Trails first, readers say, as Milton plans its seven green spaces

Trails won Sunday’s poll outright: 22 of the 42 readers who answered picked trails to walk, ride or bike as the first use for Milton’s city-owned green space.

Now tell the city. The second and last drop-in session on the Greenprint, the city’s plan for the green spaces it owns, runs today from 1 to 3 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, with city staff and draft ideas for each property. If a Tuesday afternoon doesn’t work, the same drafts are on the city’s Greenprint page, and the city takes comments by email at greenprint@miltonga.gov.

The city heard much the same in early 2024. Its Greenprint survey drew 238 responses by Feb. 13 of that year, about 98 percent of them from Milton residents, and found strong support for natural-surface trails and habitat improvements and a general preference for “limited, rustic improvements over active recreation,” the city says.

What the plan covers. Seven properties: land off Bethany, Hamby, Hopewell, Lackey and Webb roads, the corner of Freemanville and Birmingham roads, and part of Milton City Park and Preserve. For each, the Greenprint will recommend what it should become, from leaving it alone to adding trails or other features. The city says the plan may also weigh whether bathrooms, benches, a dog park or spots for fishing and bird watching belong on “passive” land. It doesn’t add land, and a recommendation isn’t a promise: staff would still have to price each idea, and Council would vote on whether to pay for it.

What’s next. The city’s working schedule aims for a presentation to Council Nov. 16 and a vote to adopt the plan Dec. 7.

What would you put on that land that our poll didn’t list? Reply, and we’ll print a few.