News

April 22, 2021

CALL FOR COMMENTS—LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Bear Brook State Park is a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts in southeastern New Hampshire and especially beloved by equestrian trail riders and drivers. Balancing the needs of all users within a state park is a complicated process guided by a park-specific Management Plan. Plans are only updated every ten to twenty years—and Bear Brook’s plan is being updated now. It is critical that the Planning Committee receives feedback from all interested stakeholders. Equestrians, this means YOU!

For the past two years, a diverse committee of stakeholders, land managers and ecologists have collaborated to review the Bear Brook State Park Management Plan (last revised/approved in 1994), and have made recommendations for revisions and edits that will guide decisions regarding park management for the next decade and beyond.

The Planning Committee is CURRENTLY SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENT on the proposed plan.

A draft of the proposed Bear Brook State Park Management Plan is available here, and we recommend you review it in its entirety to understand the full complexity of park management.

The following sections are especially relevant to Equestrians:

        Chapter 11 Recreation Management (page 149)

                        Section 11.9 Trails (page 160-163)

                        Recommended Equestrian Trails Map (page 165)

                        Trail Descriptions and Trail Use Recommendations (page 167-172)

Please note that while ALL trails at the park remain open to Equestrians, many Equestrians will find the newly updated “Trail Descriptions and Trail Use Recommendations”, along with the improved “Recommended Equestrian Trails Map”, to be extremely useful in selecting routes that are within the experience level, skill, fitness and overall capability of each individual horse and rider partnership.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT PLAN may be submitted by email to BearBrookPlan@dncr.nh.gov or by mail to Johanna Lyons, DNCR-DPR 172 Pembroke Road Concord, NH 03301. Comments must be received by 4:00 PM on Friday, April 30, 2021.

Equestrians may also attend a public listening session at 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 22, 2021, via Zoom. Pre-registration is required—sign up here.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!