Zink Northwoods Conservation Area
Assessor’s Map and Parcel(s): 7.C-114, 7.C-115, (Sochalski Land) 6.C-58
Acres: ~64.24
Acquired: Two of the parcels were granted to the town as part of the Northwoods Subdivision as open space with restrictions. The Sochalski property was purchased by the Town of Bolton in 1995. An additional 44.30 acres are protected through the Bolton Conservation Trust.
Features: Upland forested area with a brook leading down to a wetland crossing. The Sochalski property features substantial beaver activity. This is town-owned land and was once the location of a sawmill owned by the Zink family, remnants showcase the industrial activity visible from the trail connecting to sugar road. The properties are also sprinkled with glacial erratics throughout the forested areas.
Access: Trail heads with limited parking are located along Corn Road at the base of a private driveway, then off of Laurel drive. Both are established as easements across private property. Please be mindful of this and stay on the trail. The zink trail easement was granted to the Bolton Conservation Trust as part of the residential development of the Zink property.
Trails: HERE
Regulations for Use of Conservation Land
It is the intent and policy of the Conservation Commission that conservation land be maintained in a natural state. Some areas where appropriate the commission establishes trails to allow for passive recreational use. Any alteration to a Conservation property or trail by persons other than the Commission's authorized agents shall require the prior written permission of the Commission. The Conservation Land Rules and Regulations shall be adhered to at all times. Inclusive of the Dogs on Conservation Land Rules and Regulations. You may find these regulations on our town website or by clicking HERE.
In addition to the regulations referenced above, the following restrictions apply:
The Parcels shall be known as “Northwoods Conservation Area” …
The Parcels shall remain in their natural, scenic and open space condition and shall be used only for passive recreation such as nature/walking trails and agricultural and forestry uses;
No motorized vehicles of any type of kind shall be allowed, except as necessary for agriculture or selective clearing operations and to the extent access is required for fire, police or other emergency vehicles;
No above-ground structures of any type or kind shall be constructed on the parcels, except for walkways, pedestrian footbridges, signs, kiosks, and fencing appropriate to the conservation purpose of the parcels;
Except for the maintenance of nature/walking trails, no trees shall be cut or vegetation removed unless the same are dead or diseased or cause a safety hazard;
The parcels shall not be conveyed to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other entity including but not limited to any non-profit conservation trust, unless the same is controlled in its entirety by the Town of Bolton, it being the intent of this grant that the parcels be used and enjoyed by the Inhabitants of the Town of Bolton;
No activities that are or may be detrimental to drainage, flood control, water conservation, erosion control or soil conservation shall be performed on the parcels;
No hunting or trapping of animals or discharging of firearms shall be allowed on the parcels, except in the management of wildlife that is either sick or injured, or has been determined to be a public health threat or public health nuisance;
No fires for recreation or cooking purposes shall be allowed on the parcels;
No other use or activity which would be detrimental to the preservation of the parcels in an open and natural condition or which would otherwise be inconsistent with the purpose of this deed shall be allowed on the parcels;
Not withstanding the forgoing, the following activities are expressly permitted on the parcels:
The maintenance of presently existing trails, future trails and wood roads; and
The maintenance of all pipes, berms, spillways, and related drainage structures necessary for development of the roadways proposed on the above referenced subdivision plan.
Sochalski Land
Deed restriction that the premises will remain predominantly in their natural scenic or open condition for public recreational use and there is specifically forbidden therein the construction or placing of any buildings, roads, sights, billboards or other advertising paraphernalia, utilities or other structures on or above the ground. There shall be no dumping or placing of soil or other substance or material as a landfill, or dumping or placing of trash, waste or unsightly or offensive materials; there shall be no removal or destruction of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation and there shall be no excavation, dredging or removal of loam, peat, gravel, soil, rock or other mineral substance in such a manner as to effect the surface. The surface area shall not be used, except for agricultural, farming, forest or outdoor recreational purposes, neither shall there be any activities detrimental to drainage, flood control, water conservation, corrosion control or soil conservation.
Adopted 12/21/2010
The maps and data displayed on this site are for reference and planning purposes only. The Town of Bolton assumes no legal responsibility for the information contained herein. The items specified above are restrictions specific to the conservation property. They are included for transparency purposes only. They do not give anyone the right to alter conservation property. That is ONLY the authority of the conservation commission or its authorized agents.