We appreciate all our volunteers very much. Without their advocacy and hard work, there would be a very little progress happening. Without them, there would still be obstacles on the trail after the storms. Without them, there would be no trail events happening. Without them, the trail would be littered with trash. So thank you to all our wonderful volunteers!
Featured is our volunteer member Rita M. after trash pick up along the rail trail in Franklin and Bellingham. Thank you, Rita!
We will be installing a StoryWalk(R) along the SNETT in Bellingham in the near future. Watch Facebook event page for more details as well as the calendar on our website.
The book will be Get Up and Go by Nancy Carlson. The StoryWalk(R) will start at Center Street trailhead in Bellingham and go in the direction toward Lake Street. Please keep in mind social distancing when visiting. We are looking forward to see you on the trail!
The StoryWalk(R) Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kello-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk(R) is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
We are so excited that the tunnel project under the Prospect Street in Franklin is on schedule! Please read the advisory below about the trail closure. We also suggest to follow our Facebook page for any updates, as well as the Town of Franklin, Franklin Police and Franklin DPW pages for any traffic advisories for Prospect Street during the construction. Thank you!
WHAT: Starting the week of Monday, May 11, 2020, and continuing through Monday, October 31, 2020, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will install a new underpass at Prospect Street in the Town of Franklin along the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT).
The trail will be closed between Lake Street in the Town of Bellingham and Spring Street in the Town of Franklin, and trail users should plan to use other parts of the SNETT during this period of time.
Additionally, due to safety concerns, the public will not be allowed within the work zone area and passage around the work zone at Prospect Street in the Town of Franklin cannot be provided. Furthermore, the time period to complete the work is only an estimate, and may require additional time to complete the project.
WHERE: Lake Street in Bellingham and Spring Street in Franklin
WHEN: Monday May 11, 2020 – Monday, October 31, 2020
We can all use some fresh air and nature during these difficult times. Below are some resources on where you can go.
Few things to remember: Please practice social distancing of 6 or more feet. Dogs must be leashed in many of the places, so please be courteous to other users. Carry in/carry out policy also applies.
As of 3/31/2020 DCR Parks and Trails remain open. Please follow DCR Guidelines when visiting. Up to date information can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-state-parks-covid-19-update
Town of Franklin trails remain open, however playgrounds, fields and public buildings are closed until May 3rd. For trail info and maps, please go to: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/431c30cda1e24123b5fe9795b5bae17c
All Mass Audubon and Trustees properties are closed to public until further notice.
For more hiking trails ideas, visit Marjorie Turner Hollman’s Easy Walks blog or Facebook page.
Please make sure to check online before you head outdoors, if trails are still open to public, as things can change quickly.
Be safe and well!
We are happy to announce that we have received a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council for Interpretive Signage for the SNETT rail trail.
The interpretive signage will serve as a tree identification along the section from Grove Street to Spring Street in Franklin.
Stay tuned for more details.
Please be aware that due to the construction of the new water treatment facility, the Grove Street parking area will closed on Thursday 2/13/2020 and Friday 2/14/2020 from 7am to 3pm (from the Franklin DPW).
Please feel free to hop on the trail from our other parking locations at Lake St or Center St in Bellingham. Thank you.
As we look back, 2019 was a great year for the FBRTC and the SNETT. Please click below to read or download our “2019 – Year In Review” newsletter to learn more!
As we look forward, there are many more exciting things to come, especially the long awaited Prospect Street tunnel in Franklin. We thank you for your support and are looking forward to another successful year ahead!
3/31/2020 UPDATE – Due to the COVID-19 and school closures until May 4, 2020 the race has been cancelled. Please stay tuned for more details. Thank you.
Register today for our annual road race happening on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at the Remington Middle School in Franklin. Race starts at 10am. You can run 5K or walk 2K.
We are very excited to team up with the Tri-Valley Front Runners (TVFR) organization to help us run the race. Check out their website HERE.
Thanks to all who joined our successful “Walk off those Holiday Cookies” December group walk on the SNETT. This was another walk with an enthusiastic crowd (15 people and 2 dogs) as we braved some morning ice on the Grove Street and Lake Street sections and trekked all to way to Center Street in Bellingham.
Once the late morning sun arrived the trail was very navigable with the few icy spots clearly visible. The walkers who brought slip on ice crampons seemed especially enthusiastic!
On today’s walk we had two founding members, Mark and Raianne, of the Massachusetts Walking Tour group who related how they promote local arts and culture throughout Massachusetts. Their Walking Tour came through the SNETT and Franklin in 2017. If you have missed it, keep an eye out for their big, annual June event. Perhaps when our Prospect Street tunnel project is complete we can entice them back for a celebratory concert!
The January group walk will be held on Monday, January 20th (MLK Holiday) at 10am. Starting from Grove Street parking lot in Franklin. Happy New Year and hope you can join us on our January group walk on the SNETT!
On November 3rd, 2019 group of FBRTC members gathered to honor the memory of our late member David Barber. Dave’s wife, Audrey Barber, received a commemorative plague from our committee that was placed inside the kiosk Dave built near Spring Street to honor his memory, service and dedication to the SNETT and many other New England rail trails.
