City of Framingham, MA

Amount Appropriated?

$3.0M

FFID tracks stages 1–2 — stages 3–5 vary by agency, assistance type, and earmark structure.

Project Description

The City of Framingham seeks to fund construction of the Chris Walsh Memorial Trail Phase 1. State Representative Chris Walsh, before his untimely death in 2018, had worked for years to reunite the City with Farm Pond. As an architect, a champion of greenways, and a historian who knew well the historic significance of this pond that hosted national gatherings of abolitionists and suffragist, he recognized the power of this extraordinary resource to transform the image of the City and the quality of life for its diverse residents. This project will focus on connecting the Farm Pond and Dudley Road recreational areas, consisting of 100+ acres of open space, to Downtown Framingham and its underserved population by utilizing the Sudbury Aqueduct that runs through Farm Pond and preserving the historic pump house seated on the Aqueduct. The trail\u2019s easternmost point will be at the edge of MBTA commuter rail lot, making this trail accessible to other state residents via public transportation. \nOnce completed, this project will provide thousands of residents located within the Downtown area, primarily from environmental justice neighborhoods, with direct access to this recreational corridor and opportunity to enjoy open space. (Currently, most walking/biking trails are located in the northern section of the city.) The project team is dedicated to furthering the vision and dedication exhibited by Representative Walsh to providing all residents with access to beautiful open space, regardless of where in the City they live, and to resurrecting the historic Farm Pond as gathering place for health, inspiration, and recreation.