Sustainable Trails in Brightwood
new trails are currently low priority

Brightwood Park has 1.4 miles of trails, some running along old roadways and others through  old growth pristine forest.  

The Friends of Brightwood walk the trails frequently, noting areas that need maintenance or restoration due to weather or vandalization. 
Good trails require little maintenance other than periodic removal of fallen trees or other hazards and delimbing or pruning to maintain trail width.

If any trail damage or obstacles such as fallen trees or branches is seen as you walk the trails please notify Westfield Department of Public works directly. Notifying the Friends of Brightwood park would allow us to follow up on any repair or removals that may be needed to be done by the town.

Trail Status:
The current trails will eventually need some improvements as one or two areas tend to flood after heavy rains and with increased use during the Covid period there has been increased erosion in places which needs to be addressed. However there is currently no requirement for additional trails.


​Trail Map of Brightwood Park

Trails in Brightwood are multi-use

Most trails in Brightwood are narrow; the primary users are walkers but biking is permitted on trails.

These trails are not conduits to a destination, they are, themselves, the destination.   The Friends of Brightwood is working to make the experience of walking the trails as interesting and quiet and beautiful as possible.

We ask bikers to be thoughtful and and considerate of all other trail users, especially hikers and family groups, dog walkers, etc.  Please be aware that there may be pedestrians around the next corner.

Multi-use trails work if:

Biking at Brightwood
biking on trails is permitted on designated trails, but let's be thoughtful

  1.  In such a tiny park, ecological restoration is not compatible with active recreation in the same spot. - Emile DeVito, Manager of Science and Stewardship, NJ Conservation Foundation, after visiting Brightwood Park in 2020, 
Currently there are no single use trails at Brightwood Park.  The Friends of Brightwood are focussed on restoring the ecology of the park, particularly in the areas that have native, intact soil.  

Building new park trails, particularly in the pristine areas,  is discouraged by the environmental studies  See the 2020 Brightwood Ecology  Report.