The Medfield Rail Trail provides a flat, easy path for walking, running, horseback riding and biking for people of all ages. The Rail Trail, along with its connection to the Bay Circuit Trail, opens up safe links to hundreds of acres of town-owned recreation areas, and the former Medfield State Hospital campus.

Initiated by the non-profit Bay Colony Rail Trail Association (BCRTA) along with Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail (a Medfield Foundation initiative), the project is a private-public partnership with the Town of Medfield. The Rail Trail was approved by Town Meeting in May 2018. The project has been funded entirely by grants from the state’s MassTrails Program and private donations. Medfield’s Board of Selectmen, the Planning Department, the Town Administrator, and Conservation Commission have assisted and provided oversight for the development of the trail. The Medfield Department of Public Works has been instrumental in constructing the trail.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held along the Rail Trail on the corner of West Mill Street and Harding Street. Parking will be available at The Center at 1 Ice House Road, Medfield, MA. The event will include refreshments and appetizers, as well as a guided walk along the trail.

The trail is almost completed. The final piece is the installation of crosswalk flashing lights at the Harding Street and Farm Street crossings. Until then, please take extra care when crossing those streets.

Huge thanks to Steve Albert for creating this video. Find more videos of New England trails here: https://www.youtube.com/c/Ratbas

Enjoy!

The 3″ stone dust surface is compact and durable, perfect for a multiuse trail, accommodating walkers, runners, wheelchairs, strollers, bikes and horses. We can officially open the trail after the stone dust surface is in place and crosswalk lights are installed. We are almost there!

This short video shows the process of installing the stone dust surface.

And here’s a view of the trail with the stone dust surface.

Press release:

MBTA and Town of Medfield Sign Lease for Medfield Rail Trail
Construction of the Rail Trail Planned for Summer 2021

Medfield, Mass. – June 28, 2021 – This month the Town of Medfield signed a 99-year lease with the MBTA for the 1.3-mile segment of the former Bay Colony Railroad line. The Town plans to build the Medfield Rail Trail, a multi-use trail along the unused rail corridor, from Ice House Road to the Dover Town Line.

The Medfield Rail Trail will have a flat, stone dust surface and provide an accessible walking, running, horseback riding, and biking path for people of all ages. The Rail Trail, along with its connection to the Bay Circuit Trail, opens up safe links to hundreds of acres of town-owned recreation areas, and the former Medfield State Hospital campus.

The project has been reviewed by the Medfield Conservation Commission to ensure that wetland resources near the Rail Trail are protected throughout construction of the trail and beyond. The Commission approved the Board of Selectmen’s application for the project in February.

The Town of Medfield will put the project out for bid through an invitation for bid process and construction is planned for this summer. Once started, construction should be completed within two to three months.

“I am very excited to see the Medfield Rail Trail come to fruition,” said Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler. “This has been a long-term resident-led initiative that will provide Medfield residents with a wonderful recreational amenity for many years.”

The rail trail project in Medfield was initiated by the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT), a group of Medfield residents who, along with the Bay Colony Rail Trail Association (BCRTA), proposed the building of the trail, conducted a feasibility study, and brought the initiative to a Town Meeting vote, which was approved in May 2018. The groups raised funds from private donations via the Medfield Foundation and received grants from the state’s MassTrails Program to pay for the entire cost of the project. The FMRT is helping the Town manage the bid and construction process.

The FMRT will update the Bay Colony Rail Trail Facebook page with progress and milestones on the project.

About the Friends of Medfield Rail Trail

The Friends of Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT) is a volunteer group of residents working toward the implementation of the Medfield Rail Trail. FMRT welcomes volunteers to help with this effort. If interested please contact FMRT at medfieldrailtrail@gmail.com.

The FMRT, a Medfield Foundation initiative, is seeking additional private donations to fund benches, signage and various other amenities for the Rail Trail. Tax-deductible donations can be made either online at Medfieldfoundation.org, or checks can be mailed to Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail, c/o Medfield Foundation Inc., PO Box 745, Medfield, MA 02052. to learn more about the Friends of Medfield Rail Trail contact Michael Taylor at (508) 878-6599 or Paula Crerar at paula@crerars.net.

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Media Contact:
Paula Crerar
paula@crerars.net
Phone: 1-774-469-0602

In August of last year, the Town of Medfield was awarded a second grant of $100,000 by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation’s MassTrails Program. Together with the first grant of $100,000 awarded in 2018 and almost $80,000 raised from supporters, the total amount raised for the Trail provides the funds necessary to complete construction of the main elements of the Rail Trail (remove rails and ties, install and grade a gravel subsurface, construct safety railings, and install the stone dust surface).

In October, the Medfield Board of Selectmen authorized the Town Administrator to sign the lease with the MBTA for the Medfield Rail Trail once the required environmental liability insurance is purchased. In November, the Town approved our recommendation for which insurance to obtain and the Medfield Conservation Commission approved our plans.

There are a few major milestones to complete, including executing the lease with the MBTA, and conducting the bidding process for trail construction.

Our fundraising efforts are continuing so that we can begin to plan for trail amenities, such as signage and benches, visual barriers, and ongoing trail maintenance.

After years of work, we are so excited to finally be on the verge of constructing the Trail. We will continue to keep you posted on progress on this website and our Facebook page.

Thank you for your continued support!

The Medfield Rail Trail Awarded $100,000 MassTrails Grant

Medfield, Mass. – July 31, 2020 – The Town of Medfield has been awarded $100,000 in MassTrails grants for the creation of the Medfield Rail Trail. The multi-use trail will follow the route of the unused Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail bed in Medfield, running approximately 1.3 miles from Ice House Road to the Dover Town Line.

The MassTrails grant is part of $4 million allocated to fund design, construction, and maintenance for 55 trail projects throughout the Commonwealth.

The grant was submitted by Town Planner Sarah Raposa and was prepared with the support of the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail (FMRT) and the Bay Colony Rail Trail Association (BCRTA). In 2018, Medfield was awarded its first grant for $100,000 and has raised more than $70,000 from residents and local businesses to date. With this year’s grant, the total amount raised for the trail is currently $270,000, which provides the funds necessary to complete construction of the main elements of the rail trail (removal of rails and ties, install and grade a gravel subsurface, and install the stone dust surface).

“Now more than ever, Medfield needs outdoor spaces that connect the Town,” said Christian Donner, founder of the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail. “The Medfield Rail Trail will provide a flat, easy walking, running and biking trail for people of all ages. The trail, along with its connection to the Bay Circuit Trail, opens up safe links to hundreds of acres of town-owned recreation areas, and the former Medfield State Hospital campus.”

We’re holding a fundraising event on November 3rd at 243 North Street in Medfield, and you’re invited! Enjoy a fall afternoon with drinks, food and fun while supporting the Medfield rail trail. Meet WCVB Channel 5 News Anchor and Medfield resident Ben Simmoneau, who will emcee the event.

Attendance to the event is free. We will be making a request for donations, to help build the rail trail.

Come join us, bring your friends and neighbors and support a great cause!

Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail is a Medfield Foundation initiative.

We’ve raised almost $45,000 in private donations to date from scores of local residents, businesses and organizations, including the Medfield Lions Club. Thank you all for your support!

The FMRT has started discussions with the Medfield Conservation agent concerning requirements to protect nearby wetlands and water resources during construction.

We received a draft lease from MBTA for the rail trail right-of-way. The lease is currently under review by the Board of Selectmen and Town Counsel. This is a very important step in the process and once the lease is negotiated, the town is authorized to begin construction.

Next steps required before we can start construction in 2020 include:

1. Board of Selectmen review and sign the lease with MBTA.
2. Purchase environmental liability insurance (a requirement of the lease). Funds have already been raised to cover the costs of the insurance.
3. Submit application to Medfield Conservation Commission for permit approval.
4. Raise an additional $90,000 by next year to start the first phase of construction – removal of the rails and ties, and laying down the crushed asphalt surface. A fundraising campaign is underway.
5. Prepare an RFP specifications for construction and hire a contractor.

Because we are trying to build the trail without the use of town funds, we need your help to get the $90,000 needed. Please donate today!

Biking the Needham Rail Trail

Completed in 2016, the 1.3-mile recreational path runs along the abandoned railroad line from the Charles River near the Dover line to the Town Forest near High Rock St. The trail has become a popular amenity for Needham residents with hundreds of walkers, joggers, and bikers of all ages visiting each week.

Meet at the Red Wing Bay parking area along Fisher Street at 1:00 for the walk. Choose to do a short .25 mile walk to the Charles River or a longer walk along the length of the trail.

Cider and snacks available after the walk, so bring the kids!

The Friends of Medfield Rail Trail are now actively seeking funds through grants as well as individual and corporate donations. We have already applied for a DCR grant for up to $100,000 and will find out the outcome of that application in the fall. In the meantime, we are asking for donations from our neighbors so that we have enough funds for the selectmen to negotiate with the MBTA for the lease which is the first step before construction. Please give (see the Donation section on the right) and help us make this wonderful resource a reality.

Here’s the full article from the “Report On The Warrant For The Annual Town Meeting” for 2018

Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised for the purpose of providing funds for construction of a multi-purpose recreational trail including but not limited to purchase of environmental liability insurance, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a lease and purchase environmental insurance for said purpose with the MBTA and/or Mass Department of Transportation (DOT) and to purchase environmental liability insurance, provided that the Board of Selectmen is satisfied that there are sufficient available funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or other sources to commence construction, or do or act anything in relation thereto. (Rail Trail Study Committee) A 1.3 mile multi-purpose recreational trail, beginning at Ice House Road and ending at the Dover Town Line has been proposed. This article seeks to give the Board of Selectmen authority to enter into a lease with the MBTA or Mass DOT for the abandoned rail line on which the trail would be constructed and some funding for either purchasing environmental liability insurance or assisting with construction funding.

Warrant Article

The Medfield Bay Colony Rail Trail Study Committee is working with  town officials on final language for a warrant article. The article, to be voted on during Town Meeting (Monday, April 30, 7:30 pm at the high school),  would authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a lease with the MBTA for the purpose of constructing of a multi-purpose recreational trail on the unused railroad in Medfield.

DCR Grant

The Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail, together with Medfield’s Town Planner, have submitted a Department of Conservation and Recreation grant for funds under the Recreational Trails Program. At the Feb. 6 meeting the board of selectmen approved the grant application. If awarded, the funds for the grant can be used to reimburse costs of construction for the rail trail. The amount of the grant is $50,000 and we can apply for it each year of the development of the trail. This grant could be larger (up to $100,000) if we can demonstrate the regional importance of our rail trail.

Coordination with the Norfolk Hunt Club (NHC)

Last year NHC expressed concerns about the rail trail initiative. This year, the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail and the Bay Colony Rail Trail Association have pledged to work with NHC to minimize any negative impact to riders and, in turn, NHC has rescinded their opposition . We plan to allow horseback riding on the trails – not just allowing horses to cross at designated points. In fact, the rail trail will provide NHC an alternative way of riding to the Medfield State Hospital (important on Thanksgiving Hunts), requiring a simple crossing at Harding Street versus a quarter-mile “hack” down three streets (School, Wright and Harding).

Board of Selectmen Meeting

As part of obtaining approval for the DCR grant submission, the FMRT and the town selectmen discussed pending issues with the rail trail. Specifically, the new cooperation with the Norfolk Hunt Club and further research on liability insurance have eased their main concerns.

Minutes aren’t yet available, but you can view the discussion in the video of the meeting (discussion begins at 2:15:37 and ends at 2:33:13).

Next Steps

For supporters of the rail trail, here’s how you can help:

• Build community support: To get the votes needed , we need to build awareness about the rail trail among our neighbors, gain support and ensure attendance at Town Meeting. Contact me today to  lead our Community Support committee
• Contribute: We are optimistic that the Rail Trail warrant article will pass. The Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail are starting a fund raising campaign NOW in support of construction of the trail. Help us with a  donation.
• Volunteer:  Email me to be contacted by  our Community Support and/or Fundraising committees as they begin their initiatives.

We’ll schedule a meeting of volunteers soon and post the day and time in our next article and on our newsletter. Speaking of our newsletter, subscribe today and don’t miss the latest news on the rail trail.

We’re looking forward to a great year for the rail trail! Thank you for your interest and support.

The Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail invite you to an informational meeting and presentation on:

• Current status of the Medfield rail trail
• Findings from the March 2017 trail feasibility study, presented by Robert Weidknecht from Beals and Thomas, Inc.
• How rail trails have successfully been developed in Needham and neighboring towns
• What needs to happen to get the rail trail completed and what you can do to help

Join us on Monday October 23rd at The Training Room in the Public Safety Building, 114 North Street, Medfield.  RSVP here.

Share the news, bring a friend!

Christian Donner presented the Bay Colony Rail Trail Study Committee’s report to the Medfield selectmen at their December 20 meeting. The selectmen commended the report, saying it was very well researched and thorough. The selectmen encouraged Christian and the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail to continue their efforts to develop the rail trail and to work with them on a few open issues. Selectman Mike Marcucci summarized his views of study and the rail trail in his notes. You can also watch a video of that meeting here.

In a subsequent meeting on February 7, the selectmen supported a two-year, two-step process for the rail trail, with negotiation of the lease with the MBTA for the rail trail parcels in 2017 (see section 6.2 of the report for details on the MBTA lease). Once the parcels are leased, plans for construction of the rail trail can begin.

The selectmen have expressed concerns (see Mike Marcucci’s notes) about covering MBTA indemnities for environmental liabilities. To help resolve this issue, we’ve coordinated conversations between the Medfield selectmen and officials from other towns who have successfully addressed the concern.

There are significant steps that need to be completed before the negotiation of the lease will take place, including:

• Commission a design and feasibility study for the Medfield rail trail, conducted by a professional firm with experience in civil engineering and environmental issues. Christian and I have a proposal from a company who has had experience developing these studies for other rail trail projects. The Bay Colony Rail Trail Association has offered a grant that should fund most of the expense for the report.
• Include the rail trail project as a Warrant article (waiting to hear from town officials for confirmation) so that it can be discussed in the Town Meeting on April 24.

The progress and support are encouraging. To help us continue our efforts, please spread the word about the rail trail to your friends and neighbors and donate today.

The group is already organizing a meeting to provide information and get support from residents who abut the trail. This special meeting is taking place on Sunday, November 6 at 67 Harding Street, where neighbors and trail abutters can walk in any time from 2pm to 6pm. We’d love to hear from you even if you can stop by for just a few minutes.

We’ll also meet regularly to develop and conduct fundraising  and communication activities, update town officials on progress and take steps to get approval for the rail trail.

How can you help make the rail trail a reality for Medfield?

1. Stay tuned for news on fundraisers and calls for town support on this page. You can also follow us on Facebook and sign up for our newsletter.
2. Share your support for the rail trail with your neighbors and town officials
3. Consider donating to our cause
4. Let us know your thoughts by commenting to this post