B2B_brochure3.qxp:Layout 1 10/2/08 12:55 PM Page 1

THEBORDERTOBOSTONTRAIL BORDERTO CONNECTINGCOMMUNITIES AVISIONFORTHEFUTURE is a developing 28-mile shared use trail that will link eight The trail’s route follows two abandoned sections of the The trail will provide local residents of all ages access to a Essex County communities from the NH border to ’s BOSTONTRAIL former Boston & Railroad, passing through town linear park, away from motorized traffic, allowing more northern suburbs for non-motorized uses. The trail will centers and the rural areas in between. The trail will enable opportunities for exercise, healthy transportation, and connect town centers, neighborhoods, schools, parks, NORTHERNSECTION townspeople to travel to and from businesses, schools and interaction with friends and neighbors in our communities. recreational facilities and natural areas in Essex County. parks without using a car, and will encourage people of all The trail will pass through or near the town centers of When completed, this trail will ages to exercise and to explore the natural world along the Salisbury, Newburyport, Georgetown, Topsfield and Danvers, be one of the region’s most Connecting Communities trail. The trail will be affording safe, comfortable access to vital downtown areas outstanding assets, facilitating safe, accessible to all forms of for work, shopping, or leisure activities. scenic and healthy transportation in Essex County non-motorized travel Important natural and cultural destinations will be easily and recreation for all. including walking, bicycling, accessible by walking, bicycling and other non-motorized wheelchairs, in-line skating, means. Imagine an extended exploration of the Great Marsh, snowshoeing and cross- with multiple stops for wildlife observation or photography, Eastern Trail: 60 mi to Portland MAINE country skiing in winter. and opportunities to learn from informative educational Kittery BORDER-TO-BOSTONTRAILMAP signs along the trail or an alternative way to reach the ANDOTHERREGIONALTRAILS New Castle Portsmouth Topsfield Fairgrounds. BORDERTOBOSTONTRAIL Greenland (INDESIGNPHASE) The trail will also make it easy to travel by bicycle to

EASTERNTRAIL BORDER Salisbury Beach and to the beaches and National Wildlife (INCONSTRUCTION) Rye to Refuge on Plum Island. It will help people explore Camp NEWHAMPSHIRE SEACOASTTRAIL(PLANNED) North Hampton Denison in Georgetown and outstanding sites of the BOSTON PEABODY BIKEWAY Audubon Society, and The Trustees of (INCONSTRUCTION) Hampton This project is a collaborative Reservations, as well as three state parks, three state effort of all eight municipalities on the route. Elected and forests and two state wildlife management areas. Together Hampton Falls agency officials at all levels of the eight communities along the trail have over 3,100 NEWHAMPSHIRE Seabrook government are working in partnership with the Massachusetts Highway Department properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Amesbury (MassHighway), Essex National all within the Essex National Heritage Area. Salisbury Heritage Commission, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Metropolitan Area Planning Newburyport Council, National Park Service, and National Grid to promote and West Newbury coordinate development of the trail. Haverhill BENEFITSOFTHEBORDERTOBOSTONTRAIL Newbury HEALTHANDFITNESS: ALTERNATIVECOMMUTING INCREASEDTOURISM: Trails PRESERVINGTHERAIL The US is suffering from an OPTIONS: The trail will allow are increasingly popular CORRIDOR: Development of a obesity epidemic in both adults economical and environmentally- rail-trail preserves the corridor Georgetown destinations for individuals and Rowley and children, which increases friendly travel not only to and families seeking a reasonably- for transportation use now and e MASSACHUSETTS risks of heart disease, diabetes from work and school, but also priced outdoor vacation, offering in the future. Trails preserve North Andover Ipswich and osteoarthritis. The trail for in-town errands and visits as safe, confined linear parks open space and provide refuge Boxford Rockport will encourage people of all well. The trail will meet the with access to attractions in for many species of animal and Topsfield Essex ages to exercise safely by being Federal Safe Routes to School neighboring towns. Trails help plant life, allowing animals as Hamilton Gloucester able to walk, bike, jog or in-line criteria for school children living stimulate economic development well as people to move freely Wenham skate away from heavily in neighborhoods near the trail. — trail users patronize local from one open space to another. Manchester Danvers ESSEXNATIONAL traveled roads. businesses and new businesses Beverly sprout up along trails. The Border to Boston Trail HERITAGEAREA Lynnfield is a segment of the Maine to COVER:BORDERTOBOSTONTRAILCROSSINGTHEIPSWICHRIVER. Peabody Salem Florida East Coast Greenway. B2B_brochure3.qxp:Layout 1 10/2/08 12:56 PM Page 5

PLACESTOGETTOANDSEEONTHETRAIL

TOPSFIELD,MA

BOXFORD,MA COMMUTERRAIL,NEWBURYPORT,MA

GREATMARSH,SALISBURY,MA

NEWBURY,MA DESIGNING,BUILDINGAND GEORGETOWN,MA FOLLOWINGHISTORICRAILLINES LINKINGTHETRAIL The Border to Boston Trail will follow the rights-of- Development of the 28-mile Border to Boston trail is extend 60 miles to Portland. Soon it may be possible way of two abandoned rail lines, the Eastern Route occurring in stages. When completed it will link the to cycle or use other methods of non-motorized Main Line from the border in segments of local trails already under development by the transportation to get to the beaches of southern Maine Salisbury to Newburyport and the Newburyport Branch communities along the route. Newburyport has already and beyond on more than 100 contiguous miles of Line from Newburyport to Danvers. WHATYOUCANDOTOMAKETHE begun construction of the Clipper City Rail Trail traffic-free trails. Eventually the Border to Boston Trail The Eastern Railroad was chartered in 1836 as a BORDERTOBOSTONTRAILAREALITY— between the Merrimack River and the MBTA Commuter may qualify for designation as part of the East Coast route from Boston to Salem, Newburyport, Portsmouth WAYSVOLUNTEERSCANHELP: Rail Station. The Topsfield Linear Common construction Greenway, a 3000-mile type of “Appalachian Trail” for (NH) and into Maine. Passenger service ended in 1965. Attend your local trail committee meetings. will start on a short section of trail by spring of 2009. cyclists and other non-motorized users being developed The was chartered in 1846 Salisbury will also begin construction of the Old Eastern between Maine and Florida. to compete with the Eastern Railroad. After many years Tell your friends and neighbors about the positive aspects of the trail. Marsh Trail in 2009. Other towns along the route of declining service in the 1930s, the line was abandoned are working closely with MassHighway to coordinate Do not go where between Topsfield and Newburyport in 1941. Passenger Phone and write your elected officials and follow up with the necessary civil and structural engineering, wetlands service continued to Topsfield until 1950 and to them. We need local, state and federal support to complete protection, and permitting procedures for their trail sections. the path may lead– Danvers until 1959. Pan Am Railways can still transport the trail. The overall goal of the go instead where freight between Danvers Junction and Wakefield, but Cast your vote for the trail at every opportunity. project is to eventually connect the route is inactive. there is no path and Write letters to the editors or an article for the local paper this northern section of trail Leave a Trail. in support of the trail. to Boston, thus the trail’s name ~Ralph Waldo Emerson conveys this long term vision. Attend ground-breaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies as sections of the trail are started and completed. To the north the trail will soon be able to connect to other Support local establishments along the trail and let them regional trails in , know you are in favor of the trail. TRAILCONSTRUCTION,NEWBURYPORT including the proposed New Visit other trails for ideas to help develop the best trail possible. Hampshire Seacoast Greenway, which will run 20 miles from the Massachusetts border to Portsmouth, NH. PHOTOCOURTESYOFTHEDANVERSHISTORICALARCHIVES Beyond that, southern Maine’s Eastern Trail, which For more information, please visit us at The above photo shows children waiting at one of Danvers’ already has several sections built and open for use, will train stations after the Kiddie Outing at Benson’s Animal Farm. www.bordertoboston.org. At one time Danvers had nine active train stations.