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Not a Good Fit

In regard to the proposed six-foot-wide concrete bicycle path running the whole length of Nut Plains Road, please be advised that I am very much opposed to this project. I have always lived at 420 Nut Plains Road, and the maple trees along the front of my property are more than 220 years old. These trees were all planted by my ancestors. If the bike lane plan goes through, it would be a sad day to see these beautiful large trees destroyed.

These trees, along with my large stonewall, represent the historic beauty of my neighborhood. My three spruce trees, which were planted by my dad and his dad, would also be sacrificed. If this project were to take place on the east side of Nut Plains Road, my neighbor’s house would have no front lawn, and you cannot possibly encroach on the Nut Plains Cemetery.

Back in 1949, when Les Dudley was selectman, he was in favor of straightening Nut Plains Road. My dad, Clarence Evarts, did not want to see the large pepperidge tree destroyed, and Les Dudley did not want to have the large white oak removed. These two trees are located on the strip of land between Old Nut Plains Road and the current Nut Plains Road. I think my dad sold that piece of land to the Town of Guilford for $200, and that portion of the road was then built on the west side of those trees. It was important to save those two trees, which are still there today. Hopefully, they will always be there.

A six-foot-wide concrete path alongside Nut Plains Road is definitely not a good fit for my neighborhood. Therefore, I am against this plan, even though I do walk on Nut Plains Road, almost every day.

Elizabeth N. Evarts

Guilford