Easy Walks in Franklin - SNETT

We are fortunate to be able to share a few excerpts from "Easy Walks in Massachusetts: Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Milford, Millis, Uxbridge, Wrentham, and Woonsocket, RI" recently published byMarjorie Turner Hollman.

The entrance to the SNETT in winter

Notable: This section of the SNETT (Southern New England Trunkline Trail) railtrail is mostly graded and cleared, and still being developed. Stone retaining walls, steep slopes to woods below the trail.

Trail Map: Available from Mass.gov website—Division of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

GPS Coordinates: 42°3'43.06"N, 71°25'42.55"W

Directions: Rt. 495 exit 17, Rt. 140, Franklin, head toward Bellingham, Grove St is immediately past interchange, turn left at light. Follow Grove St. 2 miles, look for SNETT signs, parking on left, trailhead on right.

Cost: None.

Bathrooms: None.

Best time to visit: Year round. Cross-country skiing in winter.

Trail conditions: Wide, flat, unimproved former railbed. Steep climb up and over Prospect St. where trail is obstructed. Moguls created by dirt bikes. Graded from Grove St. to Spring St.

Distance: About 1.5 miles from Grove St. to Bellingham line.

Easy guide - SNETT

This mostly unimproved former rail bed/right of way is owned by the Mass. Dept of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), extending from Franklin through Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge, and into Douglas. Poor drainage due to removal of the original rail ballast, and “humps” caused by prohibited off-track vehicles poses both minor and major challenges in various sections. 

The easternmost section in Franklin is graded (2013) but is otherwise unimproved. Proceeding west, the trail crosses Spring St and open farmland in just over half a mile. Watch for poison ivy. At about the 1-mile mark the trail is blocked by a 20-foot high infill where Prospect St crosses the trail. Stay off residential property and driveways. 

From Prospect St. there is a .5 mile unimproved but passable stretch to the Lake St. Bellingham parking area. This section of the path offers 20-foot high rock cuts with original drill marks. The boundary between the Bellingham and Franklin sections of the trail is unmarked.

You can obtain your own copy of this book via this Amazon link



Other easy walks in Franklin:

Beaver Pond/Chilson Beach
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/easy-walks-in-franklin-beaver-pond.html

Dacey Fields
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/easy-walks-in-franklin-dacey-fields.html

Easy Walks in Franklin - Dacey Fields

We are fortunate to be able to share a few excerpts from "Easy Walks in Massachusetts: Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Milford, Millis, Uxbridge, Wrentham, and Woonsocket, RI" recently published byMarjorie Turner Hollman. This is the second in the series.

trail at Dacey Field

Notable: Brook with board walks; 18-hole disc golf course. Circular trail.

Trail Map: Not available presently.

GPS Coordinates: 42°7'12.81"N, 71°23'56.89"W

Directions: At Franklin’s town common, Main St. is to the right of St. Mary’s Church. Take Main Street away from the downtown .2 mile, bear right at the little red schoolhouse to stay on Lincoln St. for about 2 miles, go past elementary and middle school on left, and Dacey Athletic Fields are on the next left, .5 mile past school complex. Trailhead is just to the left of the fenced-in dog park area. Look for sign for Dacey Disc Golf Course.

Cost: None.

Bathrooms: Port-a-Potties at field near parking lot.

Best time to visit: Accessible year round.

Trail conditions: Narrow boardwalks, wide, unimproved trails, roots and rocks in trail, relatively flat.

Distance: A network of trails makes distance variable. Less than a mile.

The woodland trails behind the sports fields have been developed as a “disc golf course.” (little plastic discs tossed at targets). This network of trails now has arrows indicating where the “golf course” trail goes, but the trail is still essentially a large loop that crosses a small stream several times as it flows through the area. A series of boardwalks enable walkers to get through muddy areas of the trail. 

A dog park has recently been added to the Dacey Athletic Fields complex. Dogs are permitted at the dog park and on leashes on the trails. No dogs on athletic fields. 

The Recreation Department has posted multiple warnings on its website against sledding at the Dacey field complex. Insect repellent is advisable in warmer weather.

You can obtain your own copy of this book via this Amazon link

Easy Walks in Franklin - Beaver Pond (Chilson Beach)

We are fortunate to be able to share a few excerpts from "Easy Walks in Massachusetts: Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Milford, Millis, Uxbridge, Wrentham, and Woonsocket, RI" recently published by Marjorie Turner Hollman.

Beaver Pond (Chilson Beach)

Notable: Look for signs of beaver and migrating waterfowl.

Trail Map: Not available presently.

GPS Coordinates: 42°4'57.39"N, 71°25'5.38"W

Directions: Rt. 495 exit 17, Franklin Rt. 140, travel toward Franklin Center on Rt. 140 for .75 mile. At stop light, turn right on Beaver St. just past Akin Back Farm. Beaver Pond is .5 mile down on left, just before the 495 overpass.

Cost: Chilson Beach pass for Memorial Day to Labor Day, for Franklin residents only, $75.

Bathrooms: Summer only.

Best time to visit: For Franklin residents only during the summer; swimming and boating. Year-round for hiking, no residential restrictions before Memorial Day and after Labor Day.

Trail conditions: Unimproved, wide dirt track.

Distance: .25 mile.

handy guide

The sounds of Rt. 495 are inescapable, but Beaver Pond still offers a nice, easy walk and plenty of parking. Also called Chilson Beach, the pond area posts lifeguards in the summer, offers swimming and ball fields, but beyond the beach area on the left (the east side of the pond, away from Rt. 495) there is a trail that follows the edge of the pond. 

The trail intersects Beaver Pond and a marsh area, which lies on the other side of the trail. Lots of opportunity for birding. The trail dead-ends in a water department access road. There is no public access in or out of this road. 

About three-fourths of the way to the end of the trail, another trail branches off to the left along the edges of the marsh—follow it around the marsh edge to see multiple signs of beaver, appropriate for a recreation area on Beaver St.! Parts of the trail are somewhat obstructed by beaver activity, but still fun to explore with children, who may discover the tell-tale signs of beaver’s presence.

You can obtain your own copy of this book via this Amazon link

Join us for the 2014 Ranger Walkabouts

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

NPS Rangers Peter Coffin and Terri Teller presented a program  on Sargeant's Trench and fish ladders at Slater Mill. National Park Service Walking Adventures: Blackstone River Valley Ranger Walkabouts Feature History, Culture, Scenery and Exercise The National Park Service (NPS) park rangers and volunteers of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor will once again be offering Thursday Night Walkabouts this summer. The Walkabouts are free public programs, offered on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm June through August. Each week, you will have a chance to explore a new community. Spend an evening heading down an unknown trail and discover some of the people, places and stories that make the Blackstone Valley such a fascinating place. Last year about 400 participated during our 12-week program. We're hoping to have even more this year! Please join us!  This year, the schedule kicks off on June 5, at the 1770 Quaker Meeting House in Uxbridge, MA as we hear about some of the Fiery Females and Freedom Seekers who made the Blackstone River Valley their home, at least for a short time.  We're excited about this year's new programs which include: tours of the villages of Rockdale and Manville, an exploration of H. P. Lovecraft's Providence, and a look at the construction of a rain garden.  Read more about the Walkabouts, including the detailed schedule "We really enjoy doing these Walkabouts because it gives us a chance to take people to some of the often overlooked jewels of the Blackstone River Valley. Some of these tours are old favorites, but doing the Walkabouts also gives us a reason to do some more research to either create an entirely new program or to add fresh twists to stories we have told in the past."  - Kevin Klyberg, National Park Service Ranger STAY CONNECTED:

Forward this email  Privacy Policy. Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor | One Depot Square | Woonsocket | RI | 02895

Elks Care Elks Share 5K Road Race/Walk - May 10

The Second Annual

Elks Care Elks Share 5K Road Race - Walk

to benefit the

Franklin Food Pantry and Wounded Warrior Project

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014
FRANKLIN ELKS
1077 Pond Street
FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS

Registration: 9:00 AM Start: 10:00 AM

Help support the Franklin Food Pantry and Wounded Warrior Project

Franklin Food Pantry

· Post race refreshments, giveaways, raffles, and prizes
· T-SHIRTS available to runners that register online. While supply lasts.
· REGISTER NOW to get your T-SHIRT!!!






· Run or Walk Route - 5K loop of paved roads

Wounded Warrior Project

· Awards given to top three male and female finishers in each age group
· Professional Race Timing by RaceWire
· Giveaways, raffles, and prizes









Video of the race start from May 2012:




Online registration fee $25.00 https://www.franklinelks5k.racewire.com

More info on Web Site http://franklinelks5k.com/

Follow us http://www.facebook.com/FranklinElksAnnual5K

Franklin Walk - Tree'd

The walk Saturday was somewhat warmer than other Saturday's but not as sunny.

There were many clouds but no rain (fortunately - at least by the time I went out).

I found a bear but not a fierce one

outside 1776 Financial Services, East Central St

I began to notice the trees. Yes, really notice them. They are standing. Bare. Bending with the breeze.

tree at Rockland Trust, East Central St

While a common conversation recently was that we had had enough of winter, the trees did not complain.

leaning trees along King St

They may have leaned with the wind, or bent with the snow, maybe even lost a branch when the snow was too heavy.

large and old tree on King St near Peck

Some trees are really big and old. Some stand in groups. Some stand in rows.

Evergreen tree on King St

When trees get together, their fingers seem to hold up or reach for the clouds in the sky

tree skyline in Franklin

There may be a couple more weekends to observe the trees around us before the bud and break out in leaves. Take a walk and see what trees are in your neighborhood.

Franklin Walk - Saturday, Mar 29

I did have some company for the walk Saturday morning (thank you!) and hopefully will have some more as the public walk and continues next month. The weather cooperated nicely for the walk which started on the Town Common at 8:30 AM and finished there about an hour later.

tree lined walkway on the Town Common

We started from the bandstand on the Common and walked by the Senior Center, Oak St/Horace Mann complex, between the new and current high school, down Panther Way to the Sculpture Park and then reversed the route to return.

bandstand on Franklin Town Common

About 2.5 miles in just under an hour. Conversation along the way with stops for photos here and there.

wrought iron flowers

 One of the flowers has fallen off this work. It doesn't appear to be malicious but rather the results of a poor welding connection. The snow and wind this winter apparently loosened it.

I call this one 'five fingers'

I am curious to find out what the official name is for this piece (above).

railing shadows

the fence railing along the edge of the wall at the former town pool castes its shadow in the morning sun.

2 faced, or split personality?

 When I was last at the park, the white of this piece against the snow was impressive. The white against the winter foliage color is stark.

the bear rages on

Conversation piece: is he raging for joy or frustration/anger? I think it is for joy!

pond reflection

 Completing the loop around the sculpture park you come upon more pond reflections.

If you haven't been to the Sculpture Park yet, I would encourage you to stop by sometime. On Panther Way just before the Police Station. There is parking and the loop through the park is a brief and easy walk. I'd estimate about a quarter of a mile.

I'll schedule another Franklin Walk and Talk for April. We'll check the weather to see which Saturday seems most likely to provide some good weather.

Join me for a walk this Saturday

Join me for a walk and talk this Saturday. 

We'll meet at the Town Common bandstand, walk by the high school, to the Sculpture Park and return the same way. 

The total distance should be less than 3 miles at a casual conversational pace. 

Bring your camera!

bandstand on the Franklin Town Common

You can reply to the Facebook event here or send me an email (shersteve at gmail dot com)




When - Saturday, March 29th at 8:30am
Meet at the bandstand on the Town Common

Save the Date! Voices Against Violence 2nd Annual Walk-a-Thon!

Save the Date! October 19, 2013    Downtown Framingham Common 10:00 a.m.    2nd Annual    Walk to Break the Silence Voices Against Violence Breaking the Silence to End Sexual and Domestic Violence For more information or to join our planning committee, Please contact: Mary Gianakis  mgianakis@smoc.org (508) 820-0834    Want to be a sponsor for this event?    Learn More Voices Against Violence    300 Howard Street, Framingham, MA 01702 24 hour Hotline (508) 626-8686 / (800) 593-1125    All calls FREE and CONFIDENTIAL Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.

Forward this email SMOC/Voices Against Violence | 300 Howard Street | Framingham | MA | 01702