The Southwick Rail Trail is officially open to the public.
The Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously last night to open the trail, which has been closed since the Oct. 29 snowstorm left the trail with miles of damage.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reimburse the town for a portion of the clean-up of the six-mile trail. Commissioner Daniel Call said there was debris along at least three miles of the trail, as well as numerous hangers and leaners.
“There was tons of debris,” said Call.
Great Brook Lumber of Southwick was the FEMA-approved company that did the clean up. Call said they expected the process to take four weeks. However, the work was complete in just two weeks.
“They finished up last Friday and the FEMA monitors are compiling everything this week,” said Call.
The trail took a beating during the fall storm and the Commission deemed it unsafe.
“We now have a safe facility,” said Call. “It is nice and clean – it looks terrific. Everybody did a great job and I’m really pleased.”
The Rail Trail is open every day during daylight hours.
The Commission said last night that a thank you lunch is set for this Friday from 1-4:30 p.m. for anyone who participated in storm clean up throughout town.
Westfield is moving forward on its Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. The next meeting of the Friends of Columbia Greenway is set for April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Shaker Farms.
