Medfield Rail Trail Awarded $100,000 MassTrails Grant

(Information provided by Friends of Medfield Rail Trail.)

As announced July 31, 2020 by the Baker-Polito Administration, the Town of Medfield has been awarded a $100,000 MassTrails grant for the creation of the Medfield Rail Trail.

The multi-use trail will follow the route of the unused Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail bed in Medfield, running approximately 1.3 miles from Ice House Road to the Dover Town Line.

The MassTrails grant is part of $4 million allocated to fund design, construction, and maintenance for 55 trail projects throughout the Commonwealth.

The grant was submitted by Town Planner Sarah Raposa and was prepared with the support of Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT) and Bay Colony Rail Trail Association (BCRTA). In 2018, Medfield was awarded its first grant for $100,000 and has raised more than $70,000 from residents and local businesses to date.

With this year’s grant, the total amount raised for the trail is currently $270,000, which provides most of the funds necessary to begin construction of Phase 1 of the rail trail (removal of rail and ties, stone dust installation and other preliminary steps related to initial construction). Once the lease with the MBTA is negotiated and finalized, construction can begin.

“Now more than ever, Medfield needs outdoor spaces that connect the Town,” said Christian Donner, founder of the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail. “The Medfield Rail Trail will provide a flat, easy walking, running and biking trail for people of all ages. The Trail, along with its connection to the Bay Circuit Trail, opens up safe links to hundreds of acres of town-owned recreation areas, and the former Medfield State Hospital campus.”

The Friends of Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT) is a volunteer group of residents working toward the implementation of the Medfield Rail Trail. The mission of the FMRT is to make the Medfield Rail Trail a reality. FMRT welcomes volunteers to help with this effort. If interested please contact FMRT at medfieldrailtrail@gmail.com.

The FMRT, a Medfield Foundation initiative, is seeking additional private donations so construction of the Rail Trail can commence in 2021. Tax deductible donations can be made either online at Medfieldfoundation.org, or checks can be mailed to MFi, Medfield Town Hall, 459 Main St, Medfield, MA 02052. Please contact Abby Marble at (508) 359-5370 with any questions regarding the Medfield Foundation, or Michael Taylor at (508) 878-6599 to learn more about the Friends of Medfield Rail Trail.