Category Archives: Progress!

Lebanon and State of NH Reach Westboro Rail Yard Agreement

Westboro Rail Yard

After years of stasis on making land in the Westboro Rail Yard publicly available, state and city officials last week met to talk over a potential sale of 6.7 acres of state-owned land along the Connecticut that could, at some point, become a park and provide a link through West Leb to the Mascoma River Greenway and Northern Rail Trail. They reached a tentative agreement, reports Patrick Adrian in the Valley News: The city will buy the land for an undetermined price, the state will remove existing contaminants. There is a long list of official sign-offs to come.

A Reminder!

June 2013 – The work had just begun. See how far we have come!

MRG connection to the NRT

The City of Lebanon has completed paving from Spencer Street to Bank St Extension including a safety-forward pedestrian crossing beacon. This crosswalk connects the MRG /tunnel and new multiuse path to the Northern Rail Trail all the way to Boscawen, NH.

Thanks to the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail for this image!

https://www.fnrt.org/

Upper Valley Valkyries Rugby Team Refreshes MRG Park

With direction from Pocket Park creator, Cindy Heath, the Upper Valley Valkyries Rugby Team and friends refreshed the MRG park by the tunnel. Such wonderful energy! They worked non-stop for hours, weeding, mulching, and raking. The park looks great.

They also transplanted blueberry bushes from the shade to the sunny side. Those blueberries look happier already. Thanks to all for a job well done!. https://www.uppervalleyrugby.com/

The Tunnel is Now Open!

The Grand Opening Ceremony was postponed until July 15th . . . but the tunnel is now open . . . and there is no forecast of rain for the weekend! Hope you can get out and enjoy it! With lights!

– Thanks to Doreen Schweizer for this photo.

Grand Opening of the Tunnel!

Thursday, July 8: 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the Lebanon Tunnel (under the Mall and Village Pizza)

Celebration includes:

“The River” radio station live broadcast

Public Art proposals

Sidewalk Chalk

Scavenger Hunt

Bike Rodeo (Omer Bobs bike checks, helmet giveaway, bike registrations, safety obstacle course, e-bike loan signups)

4pm Guided bike ride for kids along MRG

5pm Hear all about the big project

5:15pm Mayor remarks

5:20pm Ribbon cutting

6:00 Group dog walk*

*if you would like to join the dog walk, please email recreation@lebanonnh.gov

~ Dogs should be comfortable on leash around other dogs and distractions.

~ Dogs should not be fearful/reactive/anxious on leash in new environments or around heavy distractions.

Most events will start at the eastern end of the tunnel, behind Village Pizza.

Farmers’ Market also on Colburn Park 4-7pm

Front Porch Concert at 7pm: Cold Chocolate

www.LebanonNH.gov/tunnel

Tunnel (in blue) runs from the MRG Pocket Park behind Goss Logan Insurance to the parking lot behind Village Pizza on the downtown Lebanon Mall.

Progress!

The MRG tunnel has been paved and is looking good! A Grand Opening Celebration is being planned for July 8, 2021, but there will be access to the tunnel before that date. Stay tuned! We are well on our way to linking to the Northern Rail Trail and parts South.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Looking eastward under Hanover Street bridge toward the downtown Mall

Though it will be many months before the work is completed, it’s encouraging to see progress toward connecting the Mascoma River Greenway to the Northern Rail Trail via the tunnel. The Mall parking area, that once formed the roof of the tunnel, has been removed. (See the plan for how it will eventually look.) There is a plan for major work to be done on the Hanover Street bridge next summer, which is likely to delay tunnel use, but step by step we are moving forward.

 

New Bench Installed


The folks in Lebanon Recreation & Parks wear many hats, and today, some were wearing their bench-installation hats. Thanks to Doug McGrath and Krissy Flythe, we now have a bench installed on the western end of the MRG, near the umbrella sculpture, and almost ready for use. Rest and enjoy the beautiful view of the river!

Wheelchair-Accessible Path to MRG

Thanks to APD and the Upper Valley Trails Association, we now have a wheelchair- accessible path from the APD/MRG parking lot, opposite the Alice Peck Day Homestead, down to the Mascoma River Greenway. The surface is hard-packed and will eventually be paved. Thanks to all who made it happen!