Several MetroWest communities benefit from more than $12M in MassTrails grants

HOLLISTON — State officials have announced the disbursement of more than $12 million to go toward funding 65 trail improvements throughout Massachusetts — including four projects in MetroWest.

Brian Arrigo , commissioner of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation , made the announcement of the so-called MassTrails grants last Friday during a news conference in Blair Square, along the Upper Charles Rail Trail .

The new funding is earmarked to support the creation of new trails and to increase accessibility on current trails. The state money will also go toward establishing connections between communities, by constructing boardwalks and bridges and implementing signage and expanding trail corridors throughout the state.

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Arrigo congratulated the approximately 80 municipalities for receiving the funding, saying the state's system of rail trails are "perfect" examples of the DCR's four pillars: public health, economic opportunity, climate change and equity.

"One of our goals at DCR is to ensure that there's equal access to beautiful open spaces and that they are building healthy communities all across the Commonwealth," he said. "Our trails allow families and residents to walk, bike, run and push strollers between communities."

He continued: "Our open spaces and trails are ultimately fostering a sense of community that we hope — and we know — will go on for generations."

Holliston awarded $54,000 to improve drainage on Upper Charles Trail

Sixty-five projects are set to receive matching grants. For example, Holliston was awarded nearly $54,000 for a construction project aimed at improving drainage along a problematic section of the Upper Charles Trail .

"Almost 10,000 volunteer hours since 1998 to accomplish what you see here," Holliston Town Administrator Travis Ahern said during Friday's press conference. "Seven hundred and fifty daily trips going down the rail trail, which has only increased since the pandemic."

Ahern was joined by Robert Weidknecht , chair of the Holliston Trails Committee. Weidknecht said the latest funding is part of five grants over the years totaling more than $300,000, allowing the town to build more than 6 miles of trails.

"It's been a wonderful program that really made this all happen, and we wouldn't be here without that program and that funding," Weidknecht said.

State Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, D-Holliston , agreed. He said rail trails are becoming an institution in his district, which includes Hopkinton, Holliston, Sherborn and parts of Millis.

"It really just provides such great opportunity for the community and people are really enjoying it and loving it," Arena-DeRosa said during the press conference. "And really I just wanted to thank everybody for all your efforts for making this happen.

"I know in Hopkinton they do art on the trail. I hope we do that here."

What other MetroWest projects are getting funding?

The Holliston grant was among 65 grants given to municipalities throughout the state. Other MetroWest municipalities affected include Ashland, Framingham and Sudbury.

Ashland received $300,000 from the DCR to acquire two privately owned parcels immediately west of Route 126 to support the development of the town's portion of the Upper Charles Trail. The two parcels are direct connections to numerous Ashland destinations and other rail trails, including the Dike Trail and Bay Circuit Trail .

Framingham received two grants — $420,120 for design work on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and $100,000 for the construction of a 1,000-foot-long ADA-accessible boardwalk and an ADA-accessible riverside viewing platform in the Carol Getchell Reservation .

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"The grants are critical to moving forward," Framingham Director of Planning and Community Development Sarkis Sarkisian told the Daily News after Friday's press conference. "We're grateful to the DCR for the funding."

Finally, Sudbury received $250,000 to advance the design of the town's section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Completion of this project will finalize the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail corridor in Sudbury and provide connections to the Mass Central Rail Trail.

A full list of the projects receiving funding can be found by visiting DCR's website .

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Several MetroWest communities benefit from more than $12M in MassTrails grants