Question 1

What exactly is the Merrimack River Greenway Trail?  What will it look like?

Accepted Answer

The Merrimack River Greenway Trail will be a continuous, off-street shared-use path, roughly following the Merrimack River in Concord, connecting the Northern Rail Trail near the Boscawen Town Line and the proposed Salem to Concord Bikeway at the Pembroke Town Line.  It will be about 12-3/4 miles long and 10-12 feet wide and will be paved from city line to city line.  The northern 6.8 miles will be a rail trail, along the abandoned Northern Rail Line.  The southerly 5.9 miles will be a greenway trail, following the contours of the land.
 
It will be a 4-season facility, serving bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized users from spring to fall and, in the snow season, it will serve skiers and snowshoers.  To the extent possible, it will be universally accessible.

It will serve both transportation and recreation purposes, connect villages, provide access to the Merrimack River and adjacent open space, and provide safe and inviting health and fitness opportunities.  The trail will offer river views as well as river access where possible.
 
The MRGT is consistent with the Concord 2030 Master Plan and Concord’s Vision for 2020 by connecting neighborhoods and re-connecting Concord residents to the Merrimack River.

It will be similar to the Blackstone River Bikeway (Mass & Rhode Island), the Windham Rail Trail (Windham, NH), the Nashua River Rail Trail (Nashua, NH to Ayer, MA) and the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  It will be similar to the Concord bike path along Interstate 89, near Hopkinton and St. Paul’s School, except that the MRGT will be wider and much more scenic.  And, you’ll hear the chirping of birds instead of the sound of passing trucks.

Question 2

Where did the idea for the trail come from?

Accepted Answer

The concept of a recreation trail along the Merrimack River has been around for  al least 35 years, when a report called “Merrimack River Greenway and Trail System” was published by the Concord Conservation Trust in 1990.

Concord 2020 formulated five “Vision Principles” through an extensive public participation process that included hundreds of Concord residents.  One of those principles is “Preservation and access to the natural environment.”  Among the guidelines mentioned as consistent with that principle are:
   --Creating access to trails, rivers, and long-distance views
   --Preserving open space adjacent to rivers and
   --Creating trails

Both the previous and the current master plans contain references to a trail along the river.  "Master Plan 2030" the current master plan,  shows an off-road bike path on a map in the Transportation chapter.  The Recreation Chapter says bike paths and hiking/walking trails topped the list of recreation facilities and resources mentioned in a survey of Concord residents.

In 2010, attendees at a public listening session for the “Bicycle Master Plan” (BMP) strongly suggested the City should plan to develop bike paths, including one along the Merrimack River.

Clearly, Concord residents want bike paths, walking trails and access to their river.

Question 3

How long will it take to build it?

Accepted Answer

This project will clearly not be completed quickly.  There are many T’s that will have to be crossed and I’s that will have to be dotted.  Progress will greatly depend on available funding.

Question 4

Where will the first leg of the trail be built?

Accepted Answer

The first two legs of the trail have been completed!  Yay!
 
Phase 1 is 12 feet wide and  about 1/3 mile long and is in Terrill Park, which is at the intersection of Manchester Street and Old Turnpike Road, on the banks of the Merrimack River.

Phase 2 is 12 feet wide and about 7/10 mile long.  It is nested between the Merrimack River and the sunflower fields south of Loudon Road.

Directions to trailheads can be found elsewhere on this site.

Phases 1 and 2 will someday be connected with a 1/3 mile long boardwalk over the wetlands between them.

Question 5

How much will it cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost estimate for the entire Merrimack River Greenway Trail was initially estimated to cost about $12-14 million.  While the scope has not changed, the total cost is now expected to be significantly more, due to inflation.

Question 6

How will it be financed?

Accepted Answer

The trail will be financed through a combination of government grants, public grants, private grants, corporate donations, private donations, and community fundraising.  We will also explore the feasibility of using donated, in-kind materials and volunteer labor.
 
City of Concord funding will depend on City Council approval and will always be preceded by public input.

Question 7

Who will maintain the trail?

Accepted Answer

As the owner of the trail, the City of Concord will be responsible for maintenance of the completed trail, but we hope to always have a large cadre of volunteers who will do the light maintenance that can be done by volunteers.

Question 8

Will anybody use it?

Accepted Answer

“Build it and they will come,” says a popular phrase from the movie “Field of Dreams.”  Many trail advocates around the country report usage beyond their expectations almost as soon as trails are opened.  It’s impossible to predict exactly how many people will use the MRGT.  However, based on its location, close to a densely populated area, and using guidelines developed from experience with similar paved urban trails, we believe the trail will initially attract an average of about 400 visitors per day and up to a thousand per day on weekend days and holidays.

Visitor counts on the Sunflower section of the MRGT found an average of about 50 people per day are using it. We expect that number to double (100) when the trail is extended to Loudon Road in 2026, then quadruple (400) when the trail is extended to connect with the Northern Rail Trail.

Question 9

Why does it have to be paved?

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, paved trails attract more users and a broader array of users than unpaved trails.  User counts tend to support that theory.  We believe the additional user appeal justifies the additional cost of paving.
 
A key purpose of the MRGT -- and a top goal of the Friends of the MRGT -- is to provide a universally accessible trail that can be used by people of all ages and abilities.  Paved trails accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, and other wheeled devices more comfortably than unpaved trails.
 
Paving is so important to our central goal that paving the MRGT was included in our "Articles of Agreement", which are filed with the NH Secretary of State.

Question 10

What’s the point in having a trail that goes from one end of the City to another?

Accepted Answer

One of the key features of the MRGT is that it will connect at each end to major trail efforts that are already underway or planned.

To the south is the Salem to Concord Bikeway that is being planned and developed by volunteer and advocacy groups all along the way.  A good example of what the MRGT will look like can be seen at the Windham Rail Trail, which is a part of the Salem to Concord Bikeway that was opened in 2006.

To the north, is the Northern Rail Trail, which is being developed by the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail.  The NRT is in a much more rural setting than Concord, so it is envisioned to be an unpaved but “hard pack” surfaced trail.  There are currently 58 miles of Northern Rail Trail opened to the public.

The MRGT will connect these two trails, providing a total 114-mile long trail that will be almost entirely separated from motor vehicles, from Salem to Lebanon, called the Granite State Rail Trail.  The GSRT will go through 19 towns and is being developed by nine nonprofit groups, working together for a common objective.
 
Check out the Maps and Links sections of this website for more info on the individual trails that will comprise the GSRT..

Question 11

Aren’t there obstacles to building in a sensitive watershed area like the Merrimack River?

Accepted Answer

There are, but they are not insurmountable.  We have been and will continue to be working very closely with environmental and conservation agencies and organizations and we are looking forward to continued strong support from them.

Question 12

Will horses be allowed on the trail?

Accepted Answer

The MRGT will be a busy urban trail with a paved surface, boardwalks and bridges.  As such, it will not be suitable for horses.  Possibly, more rural sections could accommodate horses on gravel paths adjacent to the paved trail.  Those decisions will be made by the City of Concord and will depend on availability of space and funding.

Friends of the MRGT would support efforts by equestrian groups to include provisions for horses within the trail’s corridor so long as the provisions do not compromise the geometrics or operation of the trail for intended users of the trail and so long as the cost of providing them is borne by those groups.
 
We would oppose suggestions that would compromise the safety of trail users.
 
Proposals or requests to allow horses on or near the MRGT should be submitted to the City of Concord.

Question 13

Can the rails be left in place and the trail built along side or between the rails?

Accepted Answer

No. The existing railbed is not wide enough to accommodate both the existing rails and a multiuser trail side by side.

Clearing a separate trail through the forests and wetlands on either side of the railbed would be both problematic and expensive. For example, required permits would be difficult or impossible to obtain because of the extensive impacts to wetlands and uplands.  Construction of a trail on previously undisturbed land would also require unsuitable materials to be hauled out and construction grade gravel to be hauled in.

Some have suggested the MRGT could be built between the existing rails.  That type of configuration is dangerous for users and it would create unnecessary liability for the City of Concord, as owner of the trail.

We expect some or all of the MRGT will be financed with federal transportation funds, so the trail will need to comply with federal design standards for multiuse trails, meaning it will have to be a minimum of 10 feet wide with 2-foot wide shoulders.

Question 14

How can I help Friends of the MRGT raise money for the trail?

Accepted Answer

Anyone can contribute money to the trail directly by:
 
Sending a check to:

Friends of the MRGT
PO Box 954
Concord, NH, 03302

...or by donating via credit card.
 
Certain employers will match their employees’ contributions to eligible tax-exempt organizations, such as the Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail.  Check with your employer.

We have been asked how to name the Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail in a will.  That can be done by simply adding “Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail” as a beneficiary in your will, bank account or retirement account.  If you have questions, you should check with your attorney and/or tax advisor.

We participate in several fundraising events every year.  You can sign up to help by volunteering your time.  Many generous companies have donated services and others have donated products that have been used for raffles.

Question 15

How else can I help?

Accepted Answer

You can volunteer your time.
 
If you have special talents or abilities that would be useful to trail development or building, you can donate your services.  Check this website, under the "Contact us" menu item, from time to time, to see if we have volunteer opportunities that fit with your interests.

Question 16

How can I become a member of Friends of the MRGT?

Accepted Answer

Friends of the MRGT is not a membership organization in the usual sense.  We are a group of passionate individuals who work closely with the City of Concord to promote building the MRGT.
 
That said, if you have skills and abilities that could help us, and time to devote as a team member, we would love to talk with you about becoming a trustee or a permanent volunteer.
 
At the current time, we are looking for people with knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:
 
Fundraising
Managing contact lists
Designing and managing websites
Maintaining the trail
Maintaining our kiosks and other physical property
Managing, organizing and staffing events

Question 17

Will the trail be plowed in the winter?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily.  The intention is to encourage non-motorized winter sports like XC skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.  However, there may be some sections that will be plowed as determined by the City.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is the Merrimack River Greenway Trail? What will it look like?