TILT building trail at Zenda Farm

CLAYTON — The Thousand Islands Land Trust plans to build a recreational trail on the Zenda Farm Preserve that would be used year-round by outdoor enthusiasts.

"We'll be starting the work in the spring and probably have it finished in mid- to late June," said Andrew T. Wood, executive director of the Clayton-based land trust.

The 1.5-mile trail will have a gravel surface and benches for visitors to rest, enjoy the scenery and watch the numerous grassland birds. It also will have signs along the trail with descriptions of the area's wildlife, the history of the Zenda Farm and information on the land trust, he said.

Mr. Wood said the nonmotorized-use trail will be wheelchair accessible and will be open year-round as a walking and hiking trail in the summer and as a cross-country ski trail in the winter.

The trail will be named after John and Lois Jean MacFarlane, Zenda's previous owners.

The historic Zenda Farm, on Route 12E west of the village of Clayton, was built in the 1930s, and 130 acres of farmland was donated to the land trust in 1997 by the McFarlanes.

To fund the $92,000 project, TILT secured a $72,000 grant from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The town of Clayton's Highway Department and local contractors will donate labor and equipment for the project. Mr. Wood said TILT also has purchased a Bobcat tractor to build the trail at a discounted price from Equipment Rentals Inc., Watertown.

Mr. Wood said TILT plans to extend the trail by building a half-mile loop in the woodland area this summer. He said the land trust hopes to build another mile-long trail that extends from the MacFarlane Trail in the near future.

The trail is open now for cross-country skiing, and TILT will hold a bonfire and winter fun festival at the Zenda Farm Preserve on Feb. 27 as part of the 2010 TILTrek activities.

TILT will hold a formal dedication of the trail and celebrate its 25th anniversary June 11 at the annual Community Picnic at Zenda Farm.

For more information about the land trust and its events, go to TILT's Web site: www.tilandtrust.org, or call the land trust at 686-5345.