December 27, 2001

Mark Rees
North Andover Town Manager
120 Main Street
North Andover, MA 01845

Dear Mark,

The Trustees of Reservations would like to express its support for the proposal of the North Andover Trails Committee and the North Andover Bicycle Advocacy Committee seeking to create a Town Recreation Trail along the old Essex Railroad right-of-way, running from Stevens Street to Pleasant Street.

This Recreation Trail would run between, and provide access to, two existing recreational resources in town, The Trustees’ Weir Hill Reservation and the Town owned land at Stevens Pond. It would provide an additional trail link in the town-wide trail system that enhances existing resources through connections.

Although the public has informally been using a trail along the right-of -way for many years, with no formal arrangement in place with the property owners there is no certainty of public access in the future. Should the Town receive official permission from Massachusetts Electric to use this land for a public trail, it would allow for improvements to be made to make the trail more accessible. It would also provide a means, through the Trails Committee, to maintain the trail in the future.

The Trustees of Reservations feel there is significant public benefit in creating this Town Recreation Trail and would encourage the Town of North Andover to pursue an arrangement with Massachusetts Electric that would enable its creation.

Sincerely,

Robert Murray,

Superintendent, Andover/North Andover Management Unit

The Trustees of Reservations