MassTrails awards $7.5M for trail improvement, expansion

The Healey-Driscoll administration on Oct. 7 announced $7.5 million in funding through the MassTrails grant program for trail projects throughout the state.

The funding covers 50 trail projects that will create 60 miles of new recreational trails and make outdoors spaces more accessible for residents, a focus for this year’s grant cycle.

The MassTrails program provides matching grants to communities, public entities, individuals, Native nations, and nonprofit organizations to help fund the planning, creation, and maintenance of trails suitable for a variety of outdoor activities, including walking, running, hiking, cycling, skiing, horseback riding, and off-road vehicle use.

Projects related to recreational trails are eligible for up to $100,000 in funding, while shared-use path projects can receive up to $500,000.

Grant recipients in this year’s cycle are working on projects in the following municipalities: Arlington, Ashburnham, Ashby, Barre, Belchertown, Bellingham, Bernardston, Blackstone, Billerica, Boston, Cambridge, Clinton, Dartmouth, Dunstable, Egremont, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Fitchburg, Florida, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Freetown, Gardner, Great Barrington, Groton, Hadley, Holden, Holyoke, Hudson, Lawrence, Lynnfield, Medford, Mendon, Monroe, Montague, Monterey, New Bedford, New Braintree, Northampton, Northfield, Oakham, Oxford, Palmer, Peabody, Plymouth, Quincy, Raynham, Royalston, Rutland, Savoy, Somerville, Southampton, Spencer, Sterling, Townsend, Wakefield, Watertown, Westminster, West Boylston, Westport, Williamstown, Winchendon, Worcester, and Wrentham.

For a list of all projects awarded funding and more information on the MassTrails Grant program and trail development, visit the MassTrails Grants webpage.