Earlier this week I wrote about the proposed warming station for Strafford County. Last night we had our public forum on the warming station at the Dover City Council Meeting.

More Than Just a Walk in the Woods

Last night’s City Council meeting got pretty lively when the conversation turned to the Don Black Trail—better known around here as the Covered Bridge Trail at County Farm. Several residents stood up to describe it as a mess, overrun by people using drugs and littering.

This morning, I decided to see for myself. I grabbed some gloves and garbage bags, figuring I’d do a little cleanup along the way—if there was any “paraphernalia” to be found.

Well, I did find something unexpected.

Skeletons. Bats. Gravestones. Ghosts hanging from the trees.
But not the kind the council was worried about.

It turns out the Riverside Rest Home has set up a full-blown Haunted Trail for their residents and for the daycare center next door. When I ran into one of the employees out decorating, she told me how much she enjoys walking the trail on her breaks and how they’ve been having a great time putting the spooky display together.

A little further down the path, I met another woman walking her dog, Elsie (a very good dog, though a little wary of the carved pumpkin near the bridge). She told me she walks the trail nearly every day and hadn’t noticed any problems either—just the usual peace and quiet that makes the Trail such a gem.
Interestingly enough, I also learned that Police Chief Terlemezian had been out that same morning, checking things over.

So while there’s always room for community concern and vigilance, what I saw on the Trail wasn’t danger or decay—it was life. It was community. It was people caring about the same public spaces we all share.

And, at least for this week, it’s also a pretty good place to get a Halloween scare.