Peter LaGoy, the chair of Hopkinton’s Trails Committee, appeared before the School Committee on Thursday to start conversations about some of the trail developments impacting school properties.

These include fitness equipment set up on the Center Trail where the high school’s cross country course meets the trail. Scouts and volunteers are doing the installation with the Trails Committee overseeing them.

LaGoy spoke about creating a stone dust path from the Loop Road to the Chamberlain Street Extension. Engineering plans are in the works.

For the future, he asked the School Committee for thoughts on ideas like trails from Hopkins School to EMC Park, Chamberlain Extension to West Main Street and Lumber Street, and the future Charleswood School to Loop Road.

Chair Nancy Cavanaugh said she liked the idea of increased walking access to school for students.

School Committee member Susan Stephenson asked what kind of security would be put in place “in this day and age.”

Tim Persson, director of grounds and facilities, said the district is posting signs indicating individuals should not use trails during school hours. He brought up safety concerns about these plans potentially leading more people to campus.

He also pointed out walkers to school would have to deal with inclement weather as the School Department does not maintain trails.

“Schools are supporters of trails, but our concern is: How do you keep them safe? It brings in a lot of outside people who want to use them. Also, does this become a hub for parking?” Persson asked.

School Committee member Chris Masters said that children walking on trails to school are safer than walking on Hayden Rowe Street.

“However, people can see the kids from Hayden Rowe,” Stephenson responded. “I’m thinking of that horrible element in our world.”

“That’s the way our Police Department will look at it as well,” Persson said.

He suggested the Trails Committee contact Ricky Andrade, the athletic director, who he said is a supporter of trails if “they make sense for him to run [teams] on.”

School Committee vice chair Jamie Wronka said she would be most concerned about trails near schools with younger students like Marathon and Charleswood.

LaGoy said he had heard these worries before and would keep them in mind.

“There’s a high perceived risk and a very, very low risk based on evidence that is out there,” LaGoy said regarding the safety of trails.

He added, “Typically, bad people do not like being out in the woods. It is not their favorite place.”

LaGoy said there was an issue on Echo Trail dealing with a person writing inappropriate things on a bench there. Police put a camera on it.

He said if a child encounters a person and feels uncomfortable, “that would get intense attention.”

Wronka said she wanted to hear “the ins and outs of design” and more about logistics such as maintenance, barriers, etc.

Nancy Cavanaugh said it would be important to have a way that is easy to reach a person who may trip and fall on a trail.

Similarly, Wronka asked about labeling trails so there is a clear identification system if students had an emergency, for example, and needed to specify a location.

LaGoy responded that naming trails is part of the process.

He added that long-range plans could include educational walks at Legacy Farms South in a few years.

LaGoy said there is a spot where people can see “eight different conifer species” and where other learning opportunities are available.

Nancy Cavanaugh advised him to stay in contact with Persson and ask to be put on the agenda when he wants to make future presentations.