Maintaining property that ranges from ocean beaches to mature hardwood forests can be a challenge. For the Trustees of Reservations staff on Martha’s Vineyard island, the job is easier with the right equipment — a pair of Bobcat 2200 utility vehicles.
The Trustees of Reservations is a non-profit, private land trust that manages 25,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts. This unique organization preserves and maintains 99 properties of exceptional scenic, historic and ecological value for the use and enjoyment of the public.
One of those locations is Martha’s Vineyard, a 100-sq.-mi. island about 7 mi. off the coast south of Boston. Tourism is the major industry on the island with up to 100,000 residents in the summer.
Most of the property owned and managed by the Trustees in the Martha’s Vineyard region is along the coast. To help maintain the 16-mi. beach area and to transport personnel and patrol the area, Chris Egan and his staff rely on two Bobcat 2200s. Egan is the superintendent of the Martha’s Vineyard property.
“When it came time to replace the similar type of machines we previously used, we looked at a variety of options and decided the 4x4 2200s were best for our circumstances,” Egan said.
He lists some of the considerations:
• Versatile carrier. “We needed something that we could use to move staff around, for patrols and to carry supplies for maintenance. Features of the 2200s — such as excellent maneuverability, dumping cargo box, good suspension system for driver and passenger comfort, easy entry and exit, ample leg room and simple, easy-to-use controls — were a good fit for us.