The Hanover Co-operative Community Fund has awarded $2,500 to the Cycling Without Age Program*, which will benefit both the Mascoma River Greenway and the Northern Rail Trail CWA program. Thank you Co-op!
*Cycling Without Age is a nonprofit organization founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2012. By 2020, this initiative had expanded into 50 countries, serving over 1.5 million people worldwide.
Do you remember how the Greenway looked ten years ago? There was a vision:
“The Mascoma River Greenway (MRG) will be a 4 mile multi-use separated pathway starting from the current terminus of the Northern Rail Trail at Spencer Street in downtown Lebanon, NH to West Lebanon’s Rt. 12-A and Seminary Hill, extending the Northern Rail Trail from its beginning in southern NH. The MRG will be the core transportation corridor for bikes and pedestrians through the heart of Lebanon and West Lebanon, connecting Lebanon’s neighborhoods with workplaces, schools, open spaces, shopping areas, restaurants, a medical center and transit stops.”
Did we fully appreciate how many steps there would be along the way? So much problem-solving! Negotiations with the State of NH and the railroads, fundraising, access points, parking, maps, benches, kiosks, bridge reconstruction, erosion control, tunnel redevelopment, collapse of the Iron Horse Park plans that would facilitate reaching West Lebanon.
It has taken huge effort on the part of many people (browse through this blogsite to see some of that effort), including lots of volunteer energy to get us where we are today. And there is lots of energy building, in West Lebanon in particular, to complete and expand the vision. Last October, a host of volunteers turned out for the clean-up and revitalization of the Bridge Street area – a new park which now has picnic tables, story signs, and many more trees and plantings. (See Photos and Lebanon Times article on the event.) And then take a look at an expanded vision of developing the Westboro Yards Waterfront Park and connecting the trail to downtown West Lebanon, to Vermont, to Boston Lot and beyond. You can join the mailing list at that expanded vision site and follow the progress . . . and maybe join in the effort? Lots of other resources available at that site.
Here is the text of Cindy Heath’s tribute to the MRG founders and supporters at the official Opening Day of the MRG in 2018.
“A passenger who rarely left the house during the pandemic decided CWA was how she wanted to re-engage with her community. Her pilot reported “it went so well…such a positive experience…. She was quite emotional with gratitude at the end and asked for a hug. So, this amazing program that you have been responsible for bringing to the Upper Valley brought somebody a lot of joy today. Thank you!! (It actually brought TWO people a lot of joy today 🙂).”
Two resident seniors rode together during the “Try the Trishaw” event, and after returning, one said she had never heard the other speak until they were on the trishaw ride.
“I was able to enjoy a ride with [pilot] this morning. It was fantastic. I feel so lucky to be able to access this in my own backyard. Many thanks to all those who worked to make it happen. I’m still grinning.” Passenger
One of our octogenarian passengers biked across the country several times in his younger years. He has dementia now but was delighted to enjoy wind in his hair and autumn colors flying by again.
The feedback from all participants has been amazing, touching, and motivating.
Sean, visiting Lebanon from Portland, Oregon, enjoyed discovering the piano on his walk through the tunnel with baby Io. He appreciated the tunnel’s acoustics!
While Echinacea, Bee Balm. Queen Anne’s Lace, Lupine, lilies, and so many other flowers have passsed by, these late-blooming asters on the MRG Pollinator Corridor have become an important resource to a variety of pollinators. Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, and flies are still looking for pollen and nectar and these asters are a welcomed bit of color, for humans too.
In spite of the frost, there are still flowers in bloom mid-October: Sunflowers, Garlic Chives, Black-eyed Susans, and Asters, to name a few. Bees, wasps, and other pollinators continue to visit our MRG Pollinator Corridor, such as this bee on a Wood’s Pink Aster at Dysfuntion Junction. (Intersection of Mechanic, Mascoma, High streets.)
The Mascoma River Greenway 