Through our interactions with the greater Hanover communities, the property and its history we did our best in understanding the complexities of managing such a critical property for the Hanover districts. We discovered that maintaining the potability of Hanover’s water source is at the center of any management plan for the Trescott Property, and our management suggestions take into that into consideration as well as the recreational potential of Trescott. Instead of spending capital policing and fortifying the water supply the potential for shifting communal interactions towards an engaged and responsible community allow the property to remain open and functional. However, the way the community engages needs to be restructured since the Town of Hanover relies on the little filtration the water from the Trescott Property needs. These are our suggestions for engaging the various communities within Hanover without jeopardizing the town’s water supply.

Language and Transparency Recommendations

Trescott Property is first and foremost the water source for the town of Hanover, and so the priorities of the land should be communicated accordingly to the community. While some community members may see recreation on Trescott as a right rather than a privilege, we believe it is possible to use the investment the community already has in the land in a way that will promote respectful usage and even care-taking. For this to be possible, there needs to be ample opportunities for education. Trescott Property has user restrictions such as staying away from the reservoirs, keeping dogs on leash, and no motorized vehicles. Users will likely be more willing to follow the guidelines if they understand the need for the guidelines and have a vested interest in the health of the property. The following are some suggestions of actions to take toward this goal:

  • On information material (entrance signs, maps, and online), share a narrated diagram of the journey the water takes from the reservoirs to residents’ faucets. This educational material will emphasize the importance of water quality and help to connect the significance of protecting the water with the well-being of local residents and the visitors themselves
  • Provide education on the ecology of the Trescott property, particularly how the glossy buckthorn and deer population negatively affect the ecosystem. This will not only improve the visitors’ intellectual and emotional experience with the property, and promote their investment in a healthy ecosystem, but will lay the foundation for understanding the need for hunters on the property.
    • Example: Simple illustration of an ideal forest, diagram of the disruption caused by glossy buckthorn and overpopulation of deer
  • Frame the allowance of hunters on Trescott Property as a service. Clashes between hunters and other users seems to be a common issue, so framing hunters as a need for the health of the ecosystem rather than just another recreational activity will change the conversation around how the property is “used” and cared for, and with time could reduce conflict between different users.
    • Example: “Thank you to our hunters for keeping the ecosystem healthy” as a headline to a brief explanation of their role

Infrastructure Recommendations

Entrances

In order to promote a community-wide investment in Trescott Property’s health, the land should feel well cared for. This starts with the very beginning of the user experience: the entrances to the property. Thoughtful entrances will communicate to any visitors that the land is valued, well cared for, and establishes a standard for them to follow.

  • Entrances should be easily identifiable to a car driving by, with a beautiful kiosk, ample parking space, and a clear trailhead.
  • At the Trescott Road entrance, improvements can begin by replacing the chain linked gate with removable posts or a simple, low-profile, lockable gate that does not obstruct the view of the path and invites visitors to enter the property through the posts or through a clearly marked trail that skirts the gate.
  • The language on the welcoming kiosk should have an overwhelmingly positive tone. The name and priority of the land as Hanover’s water source should be clear, and the rest of the language should emphasize the privilege users have to recreate [list all activities] on the land.
    • Example: “Visitors are able to explore Trescott Property through the following activities: [list all possible activities]”
  • Guidelines of Trescott should be framed so the visitors feels as if they have more options than forbidden activities. In addition to a simplified list of “Not Permitted,” one sentence explanations of why some activities are not allowed may help some visitors be more understanding, and suggestions of places nearby where those activities are allowed may reduce the likelihood of visitors bypassing the guidelines.
    • Example sentence, under “Guidelines” heading: “Trescott Property is treasured for its pristine reservoirs which supply Hanover’s drinking water. Explore these nearby options for boating, fishing, and swimming so we can all protect Trescott’s reservoirs: [provide list and locations]”
  • The welcome kiosk is a great place to use language that emphasizes community stewardship and transparency of Trescott’s management, particularly aspects that produce tension within the community (such as the vital role of hunters).
  • In case the  road between the two bodies of water is shut down the entrances can be restructured to channel visitors to one entrance and leave one closed to foresters and maintenance. 
Trails

Trescott Property has a lot of potential for a larger network of trails that allow for many uses and also carefully facilitate the visitor’s experience with the landscape. A central challenge to keep Trescott open for recreation is keeping visitors from the water. Because of the place the reservoirs hold in the property’s importance and the natural tendency for people to be drawn to water, an absolute restriction of water access is unlikely to be successful.

  • We suggest a facilitated interaction with the water to satisfy visitors while keeping the water safe. This could include a trail-connected constructed lookout platform (with railings) over the water, carefully planned to provide the best view possible. Signage could provide the information about how the water is transferred to Hanover homes, as well as ecological information on water wildlife.
  • Possibly use forestry contractors to log specific areas of the property to increase landscape view aesthetics from high points
  • Trails can be more clearly marked with colored blazes, and mileage marking on signs and map for those who use Trescott for exercise
  • Improved trail maintenance will continue the sense that Trescott is a property that is highly valued and carefully cared for, and draw attention away from the reservoirs.
Multi-Use

Trescott has potential to be used for not only for activities but for events as well. Engaging the community through events is the most effective way to nurture the culture of stewardship from the Hanover area, shifting the conversation by making community members feel as if they have a responsibility and part in caring for the land while simultaneously maintaining the quality of the water.

  • Engage the community and also bring awareness to the property by partnering with local organizations and institutions to host events. These could include a 5k run, any races or runs already established in the area, wildlife outings, historic outings.
  • The Hanover area already has a large population of people who care about trails. Make Trescott part of their awareness of local trails not only through event partnering but also trail workdays friendly to all ages, which will communicate to the younger generation the work that is invested in caring for land such as Trescott and is a tangible opportunity for community members to actively be care-takers for the property.