Introduction

• 3: The New England Trail

  Following in the footsteps of the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, and the new East coast Greenway, the New England Trail would make use of existing conservation easements, parks, trail systems, wildlife refuges, forests, and greenways to form the model "spine" of the greenway system in New England. The route would follow the corridors of several pre-existing trails. Some of these existing trailways are in danger of fading away in the face of development. The motto of the Friends of the Wapack Trail rings ominously true: "Once its gone, its gone for good."

  Through cultivating local interest in conservation, the New England Trail Project would invigorate and unify the volunteer and community support base for struggling trails and other conservable areas on the verge of being erased. It would unify all of the organizations responsible for maintaining current stewardship efforts along the proposed footway in a confederacy of mutual support, much in the same way that the Appalachian Trail Conservancy unifies the many volunteer groups responsible for sections of the Appalachian Trail. Each group would maintain its autonomy; the New England Trail proposal would be a product of their cooperative efforts, bolstered by local community involvement.

   

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