Berkshire Natural Resources Council celebrates completion of updates to Old Mill Trail’s accessibility segment
By Leslee Bassman
DATE: October 25, 2024
HINSDALE — Although some hikers think nothing of the parking lot at Hinsdale’s Old Mill Trail, for those lacking mobility, the lot was a hindrance to their enjoyment of the trail, even with a portion of it deemed to be accessible. On a warm late-October afternoon, all of that changed.
Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) hosted a ribbon-cutting on October 23 to celebrate recently completed renovations that allow for greater accessibility at the popular 127-acre site, including transforming the existing parking lot, lowering the trail map kiosk, and improving the trail pathway to meet U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility standards. The BNRC—a land trust devoted to the protection and preservation of the Berkshires’ land, wildlife, and habitat—acquired the property in 2016, making the trail accessible. “But until this summer, the accessibility was in name only,” said BNRC President Jenny Hansell. “The parking lot was not accessible to mobility devices, and if you can’t get out of your car, you can’t go for a hike.”