We are grateful for a phenominal amount of progress in Clinton this year. Our sincere thanks go out to our many generous donors, to the volunteers who brave all kinds of weather to work on Clinton’s open spaces, and also to the volunteers who find and apply for grants that help fund our projects. Here‘s a review of 2023:
- Feb-March: Our Point Sebago Fundraiser early in 2023 raised $3,000
- April: Our Earth Day event was attended by at least 100 volunteers who collected 3 truckloads of trash
- June: Our Annual Meeting guest presentation by Meg Bandara of Unpaved Trails for All educated us about trail planning for limited mobility users.
- June: MassTrails awarded CGCT $203,000 to help with the purchase of 447 Berlin Street. The full price was $250,000. (leaving a $25k shortfall that needs to be paid back in 2024).
- Sept-Oct: Old Home Day and Beer & Volunteer Day brought new members to help with our efforts
- Nov. 3: We closed on the purchase of 447 Berlin Street.
- Nov. 28: Trivia Takeover event at Sterling Street Brewery – raised $550!
- 2024 Goals: 1. Raise $50,000; 2. Recruit team leaders to plan and lead within CGCT.
More about the 447 Berlin Street Parcel
The most recent accomplishment for the CGCT and this multi-year trail development project is the acquisition of a 4.3-acre parcel that will act as a trail head. This parcel, which is now protected open space, is at the eastern edge of the MCRT-Clinton at 447 Berlin Street. In addition to providing an accessible trailhead through an existing parking area, it includes a small pond and woodland areas.
The CGCT was able to acquire this parcel with the support of a $203,000 MassTrails Grant, a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts and other funds raised by the CGCT (totalling $25,000). The initial purchase price of $250,000 was funded through a 0% interest loan from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation.
CGCT president Chris Ebstein explains, “We were able to qualify for a zero percent interest loan through Norcross Wildlife Foundation that must be paid off in 12 months. With additional fundraising events and grants, we will retire the Norcross loan and position the CGCT and the Town of Clinton for the trail development phase of the project. 447 Berlin Street is a really beautiful addition to Clinton’s Open Space and makes the entire project better.”
Over the past year, much work has been done on the town-owned rail trail property that is part of the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT). In 2022, the Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust (CGCT) applied and received a MassTrails grant on behalf of the Town of Clinton to complete the design for the rail trail and a plan for the remediation of the tunnel. The Town of Clinton was awarded one of the largest grants given that year. That work is now completed, and with trail design plans and remediation plans in hand, CGCT and the Town of Clinton can now complete the final design details and move on to the build phase of the project.
447 Berlin Street is a beautiful addition to Clinton Open Space
This parcel, which includes and is adjacent to wetlands and priority habitat, will become part of Clinton’s protected conservation land. This land is habitat for deer, wild turkeys, opossum, raccoons, otters, foxes, coyotes, skunks, bobcats, salamander, black racer and garter snakes, and bobolinks. All have been sighted in this area that is now protected.
This parcel will also provide an accessible parking area for the MCRT through an existing parking lot. The parking area is at MCRT grade allowing those with mobility issues to access
nature, going through beautiful wetlands to a varied network of trails on Rauscher Farm and, eventually, through the 1,100 ft. tunnel to DCR land. Providing access to all is a very important goal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as are providing off-road trails for pedestrians and bicycle commuting. The Commonwealth continues to show strong support for completing a statewide network of trails.
The Mass Central Rail Trail runs 104 miles east to west and right through Clinton, MA. A recent economic impact study shows that the completed rail trail will bring between four and five million visitors a year, with almost a million from Worcester County alone. These visitors are estimated to spend around $200,000 a year in the towns along the route. The full study is available online at masscentralrailtrail.org.
Today, over 90 miles of the former rail line is now in public or protected status in the form of a state agency, a municipality, or a land trust, preserving it from being segmented or damaged. Of that protected mileage, 59 miles are now open and safe for families to enjoy. In two years, around 70-75 miles will be open. Of course, getting to 104 miles open will be expensive and difficult (saving the hardest sections for last). The 1,100-foot tunnel in Clinton is one of those harder, more expensive projects to fund, along with a safe crossing over Route 70. CGCT has a plan for that. Trails Subcommittee Chair and expert project manager Frannie Hodge plans to break the work into smaller chunks that are doable to keep the forward motion going.
The completed Mass Central Rail Trail will connect with 18 other trails creating a network of trails across the state. The completion of this trail system fits into the Commonwealth’s Climate Resiliency goals, as well as providing healthy outdoor recreation for all. In Clinton, the Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust is the project leader for the rail trail, but they also are Clinton’s land trust with lots of other ongoing efforts. CGCT works closely with Clinton’s Rauscher Farm Management Subcommittee to further the work on Rauscher Farm such as helping to plant and fund a managed Pollinator Garden. Other priority projects include the Nashua River, Counterpane Brook, and implementation of Clinton’s Open Space Plan.