DERRY — Broadview Farm is a beautiful place, except when vandals strike. The town-owned conservation property has seen its share of damage through the years.
Conservation Commission members are now pondering upgrades to Broadview after vandals damaged fencing and wooden tent platforms.
Broadview Farm on Young Road is a 78-acre property acquired by the town in 1998 as part of a mission to conserve open space for recreational use.
The property is home to trails and the community garden. It also provides space for local Boy and Girl Scouts to practice their camping skills.
When vandals strikes, it costs the town money to make repairs. Commissioners addressed the vandalism at a meeting Feb. 13.
Conservation Commission Chairman Margie Ives said the platforms need new planks as a result of vandalism. She said Scouts sometimes pitch their tents on the platforms, but often just camp in the fields.
"Some troops have requested we don't repair them," she said. "They use them, but not that often."
Many town Eagle Scouts have done projects at conservation areas. Ives said she would be interested in learning what Scouts have in mind for future projects that might support properties like Broadview.
Volunteers can sign up to help with repairs, Ives said. The town also uses volunteer land stewards for upkeep.
Fencing there needs work, too, but commissioners talked about whether they should even keep a fence at the farm since it's been on the repair list for about two years.
"It looks pretty nice without the fence," Ives said. "The field is gorgeous."
Without a fence, there would need to be some sort of protective buffer, Ives said.
Commission member Paul Dionne said he liked the look without a fence.
"It looks agricultural," he said. "I like that. I voted against the fence 12 years ago."
Ric Buzzanga said if it's taken this long to address the damage, maybe Broadview is better without the fence.
"If we haven't fixed it in two years, we're not going to fix it," he said.
Ives said she likes Broadview without a fence.
"I'm quite used to looking at that part of (the farm) that doesn't have any fence," she said, "and it's lovely."
To learn more about Broadview Farm or other town-owned conservation properties, visit derry.nh.us.
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