Excellent turnout for our November ‘Walk Off That Turkey’ SNETT group walk! We had our most adventurous group to date as we walked the trail from Grove St in Franklin all the way to Center St in Bellingham (and back). This group that wouldn’t stop logged 5.2 miles worth of steps as the sunshine and scenery kept enticing us forward. We encountered many users of the SNETT including walkers, joggers and runners. It seemed like everyone who owned a black dog was out enjoying the trail today! We also noticed the Kindness Rocks display (near Center St trailhead) – it could use a few more stones with notes of kindness or encouragement :). We hope you can join us for our December walk, so keep your eyes on the calendar here or on our Facebook events page.
Join the global generosity movement to do good in your own community. The #GivingTuesday this year is on December 3rd and we would love to have your financial support, so that we can apply for larger matching grants to help improve the SNETT rail trail, to be able to do more pop-up StoryWalks®, to provide exciting member-only events and so much more.
Thank you to our members, community volunteers and the DCR for helping with our fall clean up on the SNETT section between Lake St (Bellingham) and Prospect Street (Franklin). It was little muddy, but we got a lot accomplished! Thank you!
It does not have to be sunny to enjoy beautiful fall views on the SNETT. Do you have photos to share? Email us at FBRTCommittee@gmail.com and we will be happy to post them on our Facebook page.
Lovely views of farmland not far from Center St. in Bellingham, MA. Beautiful fall scenery along the SNETT between Lake and Center Streets in Bellingham, MA.Dog walker near Lake St. walking toward Center St. in Bellingham, MA.SNETT at Lake St. parking lot in Bellingham, MA.SNETT near Prospect St. in Franklin, MA.
This month’s trail walk on the SNETT was extra entertaining as the wooded path featured a StoryWalk(R) book. The group strolled the Bellingham section of the SNETT starting at the Center St trailhead. Along the way kids and adults took turns reading the placard pages of “The Golden Acorn”. (Spoiler Alert: Basically friendship is the biggest reward!). Within the group was even a family represented by four generations! Autumn colors are really starting to bloom on the SNETT, so be sure to make time to visit.
We would like to thank our volunteer Darren Marino for organizing and leading the monthly group walks and we hope you can join us for our November one too. Keep an eye on the events on our website and/or our Facebook page for more details. See you on the trail!
We have a busy month ahead of us and we hope you can connect with us at one of our events. Please see the list below and click the link for more details.
We are excited to announce that funding of the Prospect Street tunnel on the SNETT rail trail in Franklin, MA has been approved!!!
State Rep. Jeff Roy (D-Franklin) and Rep. Mike Soter (R-Bellingham) shared this great news with the Franklin & Rail Trail Committee members, guests and visitors at our Tuesday’s meeting on September 10, 2019.
State Rep. Jeff Roy delivering the news about funding approval to FBRTC and community members.
The project will go out to bid in November 2019 and should be completed by the end of the summer/early fall of 2020.
The funding of this project is a result of many years of collective effort by FBRTC members, state legislators, DCR officials, Franklin and Bellingham Town officials and residents.
Town and State Officials present at the meeting (left to right): James Kupfer (Bellingham Town Planner), Cary Vandenakker (DCR Representative), Rep. Mike Soter (Bellingham), Melanie Hamblen (Franklin Town Councilor), Rep. Jeff Roy (Franklin), Marc Kaplan (FBRTC president)
“The Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) is proud to be the community advocate for the SNETT and the funding of the Prospect Street tunnel project,” said Marc Kaplan, FBRTC president. “The tunnel project solves a major impasse on the SNETT and creates a seamless connection between the towns of Franklin and Bellingham. When completed, the tunnel will help realize our mission of making a universally accessible trail for all ages and abilities and will improve the quality of life for residents. We would like to thank Representatives Roy and Soter and Senators Spilka and Rausch, as well as Franklin and Bellingham Town administrators for their leadership to secure funding for this important project, and the DCR for their tireless work and direct assistance in developing the SNETT rail trail.”
We cannot forget to also thank the Franklin Odd Fellows – the Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee was originally formed in January 2009 as their community project!
We are so looking forward to see this project come to a completion!
Conceptual rendering (courtesy of DCR) of the tunnel (above), current state of the trail (below).
For additional, detailed information, please visit the following resources:
So it is dog days of summer time of the year. Most people head out toward water, but the trails have their beauty in the summer too. Please enjoy some of the views that can be found along the SNETT trail. Photos were taken between the Center Street (Bellingham, MA) and Prospect Street (Franklin, MA). See you on the trail!
Please join us in June on Friday, 6/14 from 4pm to 8pm at the annual Franklin’s Strawberry Stroll in Downtown Franklin and on Saturday, June 22 at 10am for StoryWalk®/group walk in Bellingham (meet at the Center Street parking lot). Please visit our event page for more details. We hope to see you at on or both events!
Enjoy a bike ride. While walking/hiking, be on a lookout for kindness rocks. They can be hiding anywhere along the trail.
Winter Magic
Winter brings a special magic to the trail. Enjoy snowshoeing and cross country skiing close to home all winter long.
Nature + Literature = StoryWalk® The FBRTC (Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee) hosted several pop-up StoryWalks® . Laminated pages from a story book were posted along a path that lead children and their families further along the trail and into the story. Everyone enjoyed this unique adventure.
Bring your best friend Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail, but please be sure to clean up after them.
Monthly Group Walks
Please join the FBRTC members for our monthly group walks. Walks are announced via Facebook.
