The Hudson Conservation Commission met on August 10 to review its recent Trail Workday at the Tiger Road property and to begin discussing a formal name for the land. Commissioners said the latest work session made noticeable improvements to the trail system, but agreed the still new property needs additional attention before it can be considered fully ready for public use.
“Last time, a group of us got together at Tiger Road and did quite a bit of work out there,” said Chair Carl Murphy. “We worked on a section of trails that was steep and added some switchbacks. I think now it’ll be harder to get lost out there. It was a good Work Day – very productive.”
Commissioner John Walter agreed, noting that the group focused on clearing brush, improving steep sections, and making the trail network easier to navigate. “We cut back some shrubs and undergrowth, and some of the steep sections over there are now part of the trail. It looks good,” he said.
Even with the recent progress, commissioners said the Tiger Road property still lacks basic amenities. Murphy said he would follow up on creating a map and possibly installing a kiosk at the trailhead to help visitors understand the layout of the land.
The Commission also revisited the question of what to name the property. Walter said he had been researching the history of the area and suggested “Robinson Woods” as a temporary placeholder, though he noted the land has ties to the Cross family, who farmed the hillside generations ago. Foundations from the old farm may date back to the 1700s or earlier.
Commissioner Ken Dickinson supported naming the property after the Cross family, pointing out that “Robinson” is already used for several locations in Hudson – Robinson Road, Old Robinson Road, and the Robinson Pond Recreation Area. He said adding another Robinson related name could create confusion for emergency responders.
“I think it might be good to name it something different than Robinson,” Dickinson said. “If anyone had an emergency call over there, some emergency staff might be confused if they went to the wrong side.”
Alternate member Makaela Murray suggested opening the naming process to the public. “Could we do community engagement? Can we get people to help us come up with a name?” she asked.
Dickinson said public input was “possible,” but noted that similar efforts in the past drew little participation. “It might make more sense for us to just brainstorm on it, bring some ideas to the next meeting, and pick the one we like best,” he said. “That’s probably the most efficient way instead of trying to make a game out of it and having two people respond.”
The name “Tiger Woods” was mentioned jokingly, but Murphy expressed support for “Cross Woods,” saying it reflects the property’s history without creating confusion with existing town locations.
The Commission agreed to continue researching the area’s background and bring formal name suggestions to its next meeting.