Town Receives $42k Grant for Local Trails

The town of Winthrop has received a grant of $42,719 grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Recreational Trails Program.

Grants manager Joseph Domelowicz Jr. said the grant will be used to make improvements at the Fisherman’s Bend Trail, located off of Sunnyside Avenue and Corinha Beach Road behind Pleasant Street, and the Edward Rowe Snow Path that connects the end of the Shore Drive rotary around Cottage Hill to Yirrell Beach.

Domelowicz said the town will hold a public meeting on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the E.B. Newton School building to inform residents about the restoration efforts at the two trails.

“We want to discuss the project with residents and neighbors and enlist some volunteer help for some of the clean-up work in advance of the project,” said Domelowicz.

The two trails will be part of the Walk Winthrop initiative, a plan to connect walking areas for residents throughout all areas of the town. Domelowicz said the goal is to make the paths “walk-able and bike-able” for residents and visitors to the town.

“These are two key pieces in the Walk Winthrop initiative,” said Domelowicz. “The Fishermen’s Bend Path is used somewhat but it has become overgrown and beaten down and the DCR funds will help us improve this path. It has been many years since any intense work was done at these two locations.”

Domelowicz said the town’s Conservation Commission was involved in the drafting of the grant and the Department of Public Works will be seeking to enlist volunteers to assist in the project.

“DPW Director Steve Calla has indicated that as long as the weather cooperates his department should be able to complete the projects by the start of the summer,” said Domelowicz.

The majority of the funds in the grant will be used to purchase supplies such as stone dust for the path, the equipment needed to clear the trails, and signage for the paths.

“The lot on Sunnyside Avenue opens up to the street so we’re going to close that off and make it a real trail head, and put in some bike racks and trash receptacles,”  said Domelowicz.