Opinion: I Saw Firsthand That Trail Was A Success in Newburyport

A Letter to the Editor from Heather Jameson-Lyons:

As the mother of a young child and the daughter of a parent with impaired mobility, I wholeheartedly support the Wakefield-Lynnfield rail trail project. I am confident that it will enrich the lives of all generations in Lynnfield. I grew up in nearby Newburyport, MA, and it’s safe to say that my parents, who still live there, as well as their fellow residents, love their city’s rail trail. It’s been a pleasure to see people of all ages enjoying daily walks, runs, and bike rides on what has been proven to be a safe, traffic-free trail.

While on maternity leave last year, I often drove to Newburyport to walk the rail trail with my infant daughter and father, who uses a cane. As a new mother, I had concerns about walking with my baby on the streets and sidewalks in Lynnfield. Not only are speeding cars an issue on the main streets one must travel to access the quieter neighborhoods, but many of the sidewalks are deteriorating, which poses risks to young children, physically impaired people, and parents and caregivers pushing strollers. It would have been an asset to have in Lynnfield what the rail trail in Newburyport offered this nervous, first-time mother: a safe and quiet place to take a walk, away from motor vehicles.

When the Clipper City Rail Trail was proposed in my hometown of Newburyport, I recall push back from many residents expressing the same concerns and fears I have heard from Lynnfield residents opposed to the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail: that our town should instead be making investments into the rehabilitation of our existing streets and sidewalks, and that the rail trail will increase crime and traffic in our area. I agree that our roadways and sidewalks need improvement. However, the money allocated for the rail trail cannot be used towards infrastructure rehabilitation. Why not embrace the construction of a recreational path that will provide a dedicated space for all our citizens to safely enjoy a walk, run, or bike ride?

Those opposed to the rail trail also assert that recreational paths are not safe and will inevitably increase crime in Lynnfield. This is a myth debunked by other neighboring communities with rail trails like Danvers and Newburyport. These cities have not seen the increase in crime and vandalism anticipated by those initially opposed to the rail trails. Have the trails been incident-free? Of course not. No town is free of crime. But the fact remains that recreational paths have not increased the crime rates in these neighboring communities.

Residents have also voiced concerns that a rail trail will increase traffic in our area. I disagree. Many of our neighboring cities and towns already have beautiful walking paths and/or rail trails, so it is unlikely that their residents will feel the need to travel to Lynnfield to use a recreational path. People who currently travel to Lynnfield will continue to do so for the obvious and more compelling reason: to visit the attractions of Market Street.

To the residents of Lynnfield: If you have young children, physically impaired loved ones, or simply enjoy safe places to walk without the interference of motor vehicles, please join me on April 9th and VOTE YES to advance the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail project!

Heather Jameson-Lyons