(Pepperell – 7/21/2023) Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Brian
Arrigo joined with the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail, members of the legislative
delegation and municipal officials from Groton and Pepperell last Friday morning to walk a
segment of the twelve-mile Nashua River Rail Trail. The scenic rail trail was acquired by the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in 1987 and it first opened in October
of 2002. It begins at the Ayer Central Business District near the commuter rail station and passes
through the towns of Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, and Dunstable to the New Hampshire border and
beyond. The popular trail is used by bicyclists, runners, walkers, roller skaters and cross-country
skiers.
Over the past twenty years portions of the rail trail have come to be in need of maintenance and
repair. Potholes, protruding rocks, cracks, washouts, and gaps can be seen along many parts of
the rail trail. In 2019, State Senator Ed Kennedy was able to secure a local initiative in a
Transportation Bond Bill that provided authorization to bond $650,000 for the repair and
repaving of the Nashua River Rail Trail.
This year the Healy-Driscoll administration has included $650,000 to repave the trail in its 2024-
2028 Capital Investment Plan. In the spring of 2023, DCR spent approximately $400,000 on
repairs to NRRT including resurfacing, signage replacement and refreshing of pavement
markings.
“As a user of the Nashua River Rail Trail, I know first-hand that the rail trail has been overdue
for repaving and certain maintenance. I am very thankful to DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo
for taking an interest in the Nashua River Rail Trail. I also want to thank the Healy-Driscoll
administration for including the trail in their capital investment plan,” said Senator Ed Kennedy
(D – Lowell).
In addition to Senator Ed Kennedy, Representative Margaret Scarsdale, Senator Jaime Eldridge,
Representative Danillo Sena and Susan Templeton from Senator John Cronin’s office joined the
rail trail tour.
“Commissioner Arrigo has hit the ground running, and we appreciate his leadership and
willingness to engage with the delegation and the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail. This
trail provides recreation, relaxation, and respite to thousands of users and we are eager to restore
it so that residents and visitors can safely enjoy it for years to come,” said Representative
Margaret Scarsdale (D – Pepperell).
Groton Selectman Peter Cunningham who is one of the leaders of the Friends of the Nashua
River Rail Trail lead the rail trail tour that focused on the Pepperell segment of the rail trail.
“DCR Commissioner Arrigo’s visit to the Nashua River Rail Trail (NRRT) in Pepperell this past
Friday is a very positive sign that the agency will now sharpen its focus on the importance of the
NRRT to the towns in the Nashoba Valley and the need for its reconstruction,” said Peter
Cunningham. “Viewing firsthand deteriorated trail conditions and their impact on user
enjoyment and safety speaks to the old adage ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’,” he
concluded.
“I am grateful to DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo for visiting Pepperell to tour the Nashua
River Rail Trail with state legislators, municipal officials, and rail trail enthusiasts,” said State
Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “The walk was an important opportunity to show
Commissioner Arrigo the need to repave the twenty-year-old rail trail and thank him and the
Healey-Driscoll administration for including $650,000 in the administration’s capital plan, to
upgrade the rail trail. This will provide a beautiful recreational opportunity for bicyclists and
pedestrians through the communities of Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, and Townsend, up to New
Hampshire.”
Many members of the State Legislature have welcomed the appointment of Brian Arrigo as
Commissioner of DCR since he assumed the role in April of this year. Prior to his role as DCR
Commissioner, Brian Arrigo served as Mayor of Revere from January 2016 to April of 2023, and
before that as Revere City Councilor from January 2012 to December 2015.
“I’m thankful to the local delegation and the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail for meeting
with me along the trail to discuss NRRT’s importance to Ayer, Groton, Dunstable, and Pepperell.
DCR is committed to working with our partners in the legislature, the Administration, and our
municipalities to support our extensive shared-use trail network which offers tremendous
environmental, social, and economic benefits to our state and our residents by connecting
communities, reducing carbon emissions, and providing equal access to open space,” said DCR
Commissioner Brian Arrigo.
The Nashua River Rail Trail is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.