The Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path are pleased to report that the community has responded enthusiastically to the Friends’ campaign to raise funds to complete the Marion Connector. To date, over 90 households have made contributions or pledges ranging from $5 to $25,000. Although contributions are still coming in and some pledges remain to be collected, the fundraising progress to date has enabled the Friends to issue the $95,000 commitment letter required for the project to be put out to bid in December.
“The generous support for this fundraising effort from so many people demonstrates just how important the completion of the bike path is to our communities,” said Bonne DeSousa, president of the Friends. “We expect the final totals for this campaign will be sufficient to provide some protection against cost overruns in the Marion Connector project, as well as permit the Friends to retain some of its cash on hand for future projects. The broad support for this campaign is encouraging to the Friends Board. It means there is wide backing for the work required to complete the remaining segments of the bike path.”
“The Town of Mattapoisett is very grateful to all those who are contributing to this campaign and making it possible to complete the Marion Connector in the near future,” said Mike Lorenco, Mattapoisett town administrator. “The fact that many contributions are from residents of other towns in the area is evidence of the regional importance of the bike path.”
The “Marion Connector” is a half-mile bike and pedestrian path between the eastern end of Industrial Park Drive and the Marion Town line. (At the border, it will connect with a similar shared-use path to be constructed in the future by the Town of Marion.) It provides a trailhead with handicapped-accessible parking and access to the woodland trails of Tinkham Forest and the Aucoot Woods area. When Marion’s Pathway project (which is funded and currently in permit review) is complete, walking, running, and cycling on a paved shared-use path will be available between Point Road in Marion, Route 105 in Marion, and Industrial Drive in Mattapoisett.
The Friends is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, so contributions to the Friends for the construction of the Marion Connector are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, P.O. Box 1336, Mattapoisett, MA, 02739.
Contacts: Liz DiCarlo, 508-942-9343, lizdicarlo@comcast.net; or Bill Coquillette, 216-789-2303,
william.coquillette@gmail.com.