To The Editor:
The Friends of the Mattapoisett Bicycle and Recreational Path are delighted that our long-awaited bike path from Depot Street to Mattapoisett Neck Road is almost under construction. We are pleased the work will be done by a local contractor, D.W. White of Acushnet, who prepared an exceptionally competitive bid. It is important to also recognize that support for this project by year-round and summer residents has been phenomenal over the years. So many people following progress with so much enthusiasm has kept the Friends alive and well. We thank everyone who has supported the Friends and the Bike Path Committee with donations, volunteer hours, and heartfelt thanks. We look forward to groundbreaking and ribbon cutting.
Wouldn’t it be great if the next part went faster? We think so and have also quietly worked on progress elsewhere: we see potential to connect to the neighboring Marion Pathway in 2021. Governor Baker is a supporter of trails work and has added 25 million dollars to the MassTrails grant fund to expedite progress. Marion could be under construction by MassDOT in 2021. Mattapoisett needs to pave a ½ mile segment leading to it, and there are state grant sources to do that. There are also matching requirements and we are now asking for assistance with that.
The Friends are helping the Town to write grant applications for a very straightforward project that we call “The ½ Mile Marion-Mattapoisett Connector.” There are many reasons it will be an attractive project for state funding.
To help the Town meet the matching requirements, we are starting a Gofundme fundraiser. Already two incredibly generous donors will match, dollar for dollar, every donation up to $35,000. Please help us reach our goal of $100,000
For online donation and to learn more go to: www.gofundme.com/the-mattapoisettmarion-connection.
Checks may be sent to Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, P.O. Box 1336, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts 02739.
Sincerely,
Bonne DeSousa
President, Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path