I just saw the photos from DPW hydroseeding the disturbed areas at Koulas, and honestly, it stopped me in my tracks. The views are just stunning. Rolling hills, old stone walls, those massive hardwood trees, and the way the afternoon sun hits the fields. The stone dust path winding through it all feels like it has been there forever. It looks less like a project and more like a place that has finally found itself again.
And it took me right back.
Back to those first meetings of the Koulas Task Force. A small group of people sitting around trying to figure out what this place could be and how to even begin. Then the early work parties, just trying to cut in some rough trails and see what was actually out there under years of neglect.
Then DPW came in, and I still laugh thinking about it. At times it felt like they were preparing for a full-scale operation. Equipment everywhere, moving earth, clearing, shaping. But behind that was a steady hand, just keeping things moving forward step by step.
At the same time, the Friends of Koulas started to grow. It began with just a handful of people and slowly turned into a real community effort. Public meetings were televised so residents could follow along the whole way. This was never done behind closed doors. People saw it, questioned it, supported it, and helped shape it.
It was not a straight line. There were setbacks. There were moments where things stalled or even slid backward a bit. But John and the Friends group kept showing up, rallying people, even standing up on the floor at Town Meeting when it mattered.
And through it all, DPW just kept doing the work. Quietly, consistently improving things piece by piece.
Somehow, and it does not always happen this way, everything lined up. Residents, town management, DPW, and conservation. Everyone pulling in the same direction at the same time.
What you see out there now is the result of that.
For years, Red Wing Farm has been the place people point to as the crown jewel of our open spaces. And it still deserves that respect. But standing there now, looking across Koulas, I think we may be looking at the next chapter.
Not because Red Wing is any less, but because Koulas has become something special in its own right.
A new crown jewel.
There are many people behind the scenes who made this happen, and you know who you are.
There is still more work ahead. There always is.
But this weekend, take a few minutes. Stop by. Walk the path. Look out over the fields. Take a breath.
Then we get back to work.