Boroughs Loop Trail Grand Opening Set For Friday

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Bring your party hat, and a sturdy pair of athletic sneakers.

On Friday afternoon, local officials will celebrate the opening on the Boroughs Loop Trail (BLT), which connects existing pathways in Marlborough, Southborough, Westborough, and Northbough. The grand opening is the culmination of years of work by volunteers, conservation groups, and state and local governments.

The trail will eventually span 33 miles, although as of the end of September, there was still about 9 miles still to be finished.

The BLT effort began in 2014 when the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation commissioned a feasibility study. The goal was to link areas like the Charm Bracelet, Chestnut Hill Farm, and the Crane Swamp area.

The project was funded by the State DCR Recreational Trails Grant Program, Marlborough Rotary Club, and City of Marlborough DPW and Conservation Commission — but volunteers donated over 2,000 hours of labor to the project, too. In Marlborough, Eagle Scouts, students from the AMSA charter school, the Marlborough Rotary Club, and members of the Carpenter's Union Local 336 helped build several miles of trail and bridges across streams and wetlands.

In the weeks after the celebration, there are guided hikes planned to explore the Southborough and Westborough sections of the trail. You can find more information about those hikes at the Sudbury Valley Trustees website. The hikes may be rescheduled if conditions remain favorable for mosquitoes.

Friday's celebration will include remarks from local officials, plus a photo history of the BLT construction effort. There will also be a short hike of the section of trail in Northborough. The grand opening starts at 3 p.m. Friday at Algonquin Regional High School, 79 Bartlett St., Northborough.