Welcome To The Danvers Rail Trail
From Rails To Recreation
A Beautiful First Day Trail Walk - 2024
About 45 people of all ages joined us for a chilly 2024 First Day Walk. Most came from Danvers, but we also had walkers from Beverly, Middleton, Peabody, and Salem. The group started on the current trail near mile marker 2.0, headed north, making their way to Putnamville Park (3 miles roundtrip). Some ventured further to the SwampWalk (5.2 miles roundtrip).
The walk was managed by about six volunteers who handed out light refreshments and acted as guides at street crossings.
Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who joined the fun!
November 2023 - Danvers Rail Trail Northwest Extension
Progress Update
Northwest Rail Trail Extension - Overview
The town has approved extending our current rail trail northwest towards Middleton. This extension will be a 2.9 mile non-motorized, shared-use continuation of the existing Danvers Rail Trail, connecting Danvers downtown to additional Danvers western neighborhoods and eventually to the Middleton Rail Trail.
The extension will provide a healthy recreational option to all residents and visitors. The extension will be similar to the current trail in design, surface (stone dust), usage, rules, etc. The northwest extension will be completed in four phases (see map below).
Over the summer significant progress has been made. The trail is now fully open between the current trail and Maple Street. Stone dust has been applied and mile marker posts installed. The crossings at Hobart Street and Beaver Park have been completed with ADA compliant curb ramps, solar powered flashing beacons, painted crosswalks, and appropriate “crossing ahead” signs. Thanks to the Town of Danvers for getting all this done!
The Conservation Commission has approved the designs for an ADA compliant crossing at Maple St/Rt 62. Funding and timing the construction of the crossing is planned for 2024.
For those in the Hathorne area, stone dust has been applied to the trail surface from about the Lahey Outpatient Center on Hathorne Drive north to the Middleton trail. It is now possible to follow a stone dust trail from Lahey to Route 62 in Middleton (at Farmer Brown’s), about 1.5 miles one way.
Electric Division Right-of-Way Mowing Completed! (June 2023)
During the week of June 26 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!
Thank You for Earth Day Spring Cleaning! (April 2023)
The weather cooperated on Saturday with spring-like cool and cloudy conditions. As part of the town-wide Earth Day cleanup, a group of about 30 volunteers made great progress in clearing
trash and other debris from all sections of the trail.
About 30 bags of trash (bottles, papers, dog waste) were collected and removed from the trail and trail sidings. The area around the new Beaver Brook bridge was also cleaned. In addition, with help from Endicott Park Rangers, two truck-loads of brush and branches were removed.
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, the Maple Street Church, DHS Students, and many rail trail enthusiasts. And to the Town of Danvers for providing the trash bags and picking up the gathered trash.
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
Although it was a dreary day, an energetic group of about 20 volunteers made great progress in clearing debris and trash from many sections of the trail, and planting to reduce erosion.
Two trailer loads of yard waste were cleared from the area around Holten Street, and another two loads from the area between Oak and Poplar Streets. About 25 bags of trash were collected, with a major focus on the area around Rte 114.
And about 600 ivy plants were planted in the area around Oak Street in effort to minimize erosion and the spread of Japanese knotweed.
Special thanks to the Maple Street Church for the use of their facilities, to Chic-fil-A for lunch, and to all the volunteers who braved the rain to help clean up the trail.
A Successful National Trails Day June 4 (June 2016)
It was a beautiful day on Saturday! Thank you to the dozens of bikers, walkers, stroller-pushers, and joggers who stopped at Western Cycle and the Danvers Rail Trail station to learn about the trail, have a bike bell installed, and make donations to our work. And thank you to Western Cycle for supporting the event and providing some great Richie’s Italian Ice.
Revolutionary War Reenactment near the Trail (June 2016)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead sits on 25 acres of land not far from the Rail Trail. Over the weekend of June 4 and 5, the Danvers Alarm List Company (who manage the homestead) held their Revolutionary War Reenactment weekend, during which a few of their visitors made their way to the trail. Even if you are not a reenactment enthusiast, the Rebecca Nurse Homestead is a great place to visit to learn more about life in the during the 1600 and 1700’s.
Boston & Maine RR #3240 waits to depart Danvers depot with the train for Boston in an early 1940s morning. In the cab window is fireman Charles Purinton, while in the gangway is engineer Elmer Dean.
The train is facing outward on the line that went through Danversport to Peabody, thence to Salem and Boston. If you stood on the end of the depot platform you'd be adjacent to the locomotive. The cars of the train would extend back in front of the depot where Townsend Oil currently has a couple of oil trucks parked. The Danvers depot would be out of sight at the right and slightly behind the photographer. It's morning from the shadows, and you can see where the crew has wiped off the dirt on the number on the cab. The locomotive is an 4-4-2 "Atlantic" type passenger engine (note the large diameter driving wheels, built for speed, but not hauling power). #3240 was built by the Manchester (NH) Locomotive Works in1908 as #831. All B&M locomotives were renumbered in 1911. That's when it became #3240. It was scrapped in April, 1946, not many years after this photo was taken. Until the mid-1950s when diesel locomotives finally took over all commuter service on the B&M, a fleet of larger, 4-6-2 "Pacific" type passenger engines worked local commuter service. The last steam train into Danvers rolled into town from Boston, via Wakefield Jct., on the Newburyport line late in the afternoon of June 22, 1956. All B&M steam was scrapped by September, 1956. Thanks to Richard Symmes for providing this photo and information.
DRT Survey – What Did We Learn (May 2016)
The results are in. Thank you to the 109 rail trail users who provided us with some great feedback on the trail – what’s working, what could use improvement, and other suggestions.
In summary:
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The trail is used by older, health conscious, Danvers residents, who walk/bike to the trail.
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The trail is clearly viewed as a town asset.
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The DRT volunteers are very much appreciated.
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The trail is felt to be well maintained, with dog poop the most commented maintenance issue and adding pedestrian lights at more crossings the most requested improvement.
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The trail is overwhelmingly felt to be safe.
For the full set of results, including all comments, click here
And THANK YOU to all that took the time to respond!
Thank You Comcast! (May 2016)
Fourteen Comcast employees were out in force improving and maintaining the trail as part of Comcast Cares Day. Working alongside Danvers Rail Trail volunteers, the Comcast employees improved the garden area at mile marker 3.4 by adding clematis and flower beds, cleared out debris from the side drainage areas between mile markers 3.5 to 3.7, and cut back the side and top corridors from mile marker 3.5 to 4.3. Comcast also supported the Topsfield Rail Trail with 16 people working on a variety of improvement projects.
In addition to our heartfelt thanks to Comcast and the Rail Trail volunteers, we also want to thank the McNulty’s for their clematis donation.
The Chocolate Walk A Success! (February 2016)
Rail Committee Chairman Charley Lincicum and his wife Judi led a group of 20 on a 3.2 mile walk from Putnamville Park to Route 97 on the annual "Chocolate Walk" on February 20th! The temperature was 50 degrees & the weather was clear, but best of all, there was a lot of chocolate! Other attendees: Becky Kilborn, Sue Kontos, Ann McCarthy, Blaze Johnson, Maryellen Dolan, Angela Doucet, Janice Telford, Margaret Bailey, Sherry Reardon, Diane Chigas, Karen McQuaid, Laurence Duffy, John & Lindy Almeida, Sue O’Leary. Rail Trail Ambassadors: Lori (Nana) Dupont, Bob Brown
Community Preservation Act Public Meeting (February 2016)
Community Preservation Act Public Meeting (February 2016)
The Town of Danvers is evaluating if and how it should join Salem, Beverly, Peabody, Gloucester and Middleton, and the 158 cities and towns in the Commonwealth that have already adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA) which pays for open space, historic preservation, community housing and outdoor recreation projects.
For users of the Rail Trail, CPA funds could be used to improve and enhance the trail and adjacent parks and recreation areas. Please join us at 7:00 pm at Danvers Senior Center (25 Stone St) Monday February 29th to learn more and provide your input and guidance. Light refreshments will be served.
The Year Started Off on the Right Foot (January 2016)
Thirteen hearty walkers met at the Hobart St lot for a brisk walk along the trail. The approximately 5 mile walk was a great way to start the new year and work off some “holiday cheer”. Charley Lincicum, joined by his wife Judi, led the group north along the trail, highlighting some of the train history along the way.
Other walkers included: Karen McQuaid, Lori Dupont, John Waters, Jeff Pope, Myrna Fearer, Diane Chigas, Leslie Trembly (with her dog Max), Nancy McNulty, Paul McNulty, and Meredith and Steve DeGuglielmo (with their dog Amber). Don’t forget our February chocolate walk starting at Putnamville Park On February 20th at 10:00am… more details to be posted shortly.
Danvers Rail Trail Experience Offers Insights to the Town of Dedham (December 2015)
A community group in the Town of Dedham MA is working to create the Dedham Heritage Rail Trail. This community-led effort seeks to transform a 1.5 mile stretch of abandoned railway into a new linear park and cultural greenway. The group turned to Danvers Rail Trail users and volunteers to learn from our experiences and share our insights with others in Dedham using a short educational video.
Thank you to our trail users, neighbors, and volunteers for helping with this video.
Scouts Help Improve Putnamville Park (Nov 2015)
For a second time this year, Scouts from Pact 16 Webelos Wolverine Patrol along with their leaders, helped improve the trail through Putnamville Park. They were assisted by Brownie Troop 66326. This project continued and completed the installation of cobblestones along the trail’s edge. This will help avoid runoff from the garden area into the trail. Pictured are Scouts from Pack 16 Webelos Russell Almeida, Ty Cravatis, James Lafata, Jacob Smith, and Brownie Troop 66326 Lindy Almeida
Thank you from all that use the trail!
Storm Brings Down Trees – Volunteers Respond (Oct 2015)
A large tree fell across the trail near the SwampWalk in Wenham on Thursday October 1. A group of volunteers from Danvers and Wenham removed the tree shortly thereafter. Thank you!
New Bike Repair Stations along the Trail (August 2015)
With donations from Kiwanis, and support from a number of Rail Trail volunteers, two bike repair stations were installed on the trail. One is installed at the Pine Street crossing and the other in Putnamville Park. Each station includes a rack to hold the bike, an air pump, and set of tools suitable for most repairs. The installation was done in three phases, all led by John Waters. First holes were dug for the concrete footings, then the footings were poured, and finally the bike racks installed. Thank you Kiwanis and Rail Trail volunteers!
97 Degrees Did Not Stop Lowes! (August 2015)
Twelve volunteers from Lowes Danvers (Store 1094) spent a hot (97 degrees) and humid Wednesday installing a beautiful stockade fence along the western edge of Putnamville Park, providing an attractive backdrop to the recent landscaping work. Weeding was and cleanup to the landscaping was done to complement the fence work. In addition to doing all the work, Lowes also donated $4,500 (retail value) in fencing and related materials.
Lowe’s approached the Rail Trail Advisory Committee a few months ago with the offer to commit this year’s “Lowe’s Heroes” project to the Danvers Rail Trail. The offer was quickly accepted and embraced! Danvers Hardware supported the effort as well by donating the use of an auger for the day as well.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND PHOTOS!
Walk or Ride the Trail to the 2015 Topsfield Fair – October 2 to 12
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.
Webelos Wolverine Patrol – Make a Difference at Putnamville Park (July 2015)
A group of scouts from Pact 16 Webelos Wolverine Patrol along with their leaders, helped improve the trail through Putnamville Park by adding a 100 feet of cobblestones to the trail’s edge. This will help avoid runoff from the garden area into the trail. The scouts included Russell Almeida, James Lafata, and Tober Brisbois. This is the third project the Wolverines have done on the Rail Trail. The scouts enjoyed their day and ready for their next project! Thank you from all that use the trail!
Beautiful Day at the Danvers Farmers Market (June 2015)
The Danvers Rail Trail was represented at a recent Farmers Market by a group of volunteers and our Town of Danvers Selectperson Diane Langlais. We had a chance to explain a bit more about the trail to attendees of the market. Feedback from trail users continues to very positive, with more and more commenting on how they walk, bike, or run the trail. Support your local businesses and attend the market – every Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 pm across from the Town Hall.
Annual Board of Selectmen and Newsletter Rail Trail Update (May 2015)
The Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC) meets annually with the Danvers Board of Selectmen and Town Manager to review progress made on the trail over the past year, and highlight our goals and challenges for the coming year.
Our newsletter covers our work in some detail, which we could not do without the help and support of so many volunteers and sponsors.
The presentation is an overview of the year and highlights work for the coming year used with the Board of Selectman on May 19. View the presentation to and discussion with the Danvers Board of Selectman DCAT Video. The rail trail section starts about the 52 minute mark.
The reception from the Board of Selectman and the Town Manager was very positive and supportive. Many use the trail regularly, and appreciate the work we have all done to make the trail such a positive Danvers asset. Again – THANK YOU to all our supporters, volunteers, and sponsors.
Two Seniors Working Together to Maintain the Trail (May 2015)
One of the artistic and functional bike racks was unearthed by our snowy and cold winter.
Two volunteers, John Waters and Avery Castle, a Danvers High senior, worked together to remove, reseat, and re-cement the bike rack at the 2.0 mile marker.
Four Kiosks – One Day – 50+ Volunteers (April 2015)
On Saturday April 26, volunteers from local rail trail organizations, Comcast, Danvers Kiwanis, DHS-Serves, and others met at the Maple Street Church to begin the installation of the kiosks and do some general trail maintenance. Collaborating with East Coast Greenway and with tons of guidance from David Read of Topsfield, informational kiosks were installed from Peabody to Topsfield (three along the Danvers trail). Each kiosk provides distance markers as well as short histories of the nearby area. Read more about the project and Borders to Boston here.
First of Five New Informational Kiosks Installed (April 2015)
First of Five New Informational Kiosks Installed (April 2015)
A group of volunteers from Boxford, Danvers, Haverhill, Peabody, Topsfield, and Wenham met on Saturday at the Lowell Street entrance to the Peabody Rail Trail, and installed the first of five informational kiosks. Not only did we complete the installation, we trained a number of people on the process, to speed the installation of the next four Kiosks in the coming week. Click here to see more...
Celebrate National Trails Day on the Danvers Rail Trail (June 2015)
5K Fun Run/Walk Saturday June 6, 2015 9:00 a.m. start time!
IMPORTANT NOTE: THERE IS NO PARKING available at the starting point of Putnamville Park. Parking is available at Danvers High School and it is only a short walk/run to the start. PLEASE BIKE OR WALK TO THIS EVENT! A GREAT WAY TO WARM UP!
Please join us for a casual way to enjoy the trail together on a Saturday morning. Rail Trail ales will be available, along with our bottled spring water, for a $2 donation. The event is free, but donations to support Rail Trail maintenance are always gratefully accepted. Sponsored by the Wicked Running Club of Salem, the Rail Trail Advisory Committee, and Essex Heritage’s Move It program. CLICK HERE FOR INFO!!
Parking In Downtown Danvers - Public Open House (June 2015)
Through its Department of Planning and Human Services, the Town of Danvers recently received a grant from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Program to work with a nationally-recognized consultant, Nelson Nygaard, for a parking study for the downtown area. If you are interested in the future of the downtown, preservation of the historic train station, the current re-zoning initiative for the industrial district at Hobart and Maple Streets, the Rail Trail or other issues affecting the downtown, please join us for this open house! CLICK HERE FOR INFO!
RTN Federal Credit Union “Walk Home 2015” Sunday June 14
Join us along the Trail Sunday June 14 for the RTN Federal Credit Union “Walk Home 2015”
Did you know there are 37,000 teens and kids who experience homelessness in Massachusetts each year?
You can help by volunteering or walking as part of RTN’s Walk Home 2015, a 5K benefit walk to help homeless teens and families. This year the Danvers Rail Trail will be one three host locations for the 5K walk. The walk starts at 10:00 am / registration starts at 9:00 am. The walk begins at the Cherry Street Fish Market, 26 Hobart St and will continue along the trail. For more info and to register click here.
Getting ready for Spring - Volunteers Maintain the Trail (April 2015)
You may have noticed that the trail is beginning to be cleared of winters’ litter and debris. Thank you to a hearty group of volunteers from the St. Mary of the Annunciation School of Danvers for picking up trash as part of their "Community Spirit Day" (from left to right, Heather McNulty, Sean McNulty, Evan McNulty, Brendan Lombard, Diana Lombard).
Also thank you to a number of Danvers High students who spent many hours clearing debris and snow from trail heads, and picking up trash.
Nearly 300 Runners Participate in First Annual Tapleyville 7 Mile Classic Road Race (April 2015)
It was a great day for a race and 284 runners showed up to run the seven mile course along the rail trail and nearby streets of Danvers. All in all 16 towns from around the North Shore were represented. Proceeds of the race will be provided to the Boys & Girls Club of Salem and the Alzheimer's Association of America.
Click here to read more!
Volunteer Snow Maintenance On The Trail!
Special thanks to David Walfield and Dick Wallace for snow blowing the trail from Braman Street to Holten Street after every storm. Dogs (and others!) are so happy to have a place to walk Please remember to pick up after your dogs! Thanks to our heroes, Dick and David, from Neliemae and Brady and all the trail users!
Happy New Year From The Danvers Rail Trail!
The Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee wishes everyone a happy and healthy 2015! What a year of progress and enjoyment out on the trail.
Click here for a re-cap of the year’s activities, many thanks to Committee member Paul McNulty for putting this summary together.
Warmest wishes to you – see you on the trail!
Putnamville Park Stone Dust Installed (December 2014)
Braving the cold weather, Iron Horse and group of Danvers Rail Trail volunteers installed about 300 feet of stone dust, nearly completing the trail work in and around Putnamville Park. Nearby, additional work was done to clear some ditches in order to improve drainage. Read on for more photos.
The Danvers Rail Trail Committee recognizes Rotary and Troop 16 Support (November 2014)
Many organizations work to support the Danvers Rail Trail. Most recently two made significant contributions of time and money to help with improvements to the trail and the adjacent SwampWalk. Click here for full story!
Danvers Students Help Out at Putnamville Park (November 2014)
Election Day and Danvers High is closed for voting. While some of us slept in, a group of Danvers High students volunteered to continue improvements at the Putnamville Park. One group painted the iron bracings on the trestle bridge (to ensure longer life of the bridge). While others planted hundreds of bulbs in the various flower beds (we can’t wait for spring!). Click here for full story!
Thank You for Productive Work Party (October 2014)
The weather held on Saturday allowing a group of a dozen volunteers to make a number of improvements to the trail. Down the trail about mile marker 4.2 two benches (donated by Francine Butler) were installed overlooking a small pond.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS!
Danvers Rail Trail in the News (October 2014)
The Salem News recently covered the work being done by the Danvers Rail Trail volunteers, as well as the importance of rail trails in connecting communities. Both articles recognized the importance of volunteer and community support to not only initiate rail trail projects, but maintain them over the long term. More information can be found at “Preservation push is on in Danvers” and in the editorial “Our view: As rail trails grow more connected, their popularity will soar.” Again THANK YOU to all our current and future volunteers!
FALL MUST BE ON THE WAY!
Danvers Rail volunteers are getting ready for fall with harvest decorations on the Putnamville Bridge. This, plus some ongoing improvements to the trestle bridge are sure to help make for a welcoming, safe, and season-appropriate entrance to the park.
Volunteers Continue to Maintain the Trail (June 2014)
You may have noticed that the trail is clear of litter and debris. Thanks to a Danvers High senior and others, litter has been cleared, mile markers maintained, and some stairs (near Maple St) to the trail improved. All this is this creating a safer and more pleasant trail.
Town reroutes, improves Danvers Rail Trail, Putnamville Park (June 2014)
By John Laidler | GLOBE CORRESPONDENT JUNE 01, 2014
The town recently carried out a project to reroute part of the Danvers Rail Trail through Putnamville Park and make improvements to the park. Organized by the Rail Trail Advisory Committee, the one-day effort was undertaken by local volunteers, town workers, and more than 50 employees from Timberland whose services were donated to the town by the Stratham, N.H. company. Timberland’s participation helped the company achieve a milestone of donating 1 million hours of service in worldwide projects. The company also donated $4,000 for supplies. The rerouting of the trail is intended to provide a safer and more attractive passage for trail users along the corridor south of the Wenham Street crossing. The new segment consists of a 40-foot long elevated boardwalk above a wetlands area at the southern end of the park, and a winding stone dust trail leading through the park to the crossing. The park improvements included removing brush, planting trees, and adding picnic tables. Many local businesses and organizations also provided free or discounted materials for the project.
Thank You Timberland And ALL volunteers who helped out on the Putnamville Park project on Thurdsay, May 15th!!
Thank You Kiwanis for Helping with Spring Cleaning! (May 2014)
It turned out to be beautiful day to be on the trail! A hardy group of Kiwanis and other volunteers showed up to help clear the trail of winter’s detritus. Others fanned out to do some trail repair and continue work on the Putnamville Park project. The trail looks great – ready for spring! Thanks so much for all your support.
Thank You Rotary Club of Danvers! (May 2014)
The Danvers Rail Trail Committee and all involved in maintaining and using the trail, thank the Rotary Club of Danvers for their very generous donation of $10,000. This money will be used for the Putnamville Park project, specifically to help with the construction of the bridge across the wetlands.
Support the Putnamville Park Project! (May 2014)
Would you like to support the Putnamville Park project?
We are looking for general donations to help offset the costs for the project OR volunteers to work on the project. If you are interested, please click here to submit our on line form. THANK YOU for your continued support of the Danvers Rail Trail!
March 2014: Putnamville Park Improvements Approved
The Danvers Conservation Commission approved the Rail Trail Advisory Committee’s proposal to re-route the trail away from the Agway parking lot and through the adjacent Putnamville Park. This change to the trail will create a safe and attractive passage for trail users in the corridor south of Wenham Street, as well as create a more inviting recreational area in the park. Much of this work will begin on Thursday May 15, when the Timberland Company of Stratham, New Hampshire, will donate the services of 50+ employees and a grant of $4,000 toward improvements to this underutilized park. Rail Trail Committee is thrilled with the support we have received from the Town of Danvers and local volunteers, and delighted to have the green light from the Conservation Commission to proceed with this work. Thank you all! More detailed info here.
Volunteers Help With Clean Up!
Special thanks to a group of volunteers who helped clean up the trail from Charles Street to Charter Street on Saturday, 4/12/14. Thank you very much for pitching in to help, it looks great!
From left to right Tracy Pang, Kathleen Cullen, Connie Eldridge, Kate Duggan, Ken Langlois, Shannon Fraser (with Willa) and Natalie Duggan
Thank you Mscisz Landscaping - Putnamville Park Project Continues! (April 2014)
Thanks to the folks at Mscisz Landscaping for preparing the ground and then laying the first layer of crushed stone that will be base of the new (ADA compliant) trail running through Putnamville Park. The Mscisz family was out in force to support the effort, with John and his father driving equipment and grandfather Fred giving helpful advice from the sidelines.
A Putnamville Park work party was held on Saturday April 12 – a good day! Thanks to Larry Olasky (left) who lives in Haverhill but is considered an honorary member of the Danvers Rail Trail Advisory team!!!!! Thanks to all who helped today – Lori Dupont, Paul and Nancy McNulty, Bob Brown, Larry Olasky and Charley Lincicum, our team engineer and Committee chair.
Troop 16 Pitches In For Park Clean Up!
On Saturday, April 5, Troop 16 Cub Scouts braved the mud at Putnamville Park to do a clean up of brush debris and trash. Their hard work and enthusiasm will help get things ready for landscaping, path installation and the re-routing of the trail. WAY TO GO, CUB SCOUTS!!! Thank you to leader John Almeida for organizing this on short notice, and to the families to whom several very MUDDY children will be returning after a day in the park!"walks are free and designed for adults.
ECTA held a round trip bike ride from Topsfield Center to the Peabody line on Saturday, April 11th. About 30 enthusiastic participants stopped to meet two Danvers volunteers at the Cherry Street Fish Market on their return trip. Coffee, icy Rail Trail beverages, and lots of conversation were shared, along with a quick summary from Lori Dupont and Kate Day RE the plans for the Putnamville Park trail relocation project. Thank you to Ashley Hill, Joe Geller and all of today’s participants, we’ll see you on the trail!
March 2014: Bat Houses Now On Swampwalk
Photo shows one of two new bat houses installed by Thomas Arsenault near the observation deck of the Swampwalk.
Thomas designed, built and installed these as his Eagle Scout project. Great job, Thomas! The bats will thank you!
March 2014: Poplar Street Crossing
The Rail Trail Advisory Committee, with financial support from the Danvers Bi-Peds, purchased a set of pushbutton-activated lights for the Poplar Street crossing. The installation of these lights implemented the recommendations of an engineering study, provided at no cost to the Town, The area transportation agency predicted the lights would cost $30,000. We found a way to purchase the lights directly from the vendor, assemble them on-site, and total cost (installed, with new signage) was under $6,000.
March 2014: The Cut
Many of you have expressed a concern for the cement bridge with the below-grade pass-through off Cabot Street. Replacing the bridge is on Electric’s list of tasks for this year; they have retained a structural engineer and have plans to create a new, safer bridge with railings. This sort of major engineering and construction work is beyond the scope of the Rail Trail Advisory Committee’s abilities, but the plan to replace the bridge reflects Electric’s need to provide structurally sound crossings for their heavy equipment on the right-of-way. We feel fortunate to have this type of partnership with our Electric Division. This replacement has been a project for which we have long advocated, and we will continue to do so.
New Signs Welcome Rail Trail Users (February 2014)
Thanks to the efforts of Dave Read and a group of hardy volunteers, new signs have been created and installed at south of the Danvers Rail Trail (using the kiosk built by the Brooksby Village woodworking shop) and to the north near the Topsfield Fairgrounds. These new signs provide historical context for that section of trail and the distances to key locations along the Danvers, Wenham, and Topsfield trails. Check them out when you can!
Danvers Rail Trail in the News (December 2013)
Both the Salem Evening News and the Danvers Herald covered the Rail Trail this week, with special coverage on Tim Jordan’s railway art. You can read more at here at the Danvers Herald and here at the Salem Evening News. Again congratulations Tim!
October 2013 - With the new surface on the trail, we are starting to see people use the trail to commute to work.
It’s a great way to stay in shape, save some money, and help the environment.
For example, Larry Jedrey who manages Fisher Auto Parts at 89 Maple Street, now bikes to work from Peabody. He feels it’s faster and far more enjoyable than taking his car.
Oak Street Crossing – No More Flooding
Thanks to help from the Danvers DPW, we’ve taken a big step in addressing the flooding that occurred at the Oak Street crossing. The addition of a dry well, gravel, and a drain grate should help make this section more easily passable after a rain storm. Even after the recent severe rainstorms, there was no apparent flooding. Thanks for your patience as the work was done, and for the Danvers DPW in making the improvement.
Looks like 70 is the new 17!
We met Jack Day on the trail a few weeks back. He is on his way from Calais ME to Key West FL to celebrate his 70th birthday.
And once the party is over in Key West, Jack plans to bike back to Iowa (not likely via Danvers even though he loves the trail).
As we learn more of Jack’s journey, we’ll post updates.
New Benches a Work of (Railway) Art
Tim Jordan had a vision – blending some of the old and some of the new to create benches appropriate for what was an old railway line, and is now the Danvers Rail Trail. Tim contacted the North Conway Railway and secured three 2,500 pound sets of railcar wheels and axels. Together with other Scouts Emmett Pierro, Collin Butler, Matt Pellerin, Sean Gibbons, Sam Acciavatti and his dad Ed, Tim trucked the wheels to Danvers. And then working at Metallic Fusion fabricated three beautiful benches.
Together with the Danvers Rail Trail Committee, dedicated volunteers and supporters, Joe Pierro, Wayne Pellerin, Moynihan Lumber, Five Star Towing, and Bunky’s Marina, these benches were installed along the trail at Pine St/Tapley Field, Holten/Burroughs Streets, and Charter Street. Please enjoy the outdoors along the trail – and rest when needed.
And we wish Tim the best as he completes his Eagle Scout work.
Danvers and Wenham Rail Trails – New Surface Complete!
The last of the stone dust surface was installed on August 7, 2013. This five mile stretch makes for a smooth and enjoyable journey starting in Peabody and running through Danvers, Wenham, and beyond. We encourage you to take some time to explore and enjoy our new trail and all it has to offer.We want to thank the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the $50,000 grant awarded jointly to Wenham and Danvers to complete the surface, and to Iron Horse’s hard-working crew along with Lenny the incredibly good natured truck driver who navigated the trail so well.
Click here for a photo gallery of the new surface project.
Special thanks to Bob Brown for the photos.
Wicked Local Photo
Adopt-a-Planter Sponsors
Many, many thanks to the 21 individuals and companies who have stepped forward to adopt the planters along the Rail Trail: Danvers Indoor Sports, Marianne Bolduc, Kitty Martin, Corinna’s Creations, Mead Web Design and Computing, Janis Guter in memory of James Guter, the Rail Trail Advisory Committee, C.R. Lyons and Sons, Fisher Auto Parts, Margaret Simcox, Kelly Pierce in memory of Patricia Pierce, the Cidzik family, and Twin Oaks Center.
Swampwalk kiosk sign looks great!
With the help of fourteen generous donors, we were able to fund the Swampwalk kiosk sign, which was delivered and installed the day before the well-attended dedication ceremony on Saturday, May 18. Many thanks to the following for their support: Christine Langill, Sandra Stacey, William D’Ambrosio, Larry Olasky, Sally Kerans, Christine Stokes, Christine Bartman, Ken Leonard, Prentiss Landscaping, Ellie Ross, Richard Trask, Paul McNulty, Hillary Langer and Kate Day. Many thanks to Dave Read of Topsfield who designed and funded the kiosk, and to the many volunteers who helped with the installation.
Border to Boston Trail will connect 9 North Shore cities and towns
In years to come, locals will be able to jump on a bicycle, lace up running shoes or leash the dog and hit 28 straight miles of trail, spanning from the New Hampshire border all the way through many of Boston’s North Shore communities. These emerging trails will link nine local municipalities in the Border To Boston Trail, starting as far north as Salisbury and ending in Peabody. In between, the trail will run through Newburyport, Newbury, Georgetown, Boxford, Topsfield, Wenham and Danvers. Read full story here.
Click here for more photos.
Article and photos from Danvers Patch
DCR Grant Pays for New Compacted Surface Along Rail Trail
State officials and community representatives from across Massachusetts gathered in Danvers Friday to join with town officials and local supporters of the Danvers Rail Trail. The others were also to receive their own grant awards. Danvers and Wenham received a $50,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation to place a compacted stone dust surface as a top layer along the length of the recreational trail.
Earth Day: Sunday April 21 was Earth Day – Hardy Volunteers Help with Rail Trail Spring Cleaning
A dedicated team of about 25 Kiwanis and Rail Trail volunteers showed up on a chilly but sunny Sunday to help clean up a winters collection of trash and debris hidden by the snow. About 50 bags of trash later and the trail is ready for spring recreation, walking, jogging, etc.
ADOPT – A – PLANTER PROGRAM
The Rail Trail will soon be in bloom with over 3,000 bulbs planted by Boy Scout Troop 155 last fall thanks to a generous grant from Cell Signaling Technology of Danvers. Would you like to adopt-a-planter? We will provide you with a gift certificate for pansies to follow up the spring bulbs, and can provide training or assistance with planter maintenance. For more information, contact Kate Day via e-mail. Thank you!
Saturday March 30 was a busy day on the Rail Trail!
On Saturday, March 30th., Boy Scout Troop 155 assembled adopt-a-planter signs and placed on each planter along the trail; and Girl Scout Christina Liotti, working on her Gold Award project, led the Rail Trail Advisory Committee in assembling three benches donated by Brooksby Village which will be placed along the trail. Thank you to all!
Kiosk Sign Fundraiser - Your Support Needed!
Please help us fund our new kiosk sign for the Swampwalk! Donate any amount using the link below! We hope to have the new sign installed in time for the dedication of the Swampwalk on Saturday, May 18th. If you enjoy the Swampwalk and the Rail Trail, please show your support! Click here to donate on line! Thanks in advance!
As the trail gets better, so does the website!
As you can see, the Danvers Rail Trail website has a new and more modern look, is easier to use, and contains lots of up-to-date information on the Rail Trail, events, etc. Even the Boston Globe felt the update warranted coverage. For more information, click here,
Bench Warmers Will Have a Spot along the Trail
New benches are installed, dedicated, and ready for use. In collaboration with Danvers Rail Trail Committee, dedicated volunteers, Brooksby Village, and Girl Scout Senior Cadet, Christina Liotti, three benches in lovely locations are ready for use along the trail. All are welcome to walk, bike, run, and enjoy the outdoors along the trail – and rest when needed. Read more here in the Danvers Herald.
DRT Awarded Citation By Massachusetts Parks & Recreation!
Congratulations! Danvers Recreation and town have been nominated and selected to receive a Special Citation from the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association to recognize the great work that was done to plan and create the Danvers Rail Trail! Click here for info!
Who says the Rail Trail and Swamp Walk are just for humans!
Sandra Stacy and her dog Abby have discovered that the Rail Trail and Swamp Walk make a great location for both some exercise and some relaxation! Next time you venture out on the trail, take your camera and send us your photos and story ideas. We’ll do our best to include them. To submit photo, click here.
Danvers Rail Trail Recognized By Massachusetts Recreation & Parks
The Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association recognized the Danvers Rail Trail with a Special Citation at an awards breakfast on March 13, 2013 at their annual MRPA state conference in Hyannis. The Rail Trail Advisory Committee and the numerous volunteers who have made the trail a reality should be very proud!
Planters are all now out on the trail!
Many thanks to Bob Arsenault and his sons, Matt Duggan and special thanks to Peter and John King for the donation of their time and equipment. The planters and bulbs were funded through a generous grant from Cell Signaling of Danvers, and were loaded up with bulbs last fall thanks to Boy Scout Troop 155. Bill Clark donated the excellent compost to fill the planters.
DRT Receives Gift From Friends Of Danvers Recreation
The Danvers Selectmen accepted a gift from the Rail Trail Advisory Committee through its non-profit partner, the Friends of Danvers Recreation, of a John Deere lawn tractor to be used for the maintenance of the trail.
Danvers Rail Trail group honored by ENHC
The Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee was honored by a “Pioneer in Partnership” award by the Essex National Heritage Commission on Thursday, Nov. 8, at commission’s annual meeting held at Brooksby Farm…. more
Interpretive signs dedicated for Danvers Rail Trail
The Rail Trail Advisory Committee hosted a brief dedication ceremony for the new trail’s four new interpretive signs that tell the story of the history of the railroad in Danvers… more
A Head for Business Pays Dividends for Danvers Rail Trail, Mass.
Last year we wrote about the tremendous grassroots effort out of northeast Massachusetts to develop the Danvers Rail Trail. The Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee rallied the town's business community to support the extension… more
Danvers Rail Trail is now on Google Maps!
Ever curious how far that recent run, walk, or bike ride was? The Danvers Rail Trail is officially included in Google Maps giving you the ability to plot and measure your route. Be sure to select Walk. Click here for info!
DRT Honored By APA Massachusetts
The American Planning Association - Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) Awards Committee selected the DANVERS RAIL TRAIL Committee to receive the Citizen Planner Award. This award honors a non-professional citizen or citizens who have made a distinguished contribution to planning. Congratulations!