Your Giving Tuesday donation will help build the next two sections of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail.

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2023 was an important year in the growth of the trail.  As the result of years of successful fund‑raising, all the money is in place to build the Sunflowers section, about 0.75 mile of trail south of Loudon Road, in spring 2024.  A county grant, a federal grant, funds from the city, and a $155,000 contribution from Friends of the Merrimack River Greenway Trail (FMRGT)--donated by local companies and generous individuals like you--will make this possible.

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So what's next?  Two opportunities.

 

First, Concord continues to work with CSX Railways and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to acquire the 5.8 miles of abandoned rail corridor along the Merrimack River.  Once that happens, work can begin on a 1.8‑mile stretch between the southern end of the Northern Rail Trail (NRT) and Sewalls Falls Road.

 

The great news for this project is that the city has already secured $1,000,000 in funding from the state and federal governments.  The daunting news is that it will require a $250,000 match, which FMRGT has pledged to help raise.

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The other opportunity involves a connecting trail from the Loudon Road bridge down to the Sunflowers section.  The city will be rebuilding that bridge in 2026, and the time to ensure safe access from the west side of Concord to the trail is then.

 

The city will take care of the bridge, but FMRGT will be responsible for funding the connecting trail, which is estimated will cost between $75,000 and $85,000.

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The $155,000 donated to the City this year wasn’t raised in one year, and the money for these upcoming sections won’t be raised in a single year either.  That’s why we’re asking for your help now, even though it could be a while until more trail is built.

 

One dollar at a time, one section at a time, with your help, we’ll get this trail built!