The Goffstown Edge

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail May Meeting

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail April Meeting

 

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail March Meeting

 

Goffstown Rail Trails 2011 Accomplishments

There has been no more amazing accomplishment in Goffstown over the last dozen years than the remarkable changes to our landscape achieved by the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail.  The group of dedicated citizens, originally formed in 2001 under the name Friends of the Greenway, have created a 5-mile long trail that, when complete, will make it easier to ride a bike over to Fisher Cats Stadium in Manchester  than it would be to drive a car and find a place to park!

Looking back over 2011, the recently completed section of trail from Danis Park to Morgan Circle and on to Lynchville Park is a perfect example of what the Rail Trail program is all about.

With help from the Goffstown DPW and local Boy Scouts Troop 99, the trail section now bears a closer resemblance to an expensively designed park than to simple reclaimed rail trail beds.  Walking the trail on a recent morning, it’s easy to see why homes near Rail Trails sell more quickly and for higher prices.  The landscaping along the section creates privacy for abutters, and the trail bed has been raised nearly a foot so the trail is dry, hard packed, and easily walkable.  Using a 2011 Recreation Trail Program Grant, the Friends expect to install bollards, fencing, shrubs and asphalt parking slots in the spring.  New this year is a professional trailhead bulletin board at the Moose Club Park Road location.  Goffstown Scout Christopher Maloney accomplished the $1,400 structure as an Eagle Scout Project for Troop 99.

Board member Ray Taber explained the necessity of raising the trail bed, “The beds were laid in 1849 and had gone unused since the 70’s.  The original bed was only three feet wide due to serious muck and water on both sides.  The trail was virtually unusable.  DPW put down about a foot of gravel and 4” of nitpack, a type of gravel and stone dust that compacts very hard.”

Added Dave Pierce, Executive Board VP and Treasurer, “This whole stretch was in such bad shape with drainage issues, you had to have a vision to see what the trail could be.” 

The new section of trail is handicap accessible, and a $3,000 Eagle Scout Project for landscaping makes a visual line that separates private land from the trail.  The Recreational Trails Program grants rely on an 80/20 cost structure, so the work done by the Goffstown DPW met the 20% requirement.  Pierce was enthusiastic about the work accomplished by the town crew, “I urge you to visit the site and view their great work.  They met many trail users while they were out there working hard, and were great ambassadors for the town and the trail. We’re very thankful that they were able to donate their labor and equipment.  They have a pride in the quality of their work and it shows in the development of this section of the trail.”

Goffstown Rail Trail Update

I suspect the DPW construction crew will finish tomorrow the 1st part of their work under the 2011 Recreational Trail Program grant.  I urge you to visit the site, view their great work, and thank the workers.  They have met many trail users over the last 3 weeks and were good ambassadors for the town and the trail.   We usually see the town's road building crew on busy roads and don't have the opportunity to meet them as we rush by.  They have pride in the quality of their work and it shows in the development of this section of the trail.
 
Danis Park to Morgan Circle is all done (for this season's work) -- we now have one temporary vehicle parking area (nitpack).
 
Morgan Circle to Lynchville Park only needs a final bit of L and R shoulder loam applied and seeded -- the nitpack was finished today.  The entire trail is about 1-ft higher in elevation through out the entire stretch -- a mucky surface is now history.  The landscaping makes one think they're in a "park setting" rather than on an out-of-sight trail.
 
Next season will allow us to install bollards, fencing, shrubs, and asphalt parking slots to complete the scope defined by the grant.
 
Dave Pierce
Chair, Goffstown Rail Trail Development Committee

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail November Meeting

The next Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail meeting will be on Tuesday November 22nd, 7:00 pm, at the Goffstown Parks & Rec Center. You are invited join us.
 
Many thanks to the volunteers who worked on our recent Ski & Skate Sale. We will have a rundown of the results from this successful event. The 2011 RTP grant project is under construction, so be careful if you are traveling though the construction zone. The 2012 grant round details have just been released. We'll have the latest on these and other trail projects.
 
This is our final general meeting for the year, so come review the year's trail developments with us, and look forward to another good year in 2012.
 
Thanks for your support.

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail
www.GoffstownRailTrail.org

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail October Meeting

Goffstown Rail Trail 19th Annual Ski & Skate Sale

19th Annual Ski & Skate Sale On Saturday November 5th Goffstown, NH

The 19th Annual Goffstown Ski and Skate Sale will be held on Saturday November 5th at the Goffstown Parks and Recreation Center (155 South Mast Street). The sale will feature downhill and cross-country skis, boots, and poles, snowboards, snowshoes, and ice skates. New equipment will be provided by Centre Ski & Bike, and the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail will provide used and consignment equipment.

The sale runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Consignments from the general public are sought, and will be accepted from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Used equipment may also be dropped off as a donation. Consignment sellers may pick up their share of sale proceeds, and any unsold items, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

In addition to the sale, a variety of prizes will be offered. There will be free gift card drawings during the day, and a free door prize drawing. Another free drawing for a pair of ski passes will be held just for those making a purchase. Tickets will also be sold for a drawing to win all day ski passes to several popular area ski resorts. Also available, free coupons to Modell’s for 15% off purchases made (even sale items) from October 14 to November 17.

Proceeds from this event support the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and its ongoing volunteer work to improve and develop the Goffstown Rail Trail. The 5-1/2 mile rail trail follows the former Boston & Maine railroad right-of-way from the Piscataquog River near Main Street in Goffstown village, through Grasmere and Pinardville, to the Manchester city line. More information on the Goffstown Rail Trail and the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail is available at www.GoffstownRailTrail.org.

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail September Meeting

The Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail will meet on Tuesday September 27th, 7:00 pm, at the Goffstown Parks & Rec Center.
 
After getting up to date on the latest rail trail projects, our tasks this month will be centered on our autumn activities. We will plan articles for our fall newsletter, to be published next month. Volunters are needed for the FGRT tent at the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Regatta, where we will have trail information, maps, and T-shirts. (Let us know if you would like to walk or ride your bike along with the FGRT float in the parade that weekend.) We will also continue with the arrangements for the 19th Annual Ski & Skate Sale on November 5th, where volunteers are also needed.
 
If you can help out with any of these activities, come to the meeting to learn more, or just reply to this message. Please contact us if you have questions, and thanks for your support.
 
Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail
www.GoffstownRailTrail.org

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail Work Session

Volunteers are needed for our next Goffstown Rail Trail work session. We will meet Saturday, September 17th, 9:00 am, at the very back row of the Shell station parking lot. (See location on this map.)
 
Our primary task this month will be brush cutting heading east on the trail from the Shell station. This will be the first time we have worked on this stretch. Please bring work gloves, loppers, bow saws, and other brush cutting tools if you have them.
 
Email us if you have questions, and thanks for your support.
 
Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail
www.GoffstownRailTrail.org