Recreational Resources: Proposals by Study

Participants of the start-up workshop made several suggestions for greenway connections across Massachusetts. Probably the most significant one was to provide additional east to west greenway connections. Justin Desantis suggested linking the Quabbin Reservoir to Boston. Another suggestion was to connect watersheds to greenways and link them to recreation on both private and public land. Linking greenways to transit lines was another recommendation. This study also refers to an earlier research project, a statewide greenway vision plan for Massachusetts by the 1995 greenway planning studio at the University of Massachusetts for suggestions. The author also borrows from the New England Trails portion of this study for additional trail proposals. Heidi Ernst, a member of this New England Greenway Vision Plan focussed her study on trails in New England and prepared a plan which proposed additional trail connections. One of the most significant trails proposed by Ernst for Massachusetts, is the Boston-Albany Rail Trail. The Boston-Albany Rail Line is approximately 170 miles long and connects New York to Richmond, Massachusetts and heads east to Medford. Sixty percent of the trail is actively being used; the rest is abandoned. The trail is composed of six segments: 1.) CONRAIL, an active rail line in Richmond runs 80 miles east to Indian Orchard; 2.) 10 miles of the abandoned Boston & Albany Railroad from Indian Orchard to Bondsville; 3.) Massachusetts Central Railroad, an active line from Bondsville to Old Furnace approximately 15 miles; 4.) 25 miles of the abandoned Boston & Maine Corporation from Old Furnace to West Oakdale; 5.) CONRAIL, an active rail line 10 miles long from West Boylston to Clinton; and 6.) Boston & Maine Corporation, an abandoned rail line 30 miles in length from Clinton to Medford. The author presented the Boston-Albany Rail Trail at the follow-up workshop and the participants all embraced this proposal because the rail trail makes connections to the cities of Pittsfield, Worcester, Springfield and Boston. Group 1 particularly noted that the rail trail was feasible due to the existing rail bed's alignment. If this plan is adopted, 170 miles of rail trails will be added in Massachusetts. The trails make connections to existing north-south long distance trails and connect with Connecticut's proposed greenways. The Bay Circuit trail was nominated as a Millennium flagship trail. Group 1 from the greenway planning workshop favored the trail for its long history. The trail connects a ring of state forests, wildlife management areas and parks within the urban ring and it links to greenways around Boston. Bruce Leish supported a proposal by the 1995 UMASS greenway planing studio to make a greenway connection from Mount Hope Bay along the Taunton River, through the Hockomock Wildlife Management Area, to the Bay Circuit. During the start-up workshop, Richard Johnson suggested creating a boat access network that would connect fishermen to ports, rails, trails, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. During the follow-up workshop, Group 2 proposed a Coastal Blueway, which uses ferryboats to travel along coastal greenways. In addition to that they also proposed a Southwest Greenway Corridor which would provide a greenway access to the Boston Harbor Islands, a popular destination point for many events. Another proposal was to create a greenway connection linking together the beaches. This study embraces the Coastal Blueway proposal, which may also incorporate additional stops at major beach resorts during the summer season. During the start-up workshop Jennifer Howard proposed a connection from the Taconic Crest and Taconic Skyline Trails to the South Taconic Trail. This proposal adds 300 miles of trails in Massachusetts.

Map Proposals by Others

Proposals by Study Results