View Methuen Rail Trail in a larger map
It’s just an overgrown railroad bed right now, but Methuen resident Joyce Godsey sees something much more — a vibrant rail trail providing recreation and transportation to the city of Methuen and beyond.
Godsey is behind an effort to convert the old Boston & Maine railroad bed into a trail that could become part of a much larger network. With thousands of dollars available in grant money for such projects and other towns taking the initiative, why not Methuen, Godsey asks. Aside from the recreational opportunities, rail trails increase home values and quality of life, she argues, and there’s data to support that claim.
The map above shows the proposed trail and how it would connect to the Greenway Spicket in Lawrence and the Salem Bike Ped Corridor, which is in development, and on to the Derry Rail Trail. In this week’s Behind the Headlines podcast (above) we talk to Godsey about her efforts, what challenge lie ahead and her own bike, Daisy.
For more information on the trail efforts, follow Godsey on her Methuen Rail Trail blog.
Noah R. Bombard is the new media editor for The Eagle-Tribune in North Andover. He is a former award-winning newspaper and magazine editor who has been covering news in Massachusetts since 1997.