Holliston Receives State Rail Trail Grant

Holliston was 42 towns that received Recreational Trail Program (RTP) grants from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on Thursday.

DCR Commissioner Edward M. Lambert handed out the grants during the Coalition for Recreational Trails' Achievement Awards Ceremony at Mount Tom State Reservation in Holyoke. The grants, which total $1.28 million, will benefit trail projects in communities across the state.

RTP is DCR’s largest annual grant program, funding recreational trails projects through community and non-profit partners. The program provides U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses.

state Rep. Carolyn Dykema and state Sen. Karen Spilka released a joint statement.

The town received just under $50,000 to help build a half-mile section of the town’s portion of the Upper Charles Rail Trail. The town will be required to match an additional 20 percent.

Spilka noted that Holliston will use the grant funds to work on the section of trail that the town with $800,000 in supplemental funds she helped the town land in 2006.

“And the recent grant from the Recreational Trails Project will help ensure proper maintenance of this important project,” Spilka said.

“This is a wonderful way for the towns of Hopkinton and Holliston to move ahead and provide access to outdoor recreation for the whole community,” Dykema said. “It’s great to be able to assist our residents and communities through these grants.”

Neighboring Hopkinton also received a grant worth about $17,000.

“It is important that we invest in initiatives like the ones selected for this year’s Recreational Trails Grants,” said Spilka. “Both of these projects increase access to open space in our communities and improve the overall quality of life for our residents.” 

The funding comes as Milford wraps work on its section of the trail, becoming the first town to finish its portion. Long-range plans call for the trail to offer bikers, walkers, joggers and rollerbladers a nearly 20-mile loop path connecting Holliston, Milford, Hopkinton, Sherborn and Ashland, mainly over unused railbed.