The easement from existing rail trail right-of-way to South Main Street is on target. There is now a signed Option for the purchase of this easement. Before we can actually close on the deal, there’s a need for final approval from the City of Northampton, Williamsburg Town Meeting, and approval of the State Legislature (to do a complicated land swap to deal with an encroaching garage: life is sometimes very complicated). But all of that is on track.

But there’s also a need to raise $5,000 to fund the easement (since it’s not appropriate or feasible to use Northampton taxpayer dollars).

The Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways is helping to fund this purchase, and we have already received several pledges. If you are in a position to help support this effort with a tax-deductible contribution (which we will forward to the City of Northampton), your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Contributions (marked “easement purchase”, payable to FNTG) can be sent to:

Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways
PO Box 60643
Florence, MA 01062-0643

or submitted electronically through our website (www.fntg.net).

Thanks in advance for your support of this important project,
Nick Horton, President

There’s lots to be excited about, including the construction for the tunnel under the railroad paralleling King Street, new on-ramps and spurs to build out the trail, and the expansion of plowing (which allowed people to walk and bike through the core network this winter. The photo and video contest was a great success, with a number of creative and beautiful entries. Our winter appeal raised $5,000 for City of Northampton trail design, construction and maintenance. And we’re close to completing (with our partners in Easthampton) a new trail map and brochure.

But there’s more to be done, and we can’t do it without you. There are a number of volunteer opportunities (some one-time, some continuing) which will help us to improve the trails and build on this prior work.

Spring trail cleanup coordinator (we provide contacts and a detailed list of what needs doing)
Spring trail cleanup captains (one-shot: help to organize volunteers at a particular location)
Newsletter editor (twice a year publication to alert people to news and happenings)
Newsletter contributor (one-shot: contribute an article to the newsletter)
Secretary (attend occasional planning meetings, take notes)
Communications coordinator (post items regularly for the website, mailing list, and Facebook group)
Organize a tour (one-shot: we can help find experts to talk)
Arts event (help to plan an “Arts on the Trail” event)

If you are interested in any of these positions or opportunities, have questions, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the officers:

Nicholas Horton (President)
Sean Kinlin (Vice-President)
Mary Jo Stanley (Treasurer)

We really can’t do it without you.

See you on the trails!

Nick

We have a goal of $5,000 for this year, to help build connections to new parts of our community. We’re partnering with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ Valley Gives fundraising program, and we hope that you’ll support us (as well as other worth community organizations) as generously as you can.

See you on the trails!

http://valleygives.razoo.com/story/Friends-Of-Northampton-Trails-And-Greenways

For 24 hours on 12/12/12, contributions to FNTG will make us eligible for special grants of up to $15,000 through the Valley Gives program. The more online donations we receive, the more likely we are to win one of these grants. You can help to make that happen!

It’s easy to support FNTG during this exciting new giving event. Simply go to www.fntg.net and click on the “Valley Gives” link on the right sidebar. Funds raised will be used to support rail trail development and improvements, and will leverage city, state and federal dollars.

I’ve made a Valley Gives donation to the Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways because I believe that the rail trails in our community are an investment in our future that benefit us all. I hope that you can do so as well.

See you on the trails!

Nicholas Horton, President

The release (dated November 30, 2012) states:

Mayor Narkewicz is pleased to announce that a previously unplowed section of the Manhan Rail Trail from Main Street to King Street will be cleared of snow this winter through a new collaboration with Smith College and the Business Improvement District (BID).

Smith College has generously offered to sell the City a 2009 Kubota RTV 1100, at a significantly reduced price, that includes a contribution from the BID. This new piece of City equipment will be used by the BID to remove snow on the trail from Main Street to King Street as part of its downtown snow clearing operations. The RTV is equipped with a 5 way power angle plow and a sand/salt sander that will enable snow to be cleared from the trail. The BID currently uses a City owned street sweeper under a similar arrangement.

“In the last two years, the rail trail network has transformed bicycle and pedestrian travel around downtown Northampton, for eight months a year. This link will allow these new travel opportunities to continue throughout the year,” said Mayor Narkewicz.

“Smith College has been pleased to support a number of bike access projects that serve our students, employees, and the community at large. We are glad to be able to facilitate greater year-round use of this key section of the bike path,” said Laurie Fenlason, Vice President for Public Affairs at Smith College.

“The Northampton rail trails are a draw for tourists, vvisitors and residents from the surrounding neighborhoods and by providing access year round will continue to make Northampton a top tourist destination,” said Dan Yacuzzo, Director the Northampton BID.

The Main Street to King Street bike path is approximately one mile in length and was completed by the State in the fall of 2010. The King Street connection provides the missing link from Downtown Northampton to Leeds.

Happy trails!