Charles Beristain, dressed in his red, white and blue patriotic ride attire, leads a group of riders on the Southwick rail trail. (File photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – The Friends of the Southwick Rail Trail (FOSRT) are making it easier to navigate the six-mile trail.
Friends member Brooks Martin designed a trail map that will be placed in kiosks along the trail with a “You Are Here” marker for those not familiar with Southwick.
A second, smaller, map will also be placed in kiosks that include local business sponsors also marked on the map. The idea, said Friends member Beth Malone, was to help out those using the trail, as well as businesses.
“What I’m looking at is not only the You Are Here, but what are some of the businesses in town,” said Malone. “Someone who is not from here may want to leave the trail to eat lunch, or get gas, or go to a store.”
The FOSRT presented the idea recently to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioners agreed the large trail map was a great idea, but had some concerns about marking the map for businesses. Originally, the Friends proposed one large map featuring business markers.
Malone said they planned to target businesses along, or close to, the trail.
Commissioner Daniel Call said he was concerned about that.
“We want appropriateness to the Rail Trail, but also want to be fair to the community,” he said.
Commissioner Michelle Ackerman agreed.
“I think if you’re going to include one business you should include them all,” said Ackerman.
Commissioner Li-Ling Waller said she loved the idea of the You Are Here map.
“Other trails I’ve been to that have that don’t have the businesses, but they have a separate listing of business sponsors,” she said. “I think that keeps the map clean, because it’s all about the trail.”
The Commission agreed to allow space for one large map of the trail only and a second half-size map to include businesses. The Friends agreed to the compromise, which would also allow them to approach businesses further away from the trail.
Malone said they planned to seek donations from businesses on the map in order to cover costs of creating the maps as well as help with general upkeep.
The FOSRT is a non-profit 501-C organization. For more information, visit southwickrailtrail.org.
