$7,500 MAPC Grant Will Be Used Toward Proposed Rail Trail

Tewksbury Rail Trails has recently been awarded a $7,500 wellness grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

The grant is part of a $1.6 million Middlesex Community Transformation Grant, awarded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tewksbury Rail Trails is a community group started by Peter Miller and which now includes many current and former town officials.

The $7,500 wellness grant will be used by the town to develop a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the first step in creating a rail trail in Tewksbury. The committee will be charged with improving safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians and promoting healthy, outdoor, family activities, according to the grant press release.

“This initiative is in line with both the Tewksbury Master Plan and the Tewksbury Open Space and Recreation Plan,” said David Gay, chairman of the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen. “Establishing this committee will assist the town in furthering its open space, green, and health goals.”