Welcome To The Danvers Rail Trail
From Rails To Recreation
Work Completed Wenham St to Mile Marker 3.7
Danvers DPW has completed making repairs to the trail surface and improving drainage about 300 yards north of Wenham St.
Over the past weeks, ditches were dug on both sides of the trail, drainage pipes were installed under the trial to divert water away from the trail surface, and a combination of gravel and stone dust was applied to the surface from Wenham Street north to mile marker 3.7.
This section of the trail now has a smoother and safer surface, and should be less adversely affected by heavy rains.
Thank you to the Town of Danvers for completing this work. And to trail users for your patience during the construction.
The Chocolate Walk is On! February 18th 11:00 am
Join us for our winter Chocolate Walk! We will meet at the Hobart Street parking lot. The weather is forecast to be clear and cool. Trail conditions are good, and we plan to walk north on the trail - about 3 miles round trip, but feel free to shorten or lengthen your walk.
Chocolate goodies from Putnam Pantry and Hot Chocolate will be available for a boost of pre-walk energy.
Children, and dogs on leashes welcome! Walkers with dogs will be asked to depart a bit after 11:00 in order to minimize congestion on the trail. Come prepared with the right footwear and outerwear.
This is a free event, but donations are always welcome!
A Beautiful First Day Trail Walk - 2023
About 90 people of all ages joined us for a very pleasant 2023 First Day Walk. Most came from Danvers, but we also had walkers from Beverly, Lynnfield, Middleton, Peabody, and Salem. This year’s walk was the first to explore the trail extension being constructed towards Middleton. The group started on the current trail near mile marker 1.9, headed northwest, crossed Hobart Street, made use of the new bridge over Beaver Brook, then made their way to Nichols Street. The trail extension runs along the Danvers Electric Division Right-of-Way. The stone dust surface had not yet been applied, and while muddy, the trail was still quite passable.
The walk was managed by about 8 volunteers who handed out light refreshments and acted as guides at street crossings. Most walkers made the full three-mile trek to the Nichols Street and back.
Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who joined the fun!
The RTAC is Looking for Volunteers
The Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC) is a Town Manager appointed committee of nine volunteers with broad representation from the community. This committee, in partnership with the town, is responsible of the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the trail, and ensuring citizen input into trail activities. The committee both guides this work and is actively involved in doing the work.
Volunteers are key to our success in keeping the trail the great town amenity that it is. If you have interest in doing some outdoor work ranging from simple clean up to larger improvement projects, please note your interest by submitting our Contact Us form found here. Much of this work can be done on your own and during times of your choosing.
Trash On The Trail - WE CAN DO BETTER!
We can do better! This was the scene on 8/12/22 at the picnic area at Hobart Street lot on the Danvers Rail Trail. The barrel is maintained and emptied primarily by rail trail volunteers who would not and should not have to deal with this if we all do our part!
Danvers Rail Trail Northwest Extension Construction Begins
We are pleased to announce that work has begun on the embankments and access to the timber bridge structure spanning Beaver Brook (a few hundred yards north of 34 Hobart Street). Initial work includes installing sediment control measure. This is a major step forward in completing the connection to Middleton. Residents in the vicinity of the construction have been notified (more details here). We do not expect any disruption along the current trail.
Watch a Video Update On The Extension Below:
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EXPANSION, PLEASE CLICK HERE!
Thank you Medtronic!
Thirteen volunteers from Medtronic, a local medical technology company, worked on the trail Thursday August 25, as part of their commitment to community service. It was a beautiful summer day and the Medtronic team appreciated the chance to be outside the office and get some exercise.
Working alongside three RTAC volunteers, two Medtronic crews split up to work various projects on the trail. One group spent the afternoon cleaning up the southern section of the trail. The second crew cleared out beneath the Hobart lot picnic table and installed pavers for a more appealing and easy to maintain area.
Thank you, Medtronic!
Electric Division Right-of-Way Mowing Completed! (June 2022)
During the week of June 27 Danvers Electric completed their annual summer vegetation management work on their right-of-way along the trail. With support from volunteers and understanding from trail users, this work was completed ahead of schedule. Danvers Electric’s annual program of vegetation management under their lines is essential to keep lines clear and assure good service. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during the work period!
Testing solutions for safer passage at Agway blind corner
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While there have not been any accidents in this area, a few trail users have raised concerns about cyclists “cutting the corner” at the blind turn south of Agway.
Rail trail volunteers and the town have installed a set of cones to encourage trail users to keep right. Our plan is to observe how this approach works, and gather input from trail users.
After this we’ll decide on if and what solution makes sense. Whatever solution we end up with needs to ensure Danvers Electric Division has access for line maintenance, and that emergency vehicles can easily get onto the trail.
Cyclists - please keep your speed down and share the trail.
Thank You for Earth Day Spring Cleaning! (April 2022)
The weather cooperated on Saturday with cool and sunny conditions. As part of the town-wide Earth Day cleanup, a group of about 25 volunteers made great progress in clearing trash and other debris from all sections of the trail.
About 35 bags of trash (bottles, papers, dog waste) were collected and removed from the trail and trail sidings. In addition, larger items such as flowerpots, tarps, chairs, and construction debris were collected, unfortunately often dumped by neighbors along the trail.
With the weather warming, we ask that trail users and trail neighbors do not deposit waste of any kind on or along the trail. Its illegal and restricts the ability of the Danvers Electric Division to maintain its’ right-of-way, creates a breeding ground for rats, and is generally an eyesore and safety hazard for trail users.
Thank you to Medtronic, Danvers Rotary, the Maple Street Church, rail trail committee members and many rail trail enthusiasts. Also, thank you to the Town of Danvers for providing the trash bags and picking up the gathered trash.
First Day Walk 2022
The weather was warm (for December), and misty but still about 20 walkers joined us for a 5 mile (round-trip) walk north on the trail to the Wenham town line. Most walkers were local, but a few came in from Beverly and Salem. Walkers were offered cookies, candies, and a chance to take home a “real” Danvers Rail Trail spike. Thank you to all the attended. We look forward to seeing you next year for our eighth annual First Day Walk!
Danvers Kiwanis Helps Prepare the Trail for the Fall
Kiwanis International has a 'Kiwanis One Day' where members do a community service project. Supporting this initiative, members of Danvers Kiwanis spent a chilly Saturday cleaning the trail, removing leave/tree debris, and planting bulbs on some the planters along the trail. We look forward to the spring and seeing the daffodils in bloom!
Thank you Danvers Kiwanis for this work, and the support you have shown the trail over the years.
Thank You to the Friends of Norm Walczak
A new bike repair station has been installed near the Wenham line, thanks to friends and colleagues of Norm Walczak. The group gathered on a glorious day in November to dedicate the station and remember Norm, a cycling enthusiast who believed biking could enrich one’s life experiences. His love of cycling brought him to 5 of the 7 continents including places such as Madagascar, Thailand, Viet Nam, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and he pedaled many miles on the Danvers Rail Trail averaging 25-50 miles a day. Norm was also active as a volunteer on the trail, for example helping guide trail users to alternative routes during trail mowing. His colleagues at Electric Insurance Company recalled his wealth of knowledge of insurance, his kind and thoughtful manner and most importantly his wit. Many thanks to all and to Norm may you forever ride in peace.
New Benches Installed – Thank You Bi-Peds
The former Danvers Bi-Peds made donations for improvements to the Danvers Rail Trail, especially improvements to make it more accessible to seniors and others. Most recently these funds were used to purchase and install two benches along the trail, one near Cole Road and one near the pond at Danvers High School. At the suggestion of the Bi-Peds these locations were chosen to provide a resting spot where none had existed.
The benches were installed by Rail Trail and Bi-Ped volunteers. A group former Danvers Bi-Ped members and other Rail Trail volunteers met on August 31 to dedicate the benches.
The Danvers Bi-Peds was a long-standing citizen’s advocacy group who worked together with Town departments and the public to help create and maintain bicycle and pedestrian facilities, to educate citizens on their use and care, and to promote safe opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians for transportation, enjoyment and public health. Their early advocacy was critical to creating the existing Danvers Rail Trail.
The installation of these benches continues to support Danvers Bi-Peds mission by creating safer and more user-friendly Rail Trail.
Thank you to the Bi-Peds and trail volunteers.
Photo includes (L-R) Karen Wagner, Nancy McNulty, Tom Berry, Ingrid Berry, Matt Duggan, Linda Mathews, Kevin Bellew, Mark Jones, Paul McNulty
Thank You Medtronic and Rail Trail Volunteers!
In late May, groups of volunteers worked over a few days to install and then paint a storage shed for various trail maintenance tools. To get started the site was prepared with a gravel bed, then a 10’ by 16’ shed was built on site. This was followed by painting in Boston and Maine Railroad colors, in keeping with other buildings on the trail.
Thank you to all our donors who supported the purchase of the shed, our volunteers who helped build it, and to Medtronic Corp who painted the shed as part of their “Caring for Communities” program.
Thank You Western Cycle!
The Friends of the Danvers Rail Trail would like to thank the folks at Western Cycle for their generous donation to the Rail Trail. Western Cycle has been a great supporter in the past, for example helping out during the Family Bike Day and more. Western Cycle is located right on the trail at the 89 Maple Street, right at Maple Street trail crossing. Thank you Jamie!
Thank You Abiomed for Your Earth Day Clean Up
Thank you to a group of hearty Danvers-based Abiomed, Inc. employees who came to the trail on Earth Day 2021. The weather was cool, very windy, and even a bit snowy at the start, but the Abiomed folks still headed south on the trail to clear trash and debris. About half of the group split off to clean the area around the Mill Pond.
Another small group of Rail Trail Committee members worked north on the trail, clearing trash and leaf debris.
We were fortunate this year that the trail has been relatively clean after a low-snow winter. But still about 20 bags of trash were collected and removed. Thank you again to the many Abiomed and other volunteers that honored Earth Day and help the Town of Danvers.
Recent Trail Repairs Completed – Thank you DPW!
Danvers DPW recently completed the Beaver Brook culvert repairs on the trail north of Holten Street. This was a major job, but done quickly. The trail surface has been replaced, a fence added, and some improvements made at the Brahman Street connection.
Also, DPW recently made an important repair just north of Poplar Street where the trail and a dental office parking lot meet. A dry well was installed and topped with two storm grates. This change will allow parking lot runoff to be captured, and thus stop trail erosion. The trail surface has been repaired as well.
Thank you Danvers DPW!
Thank you Lori!
L to R: Trail Committee: Larry Perrault, Paul McNulty, Nancy McNulty, Lori Dupont, Charlie Linceum, Mark Mead Jones & Laura Cilley
Lori Dupont, one the original members of the Rail Trail Advisory Committee has decided to move to Virginia. Lori was appointed by Wayne Marquis in 2009 when the future trail was the object of significant controversy. Lori was resolute in support of the proposed trail and her advocacy as a direct abutter helped ensure a more positive and constructive public discussion. Lori’s warm confidence reassured many and helped keep the rail trail project moving forward.
As the trail moved from idea to reality, Lori was active on trail whether that be guiding trail users during construction, or out shovel in hand digging holes and making improvements.
From all your friends on the trail – thank you for making the trail a better place and best wishes on your new adventure!
Riding the Borders-to-Boston Trail
David Read, Chairman of the Borders-to-Boston Trail Coalition, recently completed an informative and engaging video of the ride from Topsfield to Boston. Danvers is featured in the video. Check it out to see where the Danvers Trail fits on the Borders-to-Boston Trail, and tips on cycling all the way to Boston.
Thank You Frazier Construction!
Frazier Construction of Danvers donated time and equipment to help address the seasonal flooding just north of Wenham St. Working with a number of Rail Trail volunteers, debris was removed from the east side of the trail, test pits were dug to check for the soils for permeability over the fall, and stone-pac was applied to raise the trail bed. We will evaluate how this work addresses the flooding, and may do additional remediation in 2021.
Frazier Constructions focuses on commercial and residential excavation projects. They can be reached at (978) 539-8967 or JimFrazier134@gmail.com.
Thank you to neighbors along the trail who helped guide trail users. And a big thank-you to Frazier Construction!
Thank You Medtronic!
Thirteen volunteers from Medtronic, a local medical technology company, worked on the trail Tuesday September 22, as part of their commitment to community service. It was a beautiful crisp fall day and the Medtronic team appreciated the chance to be outside the office and get some exercise.
Working alongside seven RTAC volunteers, two Medtronic crews split up to work various sections of the trail. One group spent the afternoon weeding, raking, and spreading mulch to the trail siding in Putnamville Park. The second crew added topsoil and seeded the area between the trail and the Maple St Church.
Thank you, Medtronic!
Thank You AccessCorp!
The hot weather did not slow down the folks from AccessCorp in helping improve the trail.
Together with a number of Rail Trail volunteers, the groups teamed together to install a 50 foot split rail fence, added better wayfinding signs, and improved the trail surface.
This was work done in conjunction with the Maple Street Congregational Church in order to reduce trail users walking across the church lawn, and better guide trail users to safer pedestrian crossings.
AccessCorp offers a complete suite of information management solutions. They have grown by delivering the very best customer experience to their clients, providing growth opportunities for their team members, and active involvement and service to local communities. Its this focus on local communities that led AccessCorp to helping the Rail Trail and the Town of Danvers.
Thank you to the ten Danvers-based AccessCorp volunteers for helping us get this project done, on such a warm summer day!
Every Little Bit Helps
Even with increased use, the trail has been remarkably clear of litter and debris. This is due in part to ad hoc volunteer efforts like the Middleton "crew" shown in the picture.
And thank you to all trail users for keeping the trail clean and safe!
Turtles on the Trail?
During the month of June and July, you may notice turtles on or near the trail. Its nesting season and turtles are out looking for soft and sandy spots to lay their eggs. So far this year we have seen painted turtles and snapping turtles on the trail. If you see a turtle, please do not pick it up or disturb it, as you may disrupt its nesting process. You can take a picture and submit it here on the website. Hatchlings may occasionally be spotted in August or September, making their way nearby water.
Pine Street Planters - Thank You Daisies!
Daisy Troop 70336 are a group of 16 Kindergarteners at Great Oak School. As their first year in Girl Scouts, they worked hard to sell their Girl Scout Cookies and raised a lot of money as a way to give back to the community.
Since Girl Scouts is all about the girls themselves making decisions, they voted for their service project and collectively decided they wanted to plant a community garden or flowers somewhere in Danvers. The Daisies were thrilled to find a place on the Rail Trail that needed some flowers, and would let them spread happiness to their community. To ensure safe social distancing, a few girls (wearing face coverings) planted the flowers. Then the entire troop will take turns maintaining the flowers by watering, weeding and decorating seasonally throughout the year.
It was bitter, but the Chocolate Walk went on!
The weather was as about as cold as we’ve had this winter, but it was sunny and calm… and still about 20 warmly dressed walkers joined us for our fourth annual Chocolate Walk. We started at the Hobart Street parking lot and walked north to Putnamville Park, about three miles round trip. Hot chocolate and other goodies welcomed walkers at the park.
Many thanks to Putnam Pantry Candies for providing a great selection of Valentine’s Day themed candies for the walk. And to Karen, Matt, Lori, and Anna who made some great homemade brownies and blondies! Everyone was thrilled with the goodies!
Thank you to all who joined and supported the event! And special thanks to Putnam Pantry!
A Beautiful First Day Trail Walk
About 50 people of all ages joined us for a pleasant (but a bit brisk) 2020 First Day Walk. Most came from Danvers, but we also had walkers from Peabody, Salem, and Beverly. The walk was managed by about 10 volunteers who handed out light refreshments and acted as guides at street crossings. The recently installed canopied picnic table was a great spot to meet and set up refreshments.
Most walkers made the full three-mile trek to the Putnamville Park and back.
Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who joined the fun!
Danvers Rotary and Rail Trail Volunteers Improve the Hobart Lot Area
With support from the Danvers Rotary and a group of Rail Trail volunteers, significant improvements were made to the rail trail area around the Hobart St parking. The Hobart lot is at the mid-point of the Danvers Rail Trail and is jumping off point for many walkers, runners, and riders.
Two benches, a covered picnic table (designed and kitted by Charley Lincicum), and trash barrel (donated by HRMS) were placed in this area.
Thank you to Rotary and HRMS for your support of the trail!
Holten Richmond Middle School Students Raise Funds for the Trail
A group of 15 Holten Richmond Middle School Students with their teacher Jessica Bouchard approached the rail trail committee with an offer to help the trail. Some of the students had been out on the trail and suggested that a trash barrel at the Hobart Street parking lot would help make the trail more attractive by reducing the litter in that area.
The students ran a number of events at local stores and raised the funds for a heavy duty outdoor trash barrel. This project was one of many “Empathy in Action” projects undertaken by Holten Richmond Middle School students last school year.
Thank you to all the students and their teacher Jessica Bouchard!
Little Libraries on the Trail
The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers has installed seven “Little Libraries of Danvers” throughout Town to promote reading and help build community. These “take one, leave one” free book exchanges were built by carpentry students at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School out of salvaged library bookshelves.
Two of the seven Little Libraries are located along the Rail Trail, one along the trail by the Hobart Street parking lot, and the other along the trail at Putnamville Park.
If you visit one of the Little Libraries, please take a look at the books inside and feel free to take any that catch your interest. If you have appropriate books you’d like to give away, please feel free to drop a few off for your neighbors to enjoy.
For a map of the library locations, click here.
For more information, including a full list of Little Library locations, please visit danverslibrary.org/littlelibraries or contact Alex Lent at lent@noblenet.org
Walk or Ride the Trail to the 2019 Topsfield Fair – October 4 to 14
We all know the Topsfield Fair! One of the oldest in America, the fair was started in 1818 and has run almost every year since. The fair today features carnival rides, games and concert events in addition to the more traditional attractions, such as exhibitions of livestock, rabbits and cavies, crafts, horses and produce. The fair also hosts the All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
We also know that parking at the fair can be chore. So why not ride or walk the Danvers Rail Trail (and the Topsfield Linear Common) to the Fair, and work off some of that fried-dough as well! Starting in downtown Danvers at the Hobart/Charter Street parking lot, it’s about 4.5 miles.
Thank You Medtronic!
About 20 volunteers from Medtronic, a local medical technology company, worked on the trail Friday June 27, as part of their commitment to community service. It was a beautiful, hot summer day and the Medtronic team appreciated the chance to be outside the office and get some sun and exercise.
Four crews split up to work various sections of the trail. One very hearty group spent the day clearing knotweed near Rt 62 that was encroaching into the trail, causing a safety issue. Other crews picked up trash along most of the trail.
Thank you, Medtronic!
Electric Utility Mowing July 8 to 12 – Some Trail Sections Temporarily Closed
Danvers Electric will do summer vegetation management work on their trail right-of-way starting Monday July 8 and lasting about five days until Friday July 12. This will result in rolling closures of sections of the trail as they move north from the Peabody line to about Putnamville Park. Bushes and trees that hinder line maintenance will be trimmed.
The contractor conducting the work will be using a truck with a large mowing head and has requested that trail users stay off the closed sections so that they may work safely and quickly. Volunteers will be stationed at key crossings and will suggest alternate routes. For your own safety, and ensure work is completed promptly, please respect rail closure directions.
If you have questions about this work, please contact Anthony Calascibetta at Danvers Electric. He will work to address your questions. His email is ACalascibetta@danversMA.gov and phone is (978) 479-8033.
Danvers Electric’s annual program of vegetation management under their lines is essential to keep lines clear and assure good service. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Join us for the Summer Sizzler 5K Fun Run Thursday, July 4th!
TR Ramsdell organizes road races across the North Shore. He is organizing this race to benefit the Danvers Rail Trail and Danvers Recreation. This will be a fun 5k race all on the Danvers Rail Trail. The race will start at Danvers High, heading north to Putnamville Park, then back south to Chestnut St, and returning on the trail back to Danvers High.
We will supply Summer Sizzler T-Shirts to the first 150 entrants. The race will be timed – there will be overall male/female winners and a top three male/female winners in the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.
You can register here online and pick up your pre-race packet pick up on Wednesday, July 3rd from 10:00 am to 6 pm at New England Running Company, 43 Enon Street, Beverly, MA. Fees are $25 Pre-registration and $28 on the race day.
Sponsors are welcome with all proceeds going to the Danvers Rail Trail.
Click here to email TR for more info! The race starts at 8:00 am on Thursday, July 4th! Day of registration and Packet Pick-Up starts at 6:30 am at Danvers High School.
Retired Cyclists Seeing America (via Danvers)
Janet (64) and Stephen (72) Rickey, recently retired, have been cycling across the US since September 21st 2018. They stared in Washington state, traveled down the west coast, across the south, and are heading north on the East Coast Greenway.
They were spotted at the Hobart Lot looking for a spot for a picnic lunch, and then plan to travel north to Newburyport. Their goal is the Canadian border. They were thrilled to ride the Danvers trail and spend some time off road.
Thank You for Earth Day Spring Cleaning! (April 2019)
Click on photos for expanded view.
Finally, after many days of rain, the weather cooperated with cool and cloudy, but dry conditions. A hearty group of about 15 volunteers made great progress in clearing trash and other debris from most sections of the trail.
Volunteers and other were offered free saplings to take home and plant as in support of Earth Day’s “Trees for the Earth” program, which has as its goal to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide by 2020—one for every person projected to be on Earth.
We were fortunate this year that the trail has been relatively clean after a low-snow winter. But still about 20 bags of trash were collected and removed.
And thank you to the many Danvers High volunteers for their support on Earth Day. Photos courtesy of Danvers Herald David Sokol.
Celebrate Earth Day on the Trail Saturday April 27
While this past winter was not too severe, it’s still a good time to clear out a winter’s collection of branches, leaves, trash and other debris appearing now along the trail.
In support of Earth Day 2019, join us on Saturday April 27 to clear light brush, trash, and debris from the Trail and surrounding areas.
Meet at the Hobart Street lot at 9:00 am. We will break up volunteers into two or three small groups to work on different sections of the trail. We aim to complete our work by 1:00 pm.
In addition, we will be handing out tree seedlings to the first 100 people with planting instructions in support of Earth Day’s “Trees for the Earth” program, which has as its goal to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide by 2020—one for every person projected to be on Earth.
We encourage our Mile Marker sponsors to join the fun and take a picture of you and your marker for us to share via our website and social media.
Wear weather appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes, and work gloves.
See you Saturday April 27!
Sweet Success – About 70 Turn Out for 2019 Chocolate Walk!
The weather was sunny, cold, and very windy, but still about 70 walkers joined us for our third annual Chocolate Walk. We started at the Hobart Street parking lot and walked north to Putnamville Park, about three miles round trip. Walkers were of all ages, many with dogs.
Many thanks to Putnam Pantry Candies for providing a great selection of Valentine’s Day themed candies for the walk. Everyone was thrilled with the donation!
Ten Rail Trail volunteers acted as hosts and crossing guards. A number of Danvers High School students prepared delicious chocolate baked goods and then handed them out to hungry walkers and helped with crossing safety.
Consumed during the walk: 40 cups of hot chocolate, dozens of homemade sweets, and nearly 125 Putnam Pantry chocolate samplers.
Thank you to all who joined and supported the event! And special thanks to Putnam Pantry!
A Beautiful First Day Trail Walk
About 80 people of all ages joined us for a pleasant (and unseasonably warm) 2019 First Day Walk. Most came from Danvers, but we also had walkers from Swampscott, Salem, and Beverly. The walk was managed by about 15 volunteers who handed out light refreshments and acted as guides at street crossings.
Many walkers made the full five-mile trek to the SwampWalk and back.
Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who joined the fun!
DYF Cheerleading Happy New Cheer 5K Fun Run 12/29
Join the inaugural Happy New Year 5K a fun run supporting the Danvers Youth Football Cheerleading program on Saturday December 29. This year the Danvers cheerleading teams will be representing the town at the National High School Cheerleading Competition. Support for the Fun Run will help fund the team’s attendance at the competition.
The event will start and finish at Danvers High School and be run partially on the trail and partially on streets.
All registered runners and their guests are asked to bring food item(s) that will be donated to the Danvers People to People Food Pantry.
Packet Pickup/Race Day Reg: Opens at 9:00 AM at Danvers High School. Packet pickup will be on race day only. Click here to register.
More info at: https://danverscheer.com/
Eagle Scouts Improve Access to the Trail
Members of Boy Scout Troop 48 from Lynnfield recently replaced an unsafe boardwalk where the trail connects to the conservation land behind Danvers High School. They replaced a “boardwalk” made up with old pallets with a safer and sturdier boardwalk.
As part of this project the troop leader developed boardwalk plans and reviewed them with the Danvers Conservation Commission who approved this work. The troop also worked with the Rail Trail Advisory Committee and Danvers Planning Department.
This work should make for safer access to folks that walk to/through the conservation land. It will also provide a better alternate route when that section of the trail is closed for maintenance.
Thank you, Troop 48!
The Summer Sizzler 5K Was a Sizzler!
Nearly 200 runners came out on a very hot and humid Fourth of July to run in the first annual Danvers Summer Sizzler 5K. The overall male winner was Zach Zawatski and female winner was Emily Demarco. Full race results at by clicking here.
TR Ramsdell did a great job organizing the race, which was for the benefit of the Danvers Rail Trail and Danvers Recreation. Thank you TR!
We want to thank our sponsors Ben Franklin Tees, Freedman Financial, The McNulty Family, and Mead Web Design and our Rail Trail volunteers for supporting the event!
Please do NOT Place Advertising or Announcements on the Trail
Recently there have been a lot of signs placed on the trail announcing events and advertising businesses. Placing advertising/announcements of any kind on Town of Danvers property is not permitted (Town Bylaw Chapter XXV “Regulation Governing the Use of Town-Owned Land” Section 3a).
When signs are seen on the trail, the RTAC will remove the signs and do their best to notify the sign owners so they may reclaim the signs.
We will continue to place/allow signs on the trail that inform users of trail closures or guide event participants during an event.
If you have events you would like to run on the trail, please let us know via our Contact Us form and we will do our best to accommodate.
Great Danvers Family Bike Ride
Thank you to all our volunteers, Western Cycle, and the Danvers Police for a fun and informative family bike day. The weather was nice, and many families took advantage of the bike and helmet checks provided by Western Cycle, as well as free donuts, water, and candy!
Congratulations to one three-year-old rider who made it all the way to Putnamville Park and back! This was before he was handcuffed.
This was a great way to safely start the cycling season and to familiarize people with the Danvers Rail Trail.
Thank You Medtronic!
About 25 volunteers from Medtronic, a local medical technology company, worked on the trail Friday June 1, as part of their commitment to community service. Four crews split up to work various sections of the trail, including some work on the Peabody section between Danvers and Lowell St. Another crew worked with Matt Duggan and Bill Graham to clear debris from ditches near the high school to reduce trail erosion.
About 10 bags of trash were collected, making for a neat and clean trail for our Family Bike Day being held on June 2.
Thank you, Medtronic!
Thank You! Earth Day Spring Cleaning! (April 2018)
Finally, a beautiful spring day! An energetic group of about 25 volunteers made great progress in clearing branches, logs, trash and other debris from most sections of the trail. In some areas trail edges and runoff gullies were cleaned.
Four trailer loads of tree limbs, branch, and winter yard waste were cleared from about Prince Street to Cole Road. Thank you, Tyler Berry, (Endicott Park) for your help loading and disposing of the debris. And thank you to Danvers High volunteers for their work on Earth Day and preparing for the clean up the previous week.
About 15 bags of trash were collected between about the Peabody line and Putnamville Park. Its great to see that the trash this year was significantly less than last year at this time.
Special thanks to the Boy Scout Troop 58 for a super cleaning job the trail between Charter Street and Collins Street.
Thank you to McDonalds Rte 114 (April 2018)
As part of the McDonalds opening of their newly renovated store at 135 Andover Street (Route 114), co-owners Bob King and his daughter Lindsay Wallin (with community input) chose four local organizations in the areas of service, education, public health and recreation.
The Danvers Rail Trail was presented a donation of $1,000. Other recipients included Danvers High School DECA, the Danvers Police Department’s DARE program, and the Danvers’ People to People Food Pantry.
The restaurant now has a more modern look and feel to it — both on the interior and exterior — and includes new ways for customers to order, customize, and pay for their meals — namely the addition of digital self-order kiosks.
Thank you to McDonalds for your support of the Danvers Rail Trail. We encourage you to stop by the renovated store to thank them in person.
A Danvers High Schooler Perspective on the Trail
A Danvers High student recently commented on her experiences on trail vis-à-vis a recent newspaper article:
A recent article in the Boston Globe (Oct 2017) stated, “We don’t know our neighbors anymore. Here’s what that costs us.” It talks about how people are becoming more and more introverted when it comes to interacting with strangers. Fewer people are communicating with their neighbors, even just a simple “hello” is becoming a thing of the past. The article talks about that because of this; people are less trusting of others, which can affect people’s physical health and wellbeing.
What the Danvers Rail Trail does is it creates a place where people living in the town can go on a nice walk with their dog, with friends, or even alone. It is a place where anyone can go, it doesn’t cost any money, and it gets people to step outside of their isolated homes into their community. The trail itself is like a neighborhood. Although people from all over town, and even from surrounding towns can walk on the trail, the people you encounter feel like friendly neighbors that could live next door. I asked someone who frequents the trail how he thinks that it impacts the Danvers community, and he said, “It’s positive because it is a way for people to go out and get fresh air and exercise rather than being cooped up in their houses. It’s a good way to interact with different people. After a while, you get to recognize people who go on the trail frequently.”
For those who go on the trail, they see it as a great means for exercise, and a great opportunity to interact with others in their community. The rail trail expands the common neighborhood to include many more people. Just a simple “hello” when you pass by someone is a start to bringing back the old days of neighborhood interaction. With the rail trail, people can learn to become more open and interactive with others. This contribution is great, as it can help people become more trusting of others, and even improve one’s physical health in addition to the act of walking on the trail itself. Overall, the Danvers Rail Trail is a place for people to get out, get some exercise, and interact with new people. It is a start to fixing the problem of declining neighborhood interactions.
Daisy Powers, Danvers High Class of 2018
Thank You Girl Scout Troop 68183 for Improving the Trail!
Girl Scouts Kenzie Rourke, Tabitha Sears, Riley Vogel, saw an opportunity to beautify the trail. Working with other volunteers, they cleared two weed strewn areas, laid down anti-weed mat, added timbers and stones, and then planted a variety of plants at and near the Rail Trail kiosk at the Hobart St parking lot and the Cherry Street Fish Market. We can't wait for spring to see the bulbs they planted blooming!
Nothing Like Chocolate! 75 Turned Out for Chocolate Walk!
The weather was reasonable (45 degrees but cloudy) and the trail surface a bit tough to navigate (icy spots), but many walkers showed up for a pleasurable and successful Chocolate Walk on Saturday February 10. About 75 walkers joined in, with many families bringing their children and dogs. Due to the icier conditions heading north, the route was changed at the last minute to head south on the trail.
Eight Rail Trail volunteers acted as hosts and crossing guards. More than a dozen Danvers High School students spent the previous week preparing all kinds of delicious chocolate baked goods, and then worked on the trail to hand them out to hungry walkers and helped with crossing safety.
Consumed during the walk: 40 cups of hot chocolate, 50 homemade cookies, 50 homemade brownies, 20 homemade chocolate lollipops, and dozens of chocolate candy bars.
The walk was led by Rail Trail Committee member Charles Lincicum. Walkers met at the Hobart Street parking lot and walked south to the Peabody line (4 miles round trip).
Thank you to all who joined and supported the event!
THANK YOU Kiwanis Club of Danvers!
On a recent beautiful fall weekend, a group of volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Danvers cleared much of the trail of trash and debris. This was part of the Kiwanis One Day service event held around the world.
The Kiwanis Club has been a great supporter of the trail, completing their first pickup day in 2011, and then every year since, remaining one of our longest-term trail helpers. On that first day in 2011, they picked up 117 bags of trash… compared to only half dozen bags this October. This demonstrates how a community working together and over time can all pitch in to make for a more pleasant recreational area. Thank you, Kiwanis!
THANK YOU to the Danvers B-Peds Advisory Committee!
A huge thank you to the former Danvers Bi-Peds who recently donated more than $3,000 to the Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee. The Danvers Bi-Peds was a long-standing citizen’s advocacy group who worked together with Town departments and the public to help create and maintain bicycle and pedestrian facilities, to educate citizens on their use and care, and to promote safe opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians for transportation, enjoyment and public health. With this generous donation, the Rail Trail Advisory Committee will continue to support the Danvers Bi-Peds mission by creating safer and more user-friendly access to and along the Trail.
Completed - Major Cleanup Coolidge Road Entrance (Sept 2017)
With major assistance from the folks at JC Grounds, huge improvements were made to the trail entrance at Coolidge Road (off Cabot Street). Five truckloads of yard waste, brush, cement, metal pipes, and other illegally dumped debris were removed from the trail. The JC Grounds team, who did this work as part of their community service program, was supported by Rail Trail volunteers and the Town of Danvers. A second team cleaned out a smaller amount of debris in the area between Oak and Chestnut Street
This clearing was done in response to comments and complaints from trail users and trail abutters regarding the illegal dumping of yard waste and other similar debris along the Rail Trail.
The work was a one time, all volunteer effort. Now that virtually all debris has been cleared we ask for your help in keeping it clean. Please do not dispose of any yard waste, leaves, brush, dead fish, or other debris along the trail right of way (approximately 15 feet strip on each side of the trail).
As a reminder, depositing waste of any kind along the trail is illegal. It restricts the ability of Danvers Electric to maintain the right of way, creates a breeding ground for vermin, and is generally an eyesore and safety hazard for trail users. With the trail now cleared, the Danvers Board of Health has a benchmark to assess and stop any continued illegal dumping on town property. Illegal dumping should be reported to Board of Health and/or the Danvers Police.
Dutch Visitors On The Trail!
Piet Meerdink and Jopie van der Werf of Leeuwarden, Netherlands are visiting the north east and Canada, mostly on their bikes. We met them on the trail on their way from New York City via Boston up to Maine (or maybe Vermont depending on their mood), and then on to Toronto.
They are generally following the East Coast Greenway route and hope to be in Toronto within a few weeks.
If you meet other international visitors on the trail, encourage them to send us a picture and tell us their story. It will be interesting to see how far our trail users have travelled to get here.
Click here to submit your photos and stories.
A Successful Mother’s Day Walk (May 2017)
About thirty mothers, daughters and sons turned up on a cool Saturday morning for our spring Mother’s Day Walk. Charles Lincicum led the group north along the trail on walks varying in distance from 1 to 5 miles. Volunteer Tracey Heron helped with registration and the raffling off gift certificates.
Other volunteers helped guide the walkers and ensure safe street crossings. Coffee, water, and chocolates were available to all walkers.
Thank you to New Brothers Restaurant and Deli, Costco, Cherry Farm Creamery, Cherry Street Fish Market, Danvers YMCA, Daniella’s Cafe, Folly Hill Farms, Goodies Ice Cream, Kaffmandu, Maple Street Church, McKinnon’s Supermarkets, Savers, Paninis Pizza, and Sylvan Street Grille for your support of the trail!
Thank you to Bevery Bank Danvers
As part of the Beverly Bank grand opening of their Danvers Branch (29 Elm Street), the bank asked that people select their favorite Danvers non-profit organization. In keeping with Beverly Bank’s mission of giving back to the communities it serves, the Bank donated $1,000 to the Danvers Rail Trail at its April 13th event.
VP/Danvers Branch Manager, presented the Paul McNulty of the Danvers Rail Trail Committee with its donation, accompanied by Greg Newman-Martinez, assistant manager at the Danvers Branch.
Thank you to Beverly Bank for your support of the Danvers Rail Trail. We encourage you to stop by the bank to thank them in person.
Thank you First Presbyterian Church!
Recently, the members of the First Presbyterian Church of the North Shore (Danvers Campus) did a significant cleanup of the trail between about Pine Street and Poplar Street.
Led by Pastor Derek Baker, the group filled a pickup truck with trash and debris exposed once the snow melted.
Thank you for your support of the trail and all that use it!
Thank You! Earth Day Spring Cleaning and Planting
