SPIRIT

Swampscott Partnership Initiative Rails Into Trails

Current News

Spring, 2005: Town Meeting votes by a 2/3 majority to approve a taking by easement of the right of way for a trail. SPIRIT will raise fund for an appraisal.

Spring, 2003: Town Meeting votes to establish an implementation committee

3/9/03: The Town Committee to Study the Rail Trail has completed it's work and approved a report which supports the creation of the trail (3/5/2003). You can find a copy of the report in the documents section of this web site.

The Swampscott Community Development Committee held a meeting at which citizens divided randomly into 4 groups to make and prioritize suggestions for future activities. The Recreational trail was one of the top 3 priorities for the Open Space group and promoting alternate transportation - such as biking - was a top priority for the transportation group.

SPIRIT is a non profit organization working to create a stone dust rail trail along the former railway line in Swampscott that is now owned by National Grid.

The proposed trail runs approximately 1.1 miles from Walker Road in Swampscott to the Marblehead border where it will join the Marblehead trail.

Currently parts of this right of way is in use unofficially while most of the rest is overgrown with weeds, and in places compost and trash.

An interactive map of the proposed trail shows some of the current locations in Swampscott and, for comparison, some trail sites in Marblehead. As can be seen from the map, the trail runs right by the High School providing a safe traffic free way for kids to get to school.

Starting in 1999, SPIRIT canvassed the town and signed on over 2,000 supporters for the trail. At town meeting in the spring of 2002, an article was passed that set up a Town Committee to study the proposal put forth by SPIRIT. That committee concluded that a trail is feasible. Town Meeting subsequently approved the formation of an implementation committee and finally in Spring of 2005 approved by a 2/3 vote the taking of an easement. SPIRIT is currently working to raise the funds needed for an appraisal.

To support our efforts, VOLUNTEER TIME, and/or DONATE to SPIRIT. It's TAX DEDUCTIBLE since we're a registered non profit. You can donate below using your CREDIT CARD or PAYPAL account using the button below. MEMBERSHIP is included with any donation of $20 or more!

You can also send a tax deductible contribution by regular mail.

JOIN our mailing list! (you can leave the subject and body of the email blank). We keep messages down to 1 or 2 emails per month.

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