One of Wayland’s 19 plots of conservation land, 72-acre Cow Common, includes walking trails as well as protected habitats for birds such as bobolinks. Recently, the Appalachian Mountain Club completed a reroute of the Bay Circuit Trail (which connects to Cow Common) to move it off of two main roads: Route 20 and Route 27, also known as Old Sudbury Road. This change was made for accessibility and safety reasons due to the lack of sidewalks along the road that were making it unsafe for pedestrians to enter.
The Appalachian Mountain Club constructed a 0.25-mile dirt trail that connects Cow Common through the new Council on Aging building in Wayland Town Center. Now, walkers and bikers can safely connect from Cow Common to the Bay Circuit Trail without having to cross or walk along any major roadways. The club also added a boardwalk to prevent the trail from becoming too muddy.
According to Conservation Administrator Linda Hansen, the plan is to eventually connect Cow Common to the Mass. Central Rail Trail that currently joins the town center by the Wayland Depot, making it even more appealing to local walkers.
In order to construct this connection and to eventually connect Cow Common to the Rail Trail, a permit must be obtained and rules must be followed.
“[The Appalachian Mountain Club] applied to the Conservation Commission, to construct a trail from Cow Common to the COA parking lot,” Hansen said. “Because it’s work within a wetland, it’s work within a riverfront area, it requires review and approval by the Conservation Commission.”
Additionally, local artist Janie Belive donated her time to create a mosaic at the Wayland Community and Senior Center on view near the entrance to Cow Common.
“Thanks to the Town Center and a donation of land, we now have rerouted the Bay Circuit Trail to make it a much better experience,” Hansen said. “We’re still hoping for the [Mass. Central] rail trail. That will be the final reroute.”
