Groton Greenway Walk at Fitch’s Bridge
Sunday, May 4 (raindate May 10) from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in Groton
The NRWA invites the public to join us for the second free guided walk in our 2014 Spring Greenway Walk series. Join us on Sunday, May 4 (raindate May 10) to explore Groton’s greenway on the westside of the Nashua River beginning at Fitch’s Bridge. Now that the new Fitch’s Bridge is open for pedestrian traffic the trails on the west side of Nashua River are more accessible. NRWA wants to let residents know about these trails and, on May 4th, we’ll feature the trail that passes by the Johnston Conservation Area to the Groton Senior Center and back again. This three mile walk is relatively flat but the terrain is uneven. Your guide will be NRWA’s Land Programs and Outreach Director, Al Futterman.
This spring walking series features trails that are next to or near brooks, rivers and streams in our Nashua River watershed. This makes them “greenway” trails. Greenway generally describes a place alongside a waterway. The NRWA acts as advocate for the establishment of greenways in our region. Conservation of the river’s edge is a priority, as expressed in our founding vision of “sparkling blue water with a ribbon of green alongside it.” We encourage a permanently protected open space corridor along both banks of the Nashua River, its main tributaries, and its smaller streams as well. In rural areas, this greenway can be a natural buffer (ideally 300 feet wide) to filter pollutants, prevent soil erosion, provide floodways, protect wildlife habitat, and offer outdoor recreation, like riverfront trails. In urban areas, the greenway can conserve water supplies, increase the value of land adjacent to the greenway, stimulate downtown revitalization, and provide riverside parks for recreation and public access to the river.
This walk is free and open to the public. Parking is available on either side of Fitch’s Bridge, the meet up point for this walk, which can be reached by Fitch’s Bridge Road on the east side of the river off of Rt. 119, and on the west side of the river off of Pepperell Road. View a Google Map and directions. In case of severe weather, the walk will be postponed until the same time on Saturday, May 10th. Pre-registration is appreciated for planning purposes and for notice of a weather postponement. To pre-register, or for more information, please contact Al Futterman at (978) 448-0299, or email Al.
