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Mill River Greenway Initiative

A community-based steward for the Mill River

River walks

Leeds Riverwalk on Sept. 6

July 9, 2014 by JW Sinton

Just to clarify the Riverwalk Schedule: the riverwalk in Leeds is still scheduled for Saturday, September 6.

We’re excited  about this new riverwalk, which will be led by residents of Leeds, so all of us will be able to get some real insider information.  The historic place of Leeds in the river’s history is key to our understanding our whole river system.  Furthermore, the extension of the rail trail between Leeds and Haydenville is a particularly hot topic of discussion.

Filed Under: Leeds, River walks, Uncategorized

August Change of Date and July 12th Riverwalk

July 4, 2014 by JW Sinton

The August 9th Riverwalk has been rescheduled for September 20th

The riverwalk from Crimson & Clover Farm to the Meadow St. Bridge, originally scheduled for August 9, has been rescheduled for SEPTEMBER 20TH so that both Laurie Sanders and Elizabeth Sharpe will be able to co-lead it.  If you have already signed up for the August 9 date and can still make the Sept. 20th date, you will have priority.  Please let us know if you can make it by contacting us at info@millrivergreenway.org

July 12th Riverwalk

There are still several spots open for the first Florence riverwalk on Saturday morning, July 12th, led by Wendy Sinton, long-time member of the Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee.  The walk will focus on the importance of the Mill River in the growth of Florence, as well as the role of abolitionists and the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in the 19th century.  Reserve your spot at info@millrivergreenway.org

Filed Under: Florence, River walks

March 2014 Newsletter — Get Ready for Some Riverwalks!

March 5, 2014 by JW Sinton

MRGI Newsletter

March 2014

  GET READY FOR SOME RIVERWALKS!

Dear Friends of the Mill River,

        Yes, trust but verify that spring will arrive this year, and prepare yourselves for a great 2014 with the Mill River Greenway Initiative.

 ·      We have a fantastic series of 9 riverwalks and 1 paddle this year from April to December.  Check it out at the end of this newsletter.

 ·      We are currently working on 2 new neighborhood Mill River working groups to follow the lead of the Williamsburg Mill River Greenway Committee, one in Bay State and one in Leeds.  If you’re interested in becoming part of one of these groups, please let us know at info@millrivergreenway.org

 ·      …speaking of which, please let us know the village you live in.  We’d like to include that in our membership data so that we can better target our messages to particular localities.

 ·      Williamsburg and Northampton collaborated this winter on a grant proposal to the Recreational Trails Program of the MA DCR.   The grant would cover preliminary drainage and grading work on the existing unimproved rail trail along the Mill River from the Williamsburg-Northampton town line out to the foot of South Main Street, Haydenville, and pedestrian/bicycle improvements along the length of South Main.

 ·      Williamsburg is launching a Brassworks Area subcommittee to consider the unique opportunities and challenges posed by the historic Brassworks mill site and its role in the larger Greenway project.

 ·      We are working on a long-term plan to link Haydenville and Williamsburg Center with a dedicated Greenway lane along the river side of Route 9.  The Mass. Dept. of Transportation will be re-building Route 9 sometime in the next decade, and we are already partners in helping design that roadway. 

 ·      In addition to the main Greenway corridor on the Route 9 road bed, the Williamsburg MRGC is considering the possibility of developing small-scale walking trails along the river where conditions permit.

2014 Riverwalks

SPACE IS LIMITED!  Please email info@millrivergreenway.org to reserve your spot.   Only pre-registered participants will receive information on the time and meeting place plus other important details.  Thanks for your understanding.

           We’re excited about taking folks out to explore the Mill River from River’s End at Arcadia Refuge to the site of the dam that gave way, causing the disastrous 1874 flood.  We’re limiting these walks to 20 participants, so reserve your space.  At least one of our co-moderators (Gaby, John, or Neal) will accompany the walks, along with local experts in the history and ecology of the river.

Mill Riverwalk Schedule 2014

Sponsored by the Mill River Greenway Initiative, Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways and Smith College CEEDS (Center for the Environment, Ecological Design & Sustainability)

April 5            Downtown Northampton I:  Paradise Pond to Old South Street

April 26          River’s End:  Spring Paddle in the Floodplain Forest, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary

May 10           Downtown Northampton II: Old South Street to Hockanum Road

June 14            Bay State Village:  Paradise Pond to the Cutlery Building

July 12             Florence I:  Nonotuck Dam to Meadow Street

Sept. 6             Leeds: Cook’s Dam to River Road

Sept. 20          Florence II:  Crimson & Clover/Northampton Community Farm

Oct. 4              Leeds to Haydenville:  River Road to South Main Street

Nov. 1             Williamsburg, East Branch: Meekins Library to Old Dam Site

Dec. 6              Haydenville to Williamsburg:  Brassworks to Skinnerville

 

 

Filed Under: River walks

Hidden Mill Riverwalk — Paradise Pond to Old South St.

November 5, 2013 by JW Sinton

The Mill River Greenway Initiative is sponsoring a guided tour with John Sinton from the historic dam site at Paradise Pond to downtown Northampton where the river used to run.  Easy 1.25 mile walk. SATURDAY, Nov. 16, 10:00-11:30 AM. Meet at Smith College botanic garden.  Contact info@millrivergreenway.org

Filed Under: Northampton, River walks, Uncategorized

June 1st Launch of MRGI’s First Riverwalk Brochure — Paradise Pond to Old South St.

May 14, 2013 by JW Sinton

Come help us launch the first of MRGI’s series of self-guided historic riverwalks, this one from Paradise Pond on the Smith College campus to Old South Street in downtown Northampton.  You will be walking through more than 350 years of history on this riverwalk, which focuses on the centers of Northampton’s early industries as well as the history of the river itself.

John Sinton, MRGI’s co-moderator, will lead the tour, which includes stops at early mill sites, at the 1940 diversion, then a walk alongside the former bed of the “Hidden Mill River” and an endpoint where the first bridge across the Mill was built in the 17th century.

Everyone will get a copy of the beautiful brochure with its map and text, along with historic maps and photos.

Time & Date: 10:00-11:30  Saturday, June 1st

Meeting Place: The Boathouse across from the Greenhouse on Paradise Pond

Heavy rain cancels the event.

Filed Under: Northampton, River walks

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