BY JENN McDOWELL

The Hooksett Kiwanis Club is on the right path with the community.

Frank Kotowski of Kiwanis presented a proposal at a recent Hooksett Town Council meeting to begin planning a trails project that would connect Head’s Pond with the Manchester line, and eventually Bear Brook Park.

Kotowski said there is significant interest in the town for the trails project.

“I know that our Kiwanis Club has searched for a number of years for a project that people could really get their hooks into,” he said. “We’re on our way.”

The council authorized the Kiwanis Club to head the project with the Parks Department and Manchester Sand and Gravel, the company that gave Head’s Pond to the town.

“We look forward to working with Kiwanis and expanding it,” said David Cambell of Manchester Sand and Gravel.

Kiwanis has already pledged $10,000 to improve the 3.5-mile loop around Head’s Pond, which will be dedicated to the town on Saturday, Oct. 20.

The money will provide benches and signs along the trail which would point out ecological charms. Picnic tables may also be added.

The club can now move forward with research into connecting the trail to Hooksett Village by Robie’s Country Store and then to the Heritage Trail.

“Much of the trail will take people past various important and historical sites in town,” Kotowski said.

Down the road, he added, the hope is that another segment will connect the Heritage Trail to Candia.

The Hooksett Parks Department and Heritage Committee are supporting the project.

Part of the research, as the plans move forward, will include putting safety plans in place and looking into getting land easements to allow the trails to pass through private property, Kotowski said.

At the meeting, Town Councilor David Ross said it would be “unwise” to make a decision right away to give Kiwanis complete authority over the entire project.

“I think there are a lot of things that need to be considered,” Ross said, citing property lines and safety as issues that need to be examined, as well as the town’s liability to people using the trails.

He suggested they grant the authority for three years, then allow the council to revisit the trails project every three years in a renewal process.

Vice Chairman At-Large James Gorton agreed.

“Otherwise, we’re tying the hands of future residents in Hooksett,” he said.

Kotowski said they would work with police to assure monitoring and safety of the trail.

“We have to make sure that the regulations are consistent with safety,” Kotowski said.

Town Councilor Jason Hyde suggested the Kiwanis Club look to the town’s Boy Scouts to help construct the trails.

The council set a deadline of September 2008 for the research  part of the project plans to be completed and a final proposal submitted to the town.

“We want to make sure this thing is done in a way that the town would like it to be done,” Kotowski said.