By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — The city of Claremont recently received a grant to fund a design study for a pedestrian path that will ultimately connect Wall Street to the existing rail trail bridge along the south side of the Sugar River.
According to Parks and Recreation Director Justin Martin, the city has been awarded a $10,000 grant with up to $1,000 in technical assistance to support the rural economic development process. It was made possible through the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
Martin said that this grant is essentially getting the ball rolling on the project. The city will need to put the project out for bid for the design to get it “shovel ready,” and the construction endeavor will be months down the road. Martin said the city was notified that they will be receiving the funds, but it was unclear exactly when they will be available for use.
According to a release by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, grants were awarded to five rural communities in New England and the mid-Atlantic, to Appalachia and Alaska. These included Claremont; Beverly, Ohio; Giles County, Virginia; Haines, Alaska; and Poultney, Vermont.
Martin explained that this is a phase plan of action, and it all started with the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities roundtable discussion. They came in and held multiple meetings with community members of all walks of life. This grant was made possible due to the initial roundtable.
“Our grant stood out for the trail plan’s potential to physically connect downtown and the rail trail bridge and help foster engagement between local businesses and users of the city’s outdoor recreation assets, activities consistent with the city’s larger efforts focused on economic revitalization and resilience in Claremont’s downtown region,” Martin said.
The release by ORR stated that with Claremont in the midst of a “dynamic upswing,” and having experienced issues that are common in former mill towns, the city center is in the process of being re-energized. A design study for this pedestrian path is the first step to creating a walkway, as well as creating a committee to guide the project and secure additional funding for it to be created.
“This generous grant from the Mellon Foundation will allow the city to start the process of connecting our existing rail trail to our downtown area,” City Manager Yoshi Manale stated in the release. “Additional trail access along the Sugar River will continue Claremont’s Parks Department’s commitment to outdoor recreation opportunities and provide a scenic walking and biking trail for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The grant funding will target engineering plans for the pedestrian walking path along the Sugar River to the downtown area of the city and will specifically follow the RERC Action Plan Action 3.4. This is to “design and construct a new pedestrian trail on the south side of the Sugar River from Wall Street to the existing rail trail bridge.
“Engineering and site plan work is a vital first step into opening up more funding opportunities for implementation for this project,” Martin said.
According to information provided by ORR, this is the third group of grants since the launch of the program in 2021. The funding is designed to “help unlock federal, state, and local match dollars from programs like USDA Rural Development, state infrastructure funds, and interest from private foundations.”
“This year’s group of rural recreation communities receiving support through our grant program represent an outstanding mix of all that outdoor recreation has to offer,” said ORR President Jessica Wahl Turner. “From economic resilience and retention of workers and businesses to public health improvements and environmental investments, hundreds of communities nationwide are turning to outdoor recreation as a core foundation for their success.”
Mayor Dale Girard said that this will be a topic at the city council’s Sept. 11 meeting, where the council will need to vote to approve the acceptance of the grant. Girard was happy about the opportunity for the city to provide additional access to businesses in the downtown area, as well as provide a source of recreation.
“Any time you can get outdoor recreation, and better access, it is a great opportunity for the city of Claremont,” Girard said.
