Upcoming Events:
Saturday, May 3rd - Downtown Cleanup Day.
We’ll probably be mulching the mural planting bed that day. Lots of help needed to weed, spread mulch, etc. Bring gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows, etc.
Sunday, May 4th - Derrill’s Race on the trail
Go to http://derrillsrace.com for all the details
Bike Commute Week
Learn more about Bike Commute Week on the MassBike Pioneer Valley website.
Sunday, May 18th - Bike Path Fundraiser to wrap up Bike Commute Week
Our breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. at the American Legion Hall on Pleasant St., Easthampton. Menu to feature eggs, french toast, sausage, home fries, coffee and orange juice. Donations of any amount gratefully accepted! For those of you with kids, have breakfast and then head down to “Big Rig Day” at Fedor’s car dealership on Route 10.
We'll need HELP at the breakfast -- servers, greeters, clean up help, etc. Show up when you can, from about 7:30 a.m. on.
Naturalist to Lead Nature Walk on Manhan Rail Trail May 18, 2008
The first of three planned nature walks on the Manhan Rail Trail will be held Sunday, May 18 at 11:00AM. Titled “Signs of the Season on the Manhan Rail Trail,” the walk will be led by Jim Teruso, who has worked as a Park Ranger/Naturalist for the Massachusetts State Park System and the Mass. Audubon Society.
The group will meet at the Lower Mill Pond Park on Ferry Street just behind the American Legion. The walk will last for 60 – 90 minutes and will follow the trail north towards Route 5.
All ages are invited as the pace will be slow with an emphasis on exploration and education, not distance accumulated. The trail is handicap accessible and people of all abilities are welcome. Bring water and binoculars. The program is funded by the Easthampton Cultural Council. For more information, call Jim at 529-2614.
Welcome to the Manhan Rail Trail!
Nestled in the heart of the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western
Massachusetts, Easthampton’s Manhan Rail Trail offers unique recreational
opportunities to people of all ages and interests. Bike, jog, roller blade,
cross country ski or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll on what was once a viable
rail corridor. The 4.2 mile (off-road) paved trail was completed in 2003
after 10 years of planning and fundraising. It is proposed that eventually, the trail will connect all the way from New Haven, Connecticut to Northampton, Massachusetts and beyond.
Why a Rail Trail?
In a way, the rails-to-trails movement is the ultimate form of recycling. Not just a recycling of raw materials, but of entire institutions (canals, railroads) left behind by the citizens of earlier eras.
Using the Manhan Rail Trail is healthy. The exercise is good for the body; the meditation is good for the mind. What a great idea for a weekend family outing — combining fresh air, exercise, and nature.
The Manhan Rail Trail is also a viable alternative transportation corridor (ATC). As such, it contributes to an overall reduction in our collective dependence upon fossil fuels.
