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Open Space Committee signals support for Beewalt/Aqueduct trail feasibility grant and regional coordination
Summary
After a site walk with Westborough volunteers, Town Planner Laurie Connors and guest Don Burns described alignments and obstacles for a proposed Beewalt/Aqueduct trail; the committee agreed to let the planner draft a support letter for a MassTrails feasibility grant and to review it at the January meeting.
Laurie Connors and guest Don Burns reported on a field walk of the proposed Beewalt/Aqueduct trail alignment and asked the Open Space Committee whether the town should pursue a MassTrails feasibility grant.
Connors summarized route options, describing a segment along an existing trolley alignment that is passable but requires clearing, an awkward Route 20 crossing that poses ADA and safety challenges, and property-ownership hurdles where sections cross MassDOT- or privately owned land. She said Westborough has completed a feasibility study that ends at the Walmart and that some small segments have been built; Don Burns and Connors proposed applying for MassTrails funding to pay for a formal feasibility study to test realistic alignments, wetland constraints and grading needs.
Cost and match: Connors said prior engineering quotes for a feasibility study were about $20,000 and that MassTrails requires a 20 percent local match. She said John Burns (a volunteer) has offered in-kind assistance on the grant and that the committee’s written support would aid the application. Committee members generally welcomed the regional approach: Jacob and others noted topography and grading issues near Shrewsbury and the need for property-owner buy-in; Brian and others praised intertown connectivity benefits and the extensive work volunteers had already done.
Decision: The committee voted to authorize the town planner to prepare a draft support letter for a MassTrails feasibility application and to circulate it for review before the committee’s January meeting. Connors said she would prepare the draft and that the MassTrails deadline would likely require a January turnaround.
Next steps: If the feasibility study proceeds, Connors said subsequent work would design the preferred alignment and pursue construction funding; she asked members to remain engaged with stakeholder outreach (MassDOT, property owners, Westborough, Shrewsbury) and to participate in CPC or Select Board discussions when appropriate.
