The Buildings Committee has worked for several months developing a plan to remove the slate walkway that connects the Social Hall sidewalk to the playground, pergolas, and labyrinth. The slate walkway is slippery when wet, and the slate is pushed up by the tree roots of the stately oak tree, causing numerous trip hazards. The committee has been looking for a cost-effective way to make the walkway safe and more accessible, knowing that the answer would be a temporary solution and that protecting the “mother tree” is important to the congregation.

A long-range solution will be addressed as part of envisioning a long-range plan for our campus grounds. In the meantime, we need to be able to safely walk in the area and protect the tree. Time will tell if this affordable temporary solution will work long-term. Think of this as a demonstration project.

The committee received a reasonable bid of $1000 from The Great Outdoors LLC on the condition that the work can start immediately. The slate will be removed and retained by the contractor. Then the area would be filled with brown crushed stone and tamped. The slate will remain in the pergola areas, as it is set in concrete. The bid is on the condition that the contractor can begin the work immediately, during the winter season.

Both the Finance Committee and Board of Trustees approved the use of $1,000 of Buildings and Grounds Reserve funds.

Work will get underway in early April. Please excuse the mess!