The town council just confirmed that the plans to pave our trail are officially off the table. My heart is full knowing that those woods will remain wild and safe for the turtles I have spent so many years watching. We have stopped the development for good, though I will …
April 4, 2022
Final supporters
The natural Reformatory Branch Trail that many residents of Concord and other towns have cherished for decades is now at risk for development.
The trail is currently used by pedestrians, bird watchers, dog walkers, joggers, and bicyclists of all levels and ages. It is also home to the endangered Blanding's Turtle and Britton's Violet flower.
We advocate for the preservation of Concord’s portion of the Reformatory Branch Trail as the natural trail that it is right now, which accommodates a wide variety of users and provides them with a healthful immersion in a living natural environment.
We strongly oppose the funding or execution of any engineering study that considers substantial tree clearing and widening or paving of this trail. Such a study would represent the first step down a mistaken path that could well lead to the destruction of this important natural resource in Concord.
For further information and actions to take, please visit savetherbt.com
PLEASE NOTE: Any solicitations for money are from iPetitions. No money goes to the Save the RBT campaign.
Updates
March 21, 2022
I have been walking the trail every morning to document the habitat of the Blanding's Turtle because I refuse to let this land be paved over without a fight. My inbox is filling up with messages from neighbors who share these memories of the woods, and I am currently organizing those stories to present to the town board. Please keep visiting the website for new documents regarding the proposed engineering studies.
March 21, 2022
Seeing this momentum grow reminds me of all the quiet mornings I have spent on the trail watching the wildlife that depends on this land. It is deeply moving to see so many people choose to protect the wild spaces that have shaped our community for generations.
Reached 100 supporters
March 21, 2022
67 Comments
The wildlife impacts of paving this trail, which runs immediately adjacent to Great Meadows NWR are huge and the escalating level of use by cyclists traveling at high speed on this trail is already compromising the utility of the trail to non-cyclists. A paved trail would only benefit one group of the diverse community of current trail users.
Please leave the trail unpaved so we can all enjoy it. I use it regularly on my walks and see many walkers along with bikers. Turning it into a bicycle highway would exclude the pedestrian users, to say nothing of the environmental damage and the harm to the already stressed wildlife.
The Reformatory Branch Trail in its current state of being a dirt trail offers the benefit of filtering contaminants so that they are less likely to pollute the water.
This beautiful and well-loved trail is already multi-use, and cost little or nothing to maintain. Paving it would change all this, and result in a less appealing biking, hiking, and walking experience for Concordians, and the many people who visit Concord to experience the town's unique mixture of old style footpaths, open fields, and woods.
I lead a walking group from the organization called Concord After 60, and we treasure this trail just as it is with walkers like us along with joggers and cyclists.
leave the trail as it is, unpaved
There is absolutely no reason to pave the trails. People can cycle on it currently and it is one of the most beautiful trails in the region. We do not need another paved trail, road cyclists have route 4/225.
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The town council just confirmed that the plans to pave our trail are officially off the table. My heart is full knowing that those woods will remain wild and safe for the turtles I have spent so many years watching. We have stopped the development for good, though I will …
April 4, 2022
Final supporters
The natural Reformatory Branch Trail that many residents of Concord and other towns have cherished for decades is now at risk for development.
The trail is currently used by pedestrians, bird watchers, dog walkers, joggers, and bicyclists of all levels and ages. It is also home to the endangered Blanding's Turtle and Britton's Violet flower.
We advocate for the preservation of Concord’s portion of the Reformatory Branch Trail as the natural trail that it is right now, which accommodates a wide variety of users and provides them with a healthful immersion in a living natural environment.
We strongly oppose the funding or execution of any engineering study that considers substantial tree clearing and widening or paving of this trail. Such a study would represent the first step down a mistaken path that could well lead to the destruction of this important natural resource in Concord.
For further information and actions to take, please visit savetherbt.com
PLEASE NOTE: Any solicitations for money are from iPetitions. No money goes to the Save the RBT campaign.
Updates
March 21, 2022
I have been walking the trail every morning to document the habitat of the Blanding's Turtle because I refuse to let this land be paved over without a fight. My inbox is filling up with messages from neighbors who share these memories of the woods, and I am currently organizing those stories to present to the town board. Please keep visiting the website for new documents regarding the proposed engineering studies.
March 21, 2022
Seeing this momentum grow reminds me of all the quiet mornings I have spent on the trail watching the wildlife that depends on this land. It is deeply moving to see so many people choose to protect the wild spaces that have shaped our community for generations.
Reached 100 supporters
March 21, 2022
67 Comments
This is a one of a kind trail for running, walking, and riding. Me and many others come from all around boston to run on this flat soft surface trail for many reasons, and paving it will be removing something special from the world for many.
The wildlife impacts of paving this trail, which runs immediately adjacent to Great Meadows NWR are huge and the escalating level of use by cyclists traveling at high speed on this trail is already compromising the utility of the trail to non-cyclists. A paved trail would only benefit one group of the diverse community of current trail users.
Please leave the trail unpaved so we can all enjoy it. I use it regularly on my walks and see many walkers along with bikers. Turning it into a bicycle highway would exclude the pedestrian users, to say nothing of the environmental damage and the harm to the already stressed wildlife.
The Reformatory Branch Trail in its current state of being a dirt trail offers the benefit of filtering contaminants so that they are less likely to pollute the water.
This beautiful and well-loved trail is already multi-use, and cost little or nothing to maintain. Paving it would change all this, and result in a less appealing biking, hiking, and walking experience for Concordians, and the many people who visit Concord to experience the town's unique mixture of old style footpaths, open fields, and woods.
I lead a walking group from the organization called Concord After 60, and we treasure this trail just as it is with walkers like us along with joggers and cyclists.
leave the trail as it is, unpaved
There is absolutely no reason to pave the trails. People can cycle on it currently and it is one of the most beautiful trails in the region. We do not need another paved trail, road cyclists have route 4/225.
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This is a one of a kind trail for running, walking, and riding. Me and many others come from all around boston to run on this flat soft surface trail for many reasons, and paving it will be removing something special from the world for many.