The Benson Park Advisory Committee is taking a closer look at the growing presence of e-bikes in the park, citing safety concerns for pedestrians and families.
“There have been concerns about the e-bikes and e-vehicles,” said Committee Chair Jack Madden. “The first thing we have to do is see if there is anything in the town ordinances about that.”
A recent discussion with the Hudson Police Department confirmed there are no specific laws banning e-bikes in Benson Park. However, members expressed concern about the potential risks posed by faster-moving e-bikes on trails designed for walkers, traditional cyclists, and slower speeds.
“I have friends who are very cognizant of the fact that this is an issue,” Madden said. “There are parents pushing their kids in strollers, there are grandchildren running around. Somebody is going to get hurt.”
The committee agreed to continue reviewing the issue.
In other business, members officially scheduled the return of the park’s popular Cardboard Sled Race.
“We did have the Boy Scouts that got in contact with me. They helped us out last year and they’re very excited to come back and do that again. They had a great time, even though we only had a little patch of snow. It still was a lot of fun,” said Committee member Sue Clement. “I did have a couple of other organizations that were interested in volunteering, and maybe making this event a little bit more than just a sled race.”
Natalie Newell, Chair of the Friends of Benson Park, offered to open the park store for hot cocoa during the event.
“I think it’s important for us to, as much as possible, coordinate between all of the wonderful volunteers that we have,” added Selectman Liaison Heidi Jakoby.
The Cardboard Sled Race is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2026, with a rain/snow date of Jan. 17.
With 2025 coming to an end, at least one full-time committee position is expected to open, prompting a call for new members.
“We’re looking for somebody who is interested in coming on and working with us at the Benson Park Advisory Committee. We do have a position open for that,” said Clement. “You just need to fill out a form on the website – it’s the Town of Hudson Benson Management Unit application. It’s very easy to fill out and you send that to the town, to Roy Sorenson, and then he’ll send it out to us.”
The new member would need approval from the Board of Selectmen. Two alternate committee positions also remain vacant.
“Even if you wanted to just come in as an alternate, it’d mean attending the meetings, helping us come up with ideas for how to improve the park, and moving forward in the future,” Clement said. “Please let us know, but we will be sending out some information shortly, doing posters and so forth.”
The Benson Park Advisory Committee will meet again on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Hudson Cable Access Center.
