by Bea Peterson
Close to 40 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hoosic River Greenway on Sunday, December 4. The event was the result of five years of effort by a group of dedicated people. Individual and company donors, spearheaded by the late Mark Revet, began the effort with the purchase of 26 acres from the Boston & Maine Corporation of the old railroad beds running along the Hoosic River. The land runs roughly from the old Village Wastewater Plant to the Village Water Plant. The purchase took over two years. Grants have been received for all additional work on the trail. Suttonscapes recently cleared and smoothed the trail from its beginning to the berm near Willow St. Next spring rock dust will be placed on the trail to make for smooth walking and biking.
Hoosick Falls Mayor Matt Monahan said, “a lot of hard work by a lot of individuals has made this possible. It’s one of the best projects I’ve been involved in as Mayor. This is fantastic. There are 101 different uses for this trail and for folks to enjoy it.”
Executive Director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association Steven McMahon noted the Hoosic River begins from waterways in Stamford, VT and Cheshire, MA, flowing through Hoosick toward the Hudson River. HooRWA supports river advocacy, conservation and research. He said the organization has had one of its greatest relationships ever with the local Greenway organization. Eli Yearick of Parks and Trails New York said, “this trail provides local people an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature and by doing so, be healthier people.”
“The Hoosic River Greenway has always had that vision, that drive to help the community and keep this project going. You should be very proud,” he said.
Former Hoosick Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas said a trail such as this does create economic development. In the future she hopes to see the trail extend into North Hoosick. “It would be a perfect tie-in with the future Brown’s Brewery,” she said. “There is value in this trail and the quality of life it provides the community.”
Herb Loretan regularly rides the bike trail in Cheshire and he said he is happy that this trail will offer him an opportunity to bike closer to home.
Ric DiDonato said it would not have been possible without the sustained efforts of Michael Batcher and Shelly Stiles.
Sunday was a beautiful warm early December day and many people took advantage of the lovely weather to walk the trail.