Upper Valley Healthy Eating Active Living Partnership
Mascoma River Greenway "1st Mile" Celebration January 31st 2010
The Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, along with the Upper Valley Trails Alliance and the City of Lebanon will hold a ribbon cutting on their new connector trail to the Northern Rail Trail in Lebanon on Sunday, January 31, 2010, from 1 -3 pm, near Mascoma Street and the Slayton Hill underpass.
This short connector trail from Mascoma Street to the Northern Rail Trail was built in December, and the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition will officially ‘open’ the trail on Sunday. Everyone is welcome. The Coalition will provide hot chocolate and will have information about the entire Mascoma River Greenway project. Parking will be available through Alice Peck Day Hospital, in the accessory lot across from the hospital entrance on Mascoma Street.
The new connector trail leads from the sidewalk on Mascoma Street, near the Slayton Hill underpass and leads 60’ to connect with the Northern Rail Trail. From the Rail Trail, people can then snowshoe, ski, walk, or bike safely to the High Street intersection on a separated pathway without having to battle with traffic.
This connector trail was initiated with funding from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC). They provided $1,975, but volunteers from the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail and donations from the City levered another $2,100 needed to match the NPS and RTC. “The creation of this trail showed a great collaborative effort between the City, the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail, and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. This short trail is only the beginning of what we hope to accomplish along the Mascoma River,” said Cindy Heath, Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Lebanon’s Recreation Department.
“The Mascoma River Greenway project is directly in line with our vision of creating an accessible trail network in the Upper Valley that promotes recreation, health, and alternative transportation in all four seasons,” said Russell Hirschler, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. The Mascoma River Greenway Coalition was able to apply for these Challenge Cost Share funds because they are an active partner with the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program. Eligible projects include those that are working with NPS on conservation and recreation projects along National Recreation Trails and rail trails.
The Mascoma River Greenway is envisioned as a 4-mile bicycle and pedestrian non-motorized, separated pathway connecting Lebanon with West Lebanon. Where possible the greenway will follow the Northern Rail Trail, but there might be places along this four mile corridor where the greenway will deviate away from the rail corridor and closer to the Mascoma River. The greenway corridor is currently being studied by Bob White and Associates to give the City and the Coalition an Action Plan of where the best location might be for the Mascoma River Greenway. A public meeting about the design of this trail will be held in Lebanon in late February.
For more information contact: Paul Coates, Director, City of Lebanon Parks and Recreation Department, Lebanon, NH 03766 (603) 448-5121
Key project contact:
John Taylor (802) 649-9075 or Paul Coates (603) 448-5121
This short connector trail from Mascoma Street to the Northern Rail Trail was built in December, and the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition will officially ‘open’ the trail on Sunday. Everyone is welcome. The Coalition will provide hot chocolate and will have information about the entire Mascoma River Greenway project. Parking will be available through Alice Peck Day Hospital, in the accessory lot across from the hospital entrance on Mascoma Street.
The new connector trail leads from the sidewalk on Mascoma Street, near the Slayton Hill underpass and leads 60’ to connect with the Northern Rail Trail. From the Rail Trail, people can then snowshoe, ski, walk, or bike safely to the High Street intersection on a separated pathway without having to battle with traffic.
This connector trail was initiated with funding from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC). They provided $1,975, but volunteers from the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail and donations from the City levered another $2,100 needed to match the NPS and RTC. “The creation of this trail showed a great collaborative effort between the City, the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail, and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. This short trail is only the beginning of what we hope to accomplish along the Mascoma River,” said Cindy Heath, Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Lebanon’s Recreation Department.
“The Mascoma River Greenway project is directly in line with our vision of creating an accessible trail network in the Upper Valley that promotes recreation, health, and alternative transportation in all four seasons,” said Russell Hirschler, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. The Mascoma River Greenway Coalition was able to apply for these Challenge Cost Share funds because they are an active partner with the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program. Eligible projects include those that are working with NPS on conservation and recreation projects along National Recreation Trails and rail trails.
The Mascoma River Greenway is envisioned as a 4-mile bicycle and pedestrian non-motorized, separated pathway connecting Lebanon with West Lebanon. Where possible the greenway will follow the Northern Rail Trail, but there might be places along this four mile corridor where the greenway will deviate away from the rail corridor and closer to the Mascoma River. The greenway corridor is currently being studied by Bob White and Associates to give the City and the Coalition an Action Plan of where the best location might be for the Mascoma River Greenway. A public meeting about the design of this trail will be held in Lebanon in late February.
For more information contact: Paul Coates, Director, City of Lebanon Parks and Recreation Department, Lebanon, NH 03766 (603) 448-5121
Key project contact:
John Taylor (802) 649-9075 or Paul Coates (603) 448-5121
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© 2010 Created by Greg Norman
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