.”

FALPS’ President Ralph Scarpino listens as the ghost of Agnes Bowen talks to the crowd.
A vine cutting was more appropriate than a ribbon cutting for a trail!
The bus bringing folks to the ceremony.
Jim Warner, Supervisor for American Legion, Peoples and Enders State Forests has been most supportive of FALPS projects.
Actress Denise Walker from the Manhattan School of Music, appeared as the ghost of Agnes Bowen.
Left to right, Ralph Scarpino, FALPS’ member Janet Bumstead, Denise Walker, Ron Bumstead and Tom Tyler, Director of Connecticut Parks.
FALPS’ Vice President and Barkhamsted First Selectman Don Stein addresses those gathered.

Julia Scharnberg, Vice President of Community Engagement of the Northwest Community Foundation, spoke to the group.
Eric Hammerling, President of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, speaks about the importance of Friends’ groups like FALPS.
Tom Tyler, Director of Connecticut State Parks, highlights the importance of Friends’ groups.
Retiring State Senator Kevin Witkos was on hand for the festivities.
Julia Scharnberg, Vice President of Community Engagement of the Northwest Community Foundation, Eric Hammerling, President of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Tom Tyler, Director of the Connecticut State Parks and retiring State Senator Kevin Witkos participated in the dedication ceremony.

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