Amethyst Brook conservation area is one of the most charming and popular places for Amherst folks to stroll and walk dogs. When you leave the designated parking area on Pelham Road the path leads straight to the brook where the wooden foot bridge was washed out several years ago and has not been rebuilt. You can proceed upstream along trails on the near (south) side and eventually cross on the second of the three bridges that once spanned the river. Upon returning downstream, if you stay along the north side past the second bridge, you will eventually return to the place with no bridge. So unless you are prepared to cross on the rocks at very low water and have the dexterity to do so, or wade, it is now quite inconvenient to enjoy the north bank woods along the first third of these woodland trails. I walk these trails often and I have only once visited that section of the north bank in the years since the bridge was destroyed. I managed it on a day during the worst of last summer’s drought when the brook was just barely crossable on the rocks. I am certain that this predicament is shared by countless others.
I encourage the Gazette to look into this situation and inform the community about it including consideration of these questions: Are plans in place to rebuild the bridge? If not, why not? If yes, when is work slated to be done? Under which town department purview does this fall? Is there funding allocated for this yet? How much will a footbridge rebuilding project cost? If more funds are needed, how might community members help with this effort?
Could this be done, if need be, as a community project with perhaps some materials donated along with volunteer labor? I, for one, would gladly pitch in money and labor and organizational effort if this is what must be done to replace the bridge because the town government has no plans to do it, although I hope it will. Have hammer; will travel! I’ll bet with the right planning, design, and construction supervision a crew of community volunteer helpers who enjoy this enchanting corner of Amherst could get this done in a weekend.
Thank you for considering investigating and reporting on of this matter. I shall hope to see a discussion of this soon.
Jonathan Klate
Amherst