Squannacook Greenways has been busy in 2018 working on fundraising and the permitting process to allow the construction of the Squannacook River Rail Trail. An important milestone was reached on Aug 10, 2018, when the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs issued a certificate on our Environmental Notification Form. This is a big step in the permitting process!

One reason that Squannacook Greenways has been working so hard on permitting is that our trail can only be constructed between the dates of Nov. 7 and Mar. 15th. This time-of-year restriction is to protect Blanding's Turtles, through whose habitat our rail trail will run. This means if we miss the Nov. 2018 window, we will need to wait until Nov. 2019.

Much important permitting work still remains to be done, in particular with the Groton and Townsend Conservation Commissions. A first public meeting has already been held with the Groton Conservation Commission, and one with the Townsend Conservation Commission should be held in the near future. We look forward to working with these boards to make sure our rail trail both serves the people in our communities, and is a good neighbor to the wonderful natural resources our trail will traverse.

The following local companies have supported the Squannacook River Rail Trail at the Granite Pillar level ($1000) or above. We ask you to thank them the next time you patronize their business!

For the full list of Granite Pillar donors, see our donation page.

 

In a word, you! The Squannacook River Rail Trail is being built by a local non-profit, Squannacook Greenways, with money from grants and donations only. No town money is being used for construction or maintenance. The trail will be maintained by local volunteers.

The next Board of Directors meeting of the non-profit Squannacook Greenways will be on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Nashua River Watershed Association in Groton.  Anyone interested in this project is more than welcome to attend.