The Town of Lynnfield announced on April 25 that its proposed fiscal year 2027 capital budget will include $30,000 to create walking trails in Willis Woods on upper Main Street.
The funding is part of Article 9, which will be presented to voters at the Spring Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 28. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Lynnfield Middle School auditorium and requires a quorum of 175 voters.
Planning Board Vice Chair Amy MacNulty, who also serves on the Open Space and Recreation Working Group (OSRWG), said, “The funds will be used to make ready for use approximately 7,500 linear feet of trails by selective removal of vegetation; construction of a few bog bridges; construction of one wooden stairway that is necessary to traverse a short but steep embankment; and the installation of trail markings and signage. The town will advertise the project for bids from qualified trail consulting and/or construction firms. Depending upon the bid prices received, some of the construction work may be completed by volunteers working in conjunction with a trail consulting firm.”
OSRWG member Rich Kosian said three trails—the East Line Trail, Riverside Trail, and Southside Trail—will be created with this allocation. “We anticipate that the $30,000 allocation will enable completion of the East Line Trail, the Riverside Trail and the Southside Trail,” Kosian said. He explained that these new paths would connect existing areas such as Lynnfield Woodlot and future routes like Willis Brook Trail.
MacNulty added that these three trails represent over 1.5 miles of improved walking paths in Willis Woods: “The East Line Trail, Riverside Trail and Southside Trail are the first phase of a greater effort,” she said. She noted future plans could expand this network depending on community support.
Kosian described maintenance plans for these nature trails: “In most cases, the working group’s members organize volunteers to assist with small structural repairs… On occasion assistance from the Department of Public Works is requested for more significant efforts.” He also provided background about previous planning grants dating back five years involving both technical assistance awards and unsuccessful grant applications before adopting this project locally.
MacNulty referenced town priorities outlined in its Open Space and Recreation Plan published in 2020 as well as findings from a visioning study conducted by the Planning Board in 2023: “Respondents to the study ranked open space and natural resources as third most important community feature… The creation of new connecting trails…will achieve substantial progress towards recreational conservation goals.”
Residents can find more information about open spaces at https://www.lynnfieldma.gov/520/Conservation-Areas-and-Trail-Map or learn about Willis Woods’ vision at https://www.lynnfieldma.gov/530/Willis-Woods.
