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FSBPC Hits MegaBucks!

Great news for the “Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor” (FSBPC) also known in some circles as the Salem Rail Trail. In the last few months, the volunteer organization, an affiliate of BWANH, received notification of several significant grants

and private donations.

The first $10,000 grant came from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 2021 Trail Grants Program, the Salem grant funded by trail supporter JP Pest Services of Milford, NH.  Working with the Town of Salem and NHDOT, a trailside parking area and a surfaced trail will connect Salem NH to the Methuen Rail Trail at the Massachusetts state line.  Construction is scheduled for August 2021. This will complete a significant connection to the Massachusetts rail trail network which has been in the works for many years.

“This grant combined with donated services will create a key connector not only to Salem but to the 120-mile Granite State Rail Trail ending in Lebanon, NH,” states Dave Topham, FSBPC Co-Chair.  “Our 5.1 mile Salem corridor is truly the “Gateway to New Hampshire” for what will be a seven-state regional rail trail network.  Two miles of the Salem trail are 100% complete today with approximately 60% completed to Lebanon.  Stay tuned as the gaps are filled in the next couple years.”

The second significant contribution for the Salem trail corridor is a whopping $10,000 donation from the new L.L. Bean store, located in the Salem Tuscan Village. The store is adjacent to the Salem rail trail section nearing completion.  The Village has been designed to be “bike friendly” with bicycle lanes marked on the roads, and many bike parking racks, including one in front of the LL Bean store.  Visitors are welcome to use the “Lake Park,” picnic tables, and view of the pond – or try out LL Bean kayaks during demo days.  Stay tuned for an official press release soon when L.L. Bean will present this very generous donation to FSBPC.

Thirdly, at the May 26^th grand opening of the new Pedego E-Bike dealership in Salem, owner Rachel Higginbottom donated $1,000 of prize money from their E-Bike raffle to the FSBPC.  This money will be used for signage along the rail trail to promote better safety and etiquette to benefit all users.

The FSBPC is deeply thankful for the generosity of Salem businesses, residents, and other organizations  which helps maintain and improve the rail trail, a valuable and well-loved community asset managed by the Town of Salem.

Congratulations to FSBPC for their recent flurry of donations!