EMC Park – Marathon School

This project is a segment of the Hopkinton Upper Charles Trail, and also the subject of an application for MA Mass Trials funding to conduct engineering studies. At its meeting of April 21, 2021, the Committee approved moving ahead with a Mass Trail Grant Application for a trail segment: EMC Park to Marathon School. A grant application was made to the State prior to the 2/1/22 deadline, and we expect to be notified in June 2022 whether we were approved.

The project is also a direct extension of the previously approved Campus Trail Connector, which is a connecting trail for the Hopkinton High School, Middle School, Hopkins School and the new Marathon Elementary School. The “Campus Trail Connector” will allow students, runners, cyclists and other users easy passage between the Center Trail, three schools, as well as the downtown area (a separated path currently being constructed). The current project will add another 0.74 miles for a total of 2.5 miles that extends from the Town Center. If funds are received for this segment, the money will be used to develop a preliminary design that will be combined with Campus Trail Connector, which has been designed to a preliminary design stage using funds from the 2020 MassTrails grant. The end goal is to advance both of these segments to a Final Engineering stage and seek funding through the Mass DOT TIP and other sources if available. While this is a stand-alone project, it will eventually become a segment of the Upper Charles Trail providing an 8-mile path through Hopkinton from Milford to Ashland

A public meeting was held in December 2021, and summary notes are in preparation. The project was also covered in the local press, and we reference articles in the local press: Hopkinton Independent. January 20, 2022. Hopkinton Independent February 3, 2022 . A Committee meeting was also recorded on HCAM.

The project area is entirely on town-owned land, and the trail would be within the 40′ set back area, where no buildings could be built, and trails are an allowable use. The route is subject to change as the engineering work progresses.

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