The South Coast Bikeway and walking path will go through Marion, and the town’s Pathway Committee met on Tuesday to begin finalizing plans.
The committee met with Jeff Oakes, the town’s representative to the South Coast Bikeway Alliance, to iron out some of the small issues pertaining to a 4-mile bike and walking stretch that will go through Marion near the Washburn Park area.
The short meeting took place via Zoom and consisted of some housekeeping matters for this path, which connects to neighboring Mattapoisett and is part of a regional path that encompasses many South Coast communities.
Committee Chairman John Rockwell said the committee will approach recreation officials about parking issues at nearby Washburn Park. The park is on town-owned land that is open to the public and can become congested when the Washburn Park Trust holds events.
The committee has designated parking, but it is nearby an abutting resident. Rockwell said the town is contemplating planting trees as a buffer from the property. The resident requested a different parking location, but it does not appear there is any room for such an accommodation.
“The parking issue has been discussed at length for some time. The parking lot on the other side of the park is owned by the Washburn Park Trust and they generally fill it up when they have an event. With the (Massachusetts) Department of Transportation requirement for dedicated parking, the existing road network, field locations and configuration, and wetlands, the spot stood out as the only spot,” Rockwell wrote to the neighbor.
The path will stretch approximately 4 miles and will require dirt removal. The action will require a state environmental-impact report.
Oakes said he will advocate for the project, and both he and committee members do not anticipate any issues.
“In terms of environmental justice, this is an amenity to the environmental justice community,” Rockwell said.
Oakes said he will get a letter of approval from the South Coast Bikeway Alliance.
The Marion Pathway Committee did not schedule its next meeting upon adjournment.
Marion Pathway Committee
By Jeffrey D. Wagner