JLBA lobbies for recreational use of Cobble Mountain Rd.

March 29, 2023 | Amy Porter
aporter@thereminder.com

A 2022 view of Cobble Mountain Reservoir, which may be seen from Cobble Mountain Road.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter

BLANDFORD — Russ Lapierre, president of the Jacob’s Ladder Business Association, is encouraging JLBA members to support legislation for the reopening of Cobble Mountain Road to passive recreation.

State Sen. Paul Mark (D-Becket) and state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) submitted a bill on Jan. 2 to reopen the road along the eastern side of the Cobble Mountain Reservoir land, through Blandford, Granville and Russell, to foot traffic, bicycling and equestrian use. At the March 5 Chester Town Meet and Greet, Mark said a subcommittee to address the petition is being assembled.

The bill would allow the state’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to close the road during certain hours, provided it remains open to recreational use daily from sunrise to sunset. The bill would also require DCAMM to install signs indicating the road is open and listing any restrictions on its use, to be posted at the intersection of Cobble Mountain, Hayden and Crooks roads in Blandford, and of Cobble Mountain and Wildcat roads in Granville.

The road was formerly open to motorized traffic, and formed the most direct connection between Blandford and Granville. Access to Cobble Mountain Road and the reservoir were closed “temporarily” in 2002, in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has never reopened to the public, despite lobbying from residents of Blandford and Granville. 

The road is blocked by gates erected by the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, which manages the reservoir as a drinking water supply for Springfield and surrounding towns.  During a previous attempt to reopen the road, former Blandford Town Administrator Joshua Garcia learned in his investigation that the road is not owned by Springfield Water and Sewer, but by DCAMM, which inherited it as an old county road when Hampden County government was dissolved.

In his letter to JLBA members, Lapierre, a veterinarian at Blandford Animal Hospital, called the news of the legislation exciting, but said locals should expect opposition from Springfield.

“Many of us are experienced with Springfield Water Commission’s aggressive enforcement policies toward Hilltown residents to ‘protect’ ‘Springfield’s’ water. If the past performances are an indicator of future performance, then this behavior is likely to continue,” he wrote.

Blandford and Granville town governments asked the state to reopen the road in September 2020. DCAMM denied the request in March 2021, despite acknowledging that closing the road increased response times for first responders, according to Lapierre.

He said the current level of access for first responders — they have a key to open the gate in emergencies — is not enough.

“The Jersey barriers are closely spaced and may hamper fire trucks navigating the road,” Lapierre wrote. “Seconds count in times of fire or medical emergency. State law does indicate SWSC is allowed to protect its watershed; it does not, however, condone excessive measures as ethical or legal.  SWSC has failed to prove the existence of any documented threats to ‘their water.’”

He also said that the language in the Mark-Boldyga bill specifies opening Cobble Mountain Road but does not reopen any of the other watershed lands to passive recreation. 

“Opening the road is said to be a start,” he said.

Lapierre encouraged JLBA members to voice their support in writing for the legislation to  reopen the road to Paul.Mark@masenate.gov and Nicholas.Boldyga@mahouse.gov. The committee that will discuss the bill is State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, on which Westfield state Sen. John Velis (John.Velis@masenate.gov) is a member.

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