Fans of the Northern Rail Trail are hoping that the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy will place it in that group’s Hall of Fame, and they need online votes to make it happen.
The 59-mile trail that runs west from Boscawen to Lebanon is going up against two trails in the contest: one on the coast of Delaware and one in central Iowa.
Nominees are selected based on merits such as scenic value, use, historical significance and community connections, but the final designation seems to be based solely on online voting.
Voting runs through the end of Friday, Aug. 6. The winner will be announced later this summer. Voting is at the link: rtc.li/hof-vote-2021.
The Northern Rail Trail was made possible in 1996 when the state purchased an abandoned rail line that was last used by Boston & Maine Railroad. That rail line dated back to 1847. The long, thin stretch of property was planned as a snowmobile trail, and considerable volunteer effort has turned it into a year-round facility.
“While we’ve always known how important trails are to communities nationwide, this past year has proven the immeasurable impact they deliver to our health, well-being and the social fabric of the places where we live, work and play,” said Brandi Horton, vice president of communications for the national conservancy.
Some want the state or city of Concord to buy the right of way of six miles of line being abandoned by Pan Am Railways, which would allow the rail trail to be extended to Horseshoe Pond in Concord in what is being called the Merrimack River Greenway Trail. Others argue that this stretch of rail line should be left in place for future use, either recreational or commercial, perhaps allowing a “rails and trails” facility to be created for side-by-side usage.
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
