Sturbridge conservation board grants five-year Wells Park trail permit

Conservation · Meeting of January 22, 2026

Sturbridge Conservation Commission grants a five-year permit for Wells State Park trail repairs and stalls a lakeside sand beach. DCR representative Christine McDonough told the board a 2024 stream crossing "wasn't really a bridge, it was kind of like a punch in," prompting a redesign spanning the full channel; Conservation Agent Lauren recommended the five-year term given DCR funding constraints. Commissioners Nick Gravel, Eric Gaspar and Carson Stuban voted 4-0 on every item, with Ed Goodwin absent.

At 21 Long Avenue, homeowners Stanley and Catherine Iwanicki won approval for a 792-square-foot addition on condition their new deck never be enclosed. A 23 Old Hamilton Road garage and beach project, lacking a DEP file number, was continued to February 12 after Lauren said, "shoreline sand beaches, I'm not in favor of."

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Source: the Conservation meeting of January 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.