Skaneateles residents may soon have the opportunity to walk on a new nature trail that would connect the Butters Farm neighborhood with the Skaneateles Community Center.

Don Spear, owner of Butters Farm, a 25-residence subdivision between Jordan and State Street roads in Skaneateles, already has constructed a 900-foot east-west trail between Butters Farm Lane and State Street.

Pending approval from town and village officials, he now hopes to add a nature trail going north-south.

The proposed trail, which would run approximately 2,000 feet, has already received the thumbs-up from the Skaneateles Recreational Charitable Trust, which owns the Skaneateles Community Center and the property through which the trail would cross.

“We have no objections to it,” said Don Nelson, chairman of the board of SRCT, which leases the community center and its surrounding acres to the village; the village then subleases them to the town. “It enhances recreation is what it comes down to.”

The proposed trail would begin at the east-west trail near Butters Farm Lane and would end at the community center's parking lot. It would be open to the public.

“It will be really nice for taking walks,” Spear said. “It's a nice way for people from Butters Farm to get to and from the community center.”

Spear said in addition to area residents out for a walk, school teams will also benefit from the new trail. Athletes that now run on State Street and Jewett Road for their conditioning will be able to lay out loops through the nature trails and Butters Farm Lane and won't have to worry about vehicular traffic, he said.

The wood-chip trail would weave in and out of trees. Because of liability issues, it would have to be constructed by municipal labor, Nelson said, noting that the municipalities could contract the work out to Spear. Spear said that he wanted to go the latter route and will assume all construction costs himself. The homeowner's association will maintain the trail

If approved by the necessary parties, construction on the trail would take about three weeks, said Spear, who credited former Town Supervisor Bill Pavlus for the original idea.

The trail will likely be named the Vargason Nature Trail, as homeowners Charles and Barbara Vargason have allowed there to be an easement on their property for it, Spear said.

“The town comprehensive plan calls for walking trails, and this will be a big step in moving that forward,” Spear said. “We are very happy that Butters Farm is able to make this contribution to the whole community.”

Village Mayor Robert Green said that he is waiting to see a proposal from Spear and needs to know details about the village's involvement before any decision can be made.