On March 30, at Westborough’s Tatnuck Booksellers, the initial meeting for Friends of BWALT was held. Invited were those who attended recent public meetings on the topic and others who expressed interest in supporting this project. Following brief personal introductions by all eighteen attendees, Representative Kate Donoghue stressed the importance of such organizations in creating vibrant communities, as was done in the establishment of the Westborough Community Land Trust back in 1997, followed by the evolution of the Charm Bracelet trail system. She encouraged us to create collaborations with local interest groups, communities and agencies.
Status reports on Westborough’s BWALT trail segments were then shared by Kristen Belanger, Westborough’s Assistant Town Planner. Current implementation and planning efforts are focused on Sections 1 and 2. Updates on trail-related initiatives in Shrewsbury, Northborough, Southborough and Berlin were highlighted. Don Burn provided history of the BWALT initiative, as he’s been involved in related regional efforts for years. Information on this project can be found on the Town of Westborough’s website – https://www.westboroughma.gov/1082/Boston-Worcester-Airline-Trail-BWALT.
The first discussion and decision made by the group was to adopt its name. While the group was initially intended to be Friends of Westborough BWALT, there was shared sentiment that a more collective initiative with Westborough’s neighboring towns would enhance support and help create connections for safe bike and pedestrian travel between towns. The group decided to embrace the more inclusive name Friends of BWALT. The group formulated this Statement of Purpose:
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The purpose of Friends of BWALT is to raise community awareness of and support for the planning, implementation, and maintenance of a shared-use accessible recreation and transportation path along portions of the historic Boston-Worcester Air Line Trolley (BWALT). Residents of and visitors to Westborough and adjacent towns will enjoy walking, biking, skating, jogging, and more, with eventual connections to similar trails. Volunteers stepped forward to perform roles in leadership, events planning, and publicity.
If you’re interested in supporting this project, contact Joan Clifford at JoanClifford1@verizon.net.
