By Barbara Taormina—For the North Star Reporter
At its meeting last Tuesday, the Town Forest Committee discussed plans to make the town forest an interactive destination to promote an appreciation of nature and a healthy lifestyle.
Committee Chairman Martin Grealish presented a series of projects and improvements meant to draw visitors to the forest trails off of Plain Street. At the top of the list is the Dambo Troll, a wooden sculpture crafted from recycled and reclaimed wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.
Dambo Trolls are an international trend, with communities across the globe installing the unique sculptures, often hidden in wooded areas. Dambo is working on a “Trail of 1,000 Trolls,” a global public art project. Rhode Island has a five-piece Troll Trail.
Each troll has a unique name and story that Dambo hopes will have viewers consider how humans impact the environment.
But the trolls aren’t cheap. An 18-foot troll in Austin, Texas cost the community about $300,000, while the Wildlife Center at Tupper Lake, New York, spent $500,000 for its troll.
The Town Forest Committee is exploring local and state funding, as well as donations to cover the costs which include design, fabrication, shipping, site prep and installation. According to the Dambo Troll website, the sculptures stand for an average of 10 years, or longer depending on maintenance.
The Dambo Troll is the big-ticket item on the committee’s list of projects. There are other smaller proposals aimed at enhancing hiking experiences on the trails.
Grealish began with a proposal for a series of small, whimsical statues of elves, gremlins, dragons and wizards hidden along the trails in natural settings to entice hikers.
“They would be magical things in the forest,” said Grealish, adding that visitors could hunt for the different characters as they make their way along each trail.
“We just want to get people out exercising, enjoying nature and taking part in a healthy activity,” said Grealish, adding that he anticipated the cost of these smaller statues would be between $300 and $400, suggesting starting with seven pieces and eventually growing to 12.
“We should make the forest interactive in a natural sense,” he said.
Grealish also proposed constructing a hummingbird garden near the forest entrance, or a glassed-in ant farm and an ever-changing mushroom garden.
“I think these are doable, cost-effective and aligned with our mission,” said Grealish.
The committee also discussed adding benches for visitors and installing mats on the trails to make them accessible to those with limited mobility. And they are hopeful that a new hydrant can be installed on the forest side of the street.
Grealish also responded to a comment from a resident who felt that clearing the forest trails to six feet was too much. According to Grealish, there has been an explosion of the tick population, and a wider trail makes the threat of a tick bite less of a risk.
The committee voted to submit its list of proposals as part of the town’s capital improvements budget. That process involves going through various committees and offices before a final decision on funding for the proposals is made when the 2027 budget is finalized next July.