CUMBERLAND – Increasingly frequent drought conditions are making it more important to keep a careful eye on the town’s trail system, say some residents.
At last week’s Town Council meeting, Michael Baer, of 3 Arnold Drive, noted that the hillside trails at Diamond Hill Park are showing signs of damage from excess use. As the council considered more events utilizing those trails, he said, some type of restoration plan or fees to invest back into the park when the facilities are used for commercial purposes might be in order.
Councilor Jodi Sweet said she’s previously been a bit of a stickler on these types of events. She said the trails at Diamond Hill Park, and even at nearby Mercy Woods, are seeing a greater number of issues related to erosion connected in part to extreme drought, and heavy use factors in.
Rocks are coming loose and the trails are coming apart in places, Sweet said, a situation she blamed in part on bikes and all-terrain vehicle use. At Mercy Woods, she said, it’s supposed to only be hikers using the trails.
Sweet later explained that drought is making a natural wear and tear on trails that much worse.
“This is a normal part of how things work in the woods, but we’re seeing it more frequently with the larger stones,” she said. “The drought causes more soil erosion which leads to more loose stones, and increases the likelihood of slipping and falling.”
The Cumberland Land Trust, she said, is doing a great job of maintaining the trails, “but we just have to be more cautious using them with the conditions the way they are.”
Sweet last week mentioned the idea of possibly holding off on a vote for the Diamond Hill Park events as they contemplate putting safeguards in place prior to the events happening in 2027.
But Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore said groups and companies are required to leave the trails as they found them, adding that she hopes town staff are monitoring the situation and making sure that is actually happening.
“There is an agreement they have to sign,” Morris Salvatore said.
With Morris Salvatore’s assurances, the council then voted unanimously for the event licenses.
Events approved for Ocean State Trail LLC, doing business as FIT Events, included:
• Ultra FIT, a 34-hour, two-day event from Oct. 3, starting at 7 a.m., to Oct. 4, ending at 5 p.m. at the Cumberland Monastery.
• FIT Frills, a Nov. 1 event, running 7 a.m. to noon at the Monastery.
• Fit Turkey Trot, set for Nov. 28, 8 a.m. to noon at the Cumberland Monastery.
• FITmas, running Dec. 12, 8 a.m. to noon at the Monastery.
• FIT Rock Trail Race, running March 14, 2027, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Monastery.
• FIT Challenge OCR, running April 10, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Diamond Hill Park.
• FIT King of the Hill, running May 22, 2027, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Diamond Hill Park.
• And FIT 50k, running June 5, 2027, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Monastery.
