Pictured above is a page from the concept plans for the proposed development of the Glenview Preserve on state Route 86, which shows examples of possible new structures and signage. (Photo provided)

We live on state Route 86 across from the site where the Adirondack Land Trust hopes to build a “circus” preserve named Glenview on their 238 acres so the public can have access to trails in the woods.

Trust Executive Director Michael Carr called and met with us in our home a couple of years ago to talk about the plans for Glenview.

At that time we supported what we understood would be maintaining the land as a preserve.

Now as the rubber hits the road, and there will be plenty of that … picture a parking lot (we don’t know what size yet) on a flat piece of road with a hill on each end that gives zero visibility. The residents here have to be extremely careful now when exiting their driveways.

This country road has a speed limit of 55 mph that leads to the hamlets of Easy Street, Keese’s Mills, Gabriels, Rainbow Lake and Paul Smith’s College … a lot of traffic. Now add a parking lot in the middle of that flat stretch, and believe me, there will be more than rubber hitting the road.

The residents here pay premium taxes to the town of Harrietstown, wherein lies Glenview. If the Glenview plans are allowed to come to fruition, then the market value of our properties will drop faster than the 1929 stock market.

Here is the “modest” development we did not envision as put forth on the website of the Adirondack Land Trust:

Signs all over the place: Railing signs, trail signs, information signs, directional signs and wall interpretive signs, just to name a few.

Then some minor construction: observation deck, bog vista deck, ridge overlook deck, the bog observation tower, stairs built for steeper trails and raised, staired, walkways over streams.

Then some major construction: trailhead paved parking area, gravel parking lot, large panorama interpretive panel, trailhead kiosk, information kiosk, traditional kiosk, classroom pavilion, traditional pavilion and a picnic pavilion.

Wait, there’s more. The port-a-potties partially surrounded by wooden framing.

Hearsay has it that there will be another pavilion … just for weddings. Imagine then that traffic leaves the parking lot.

Who is going to keep all of this clean? Ask some ridge runners about the parking areas and the trail system leading to and up the mountains.

My family had a farm in 1936 where the Shanty family later had a horse farm — the yellow house and barn — and I attended school in the house that is now our home.

Hey, Mr. Glenview. Let’s Preserve the Preserve.

— — —

Howard Riley is a former Harrietstown town councilman, former Saranac Lake village trustee, former Saranac Lake mayor and the Enterprise’s local history columnist. He lives in Harrietstown.