THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 14, 2020 Page 9 COMMUNITY TRAIL | from page 8 seashore. The trail will complement the new development happening in Revere and other North Shore communities and contribute to healthy lifestyles that benefit everyone. Intrepid commuters may choose to ride a bike from the North Shore into Boston – instead of sitting in traffic. For almost all of the way into Boston, the Northern Strand Community Trail will provide a scenic alternative path to their destination.” “Malden greatly appreciates the work and investment being made by the Governor’s Gateway City Parks team that will double the paved length of the Northern Strand Trail and fully realize the vision of the five communities and the Commonwealth to connect our neighborhoods to our waterfronts, schools, parks and businesses and beyond via a bike and pedestrian trail,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “We are excited to progress into the construction phase of this project, bringing us one step closer to providing safer, more secure pathways for residents and visitors to use and enjoy,” said Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree. “We are proud to move forward with this design that incorporated feedback from residents which was gathered during two public meetings. During the meetings, members of the public had multiple opportunities to learn about the project, ask questions, and share ideas. I would like to thank Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for their support of this important regional initiative. I would also like to commend the Cities of Revere, Malden, Lynn, and Everett for their dedication in turning this multi-community effort into a reality. In addition, I would like to thank all of the Town’s volunteers who contributed their ideas and suggestions, which strengthened the community vision for this important recreational staple.” “The Northern Strand, and in particular the Revere and Saugus portions along the Rumney Marsh, is a simply magnificent trail that offers natural beauty in an otherwise urban setting,” said State Representative RoseLee Vincent (D-Revere). “I thank the Baker-Polito Administration, the collaboration among Revere, Saugus, Lynn and Everett, as well as Bike to the Sea for making this come to fruition. The enhancements in Revere and the completion of the Saugus-Lynn parts of the trail will be a welcome project to our communities.” “This is great news for Lynn. The Northern Strand Community Path is a great example of what can be achieved when all stakeholders work together to turn vision into reality,” said State Representative Peter Capano (D-Lynn) “Our parkways and open space are natural gems of the Commonwealth. Weaving together these five Gateway Cities with outdoor, recreational space will benefit this entire region,” said State Senator Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop). “Expanding the Northern Strand Community Trail also provides opportunities to walk and bike rather than sitting in traffic; another step to alleviating congestion in this area.” “This multi-community project is a huge environmental and recreational win that will benefit the entire North Shore,” said State Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn). “While much focus has been put on the significant development taking place in the area, it is important to highlight the access to open space and the transformation of this trail.” “The extension of the Northern Strand Community Trail to the Lynn shoreline is a great example of what strong collaboration amongst state, local, and community leaders can accomplish,” said State Representative Dan Cahill (D-Lynn). “The completion of the Northern Strand will bring many benefits to residents North of Boston including access to open space, transit, and recreation.” “We’re thrilled to see 27 years of our devoted work and cooperative efforts with countless local governments and organizations finally reaching fruition,” said Bike to the Sea Executive Director Yurij Lojko. “Bike to the Sea, Inc. began dreaming about a safe biking route to the beach, but we’re ending up with something even more important – a vibrant mixeduse community path with recreation and transportation benefits to all people north of Boston. We look forward to the completion of this very exciting step in expanding Boston’s off-road community path network.” “We at the Solomon Foundation were pleased to be a small but catalytic part of this effort to connect together five cities and towns and in the process to unlock access to our natural legacy of rivers, marshes and beaches,” said Solomon Foundation Executive Director Herb Nolan. “With help from the Barr Foundation we were able to partner with Bike to the Sea, Inc. and with the City of Lynn in advocacy, planning, and early design. Kudos to the many leaders involved from the grass roots to the governor’s office who came together to make this quarter century vision a reality.” The investment of more than $15 million by EEA to design, permit and construct the Northern Strand recognizes the importance of this trail corridor to the five communities while building on a key Baker-Polito Administration initiative. In 2018, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karen Polito established an Interagency Trails Team, which is led by the Governor’s office and is composed of staff from EEA, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). The purpose of the team is to help develop a unified vision for a trails network and translate that into strategic investments, policy innovations to facilitate development of trails, and shared partnerships with municipal partners. The Northern Strand Community Trail project is a direct result of the group’s “one team, one plan, one vision” approach to advance multiuse trails across the Commonwealth.
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