I Lived Next To Alewife Bike Path, and Here's My Take

A Letter to the Editor from Brian Hutter:

My wife and I moved to Lynnfield with our family three years ago, after having previously lived in Arlington. We were a 1/10th of a mile from the Alewife Greenway Bike Path and we loved having access to it. When the kids were little, I would take them to a stream that ran along the path where we would visit the ducks and look forward to the arrival of new ducklings each spring. I would pull my kids in a green wagon along the path where we would stop to take pictures of the different wildflowers along the trail. In all seasons, I would see people young and old exercising or simply enjoying nature.

As a runner, I loved running along the Minuteman Bikeway where I did not have to worry about distracted drivers. The New York Times reported March 7th on a national study showing that pedestrian deaths in the U.S. are approaching the highest number in nearly 30 years. Here is a sobering statistic: “Nationally, overall traffic deaths fell 6 percent from 2008 to 2017, but pedestrian deaths rose 35 percent over that same period.” In an age of smartphones, simply walking or biking outside has become more dangerous.

Living along a recreational path is an asset. We have good friends whose backyard opened onto the Minuteman Bikeway. They enjoyed weekend family rides with their kids on the back of their bicycles. When our friends needed a bigger home and had to list their house, their home listing proudly stated “Located ON the bike path”. Proximity to a recreational path is an amenity that is to be treasured, not feared.

After moving to Lynnfield, I joined a walk organized by the town’s Board of Selectman in November 2016 along the proposed Lynnfield rail trail with more than 20 other residents. As we walked on the overgrown railway bed out into Reedy Meadow, I marveled at the natural beauty of the surrounding marsh. One participant remarked that he felt like we were walking in western Massachusetts. Creating a walking path would make these scenic vistas accessible for the whole town.

In my experience, recreational paths add to a sense of community. You see your neighbors walking their dogs or out with their families on sunny afternoons. The Lynnfield Rail Trail would also add to the safety of our community by providing a place to enjoy these outdoor activities without worrying about cars. I encourage others to vote with me on Tuesday April 9th to help bring this vision to Lynnfield.

Best,
Brian Hutter, 24 Canterbury Road