Proposed Rabbit Run Trail
The "Rabbit Run" railroad ran from Athol to Springfield before the building of Quabbin Reservoir. Remnants of the railbed exist today through South Athol and New Salem. A feasibility study is underway to see if it is practical to recreate this transportation route for a multiuse non-motorized trail.
On October 25, 2022, the Open Space and Recreation Review Committee hosted a public meeting and presentation by Howard Stein Hudson, the consulting engineering firm hired by the Town of Athol to prepare the Rabbit Run Rail Trail Feasibility Study. A PDF file of the presentation is available for review and download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yHtIyvoCbA_oZ5fiFbN-WpykX5J5odch/view?usp=sharing
A copy of the Oct. 25th meeting notes are available for review and download here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sYBEu1estywRk7rz4fd1a1wEbIEaw9xe/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115297675762649366334&rtpof=true&sd=true
The set of conceptual plans presented are available for review and download here:
- The full extent of the Rabbit Run Rail Trail Corridor: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yHtIyvoCbA_oZ5fiFbN-WpykX5J5odch/view?usp=sharing
- Rabbit Run Phase 1 Section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rU72EkRBvWOzfP9xU75b5LRdu4a-AbnC/view?usp=sharing
- Rabbit Run Phase 2 Section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fRkx96F-fIB2egtT3F2ApW534iz_EaBt/view?usp=sharing
- Rabbit Run Phase 3 Section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tB76WpkQfC7GTklkD2YrszPTVQIIgLms/view?usp=sharing
- Rabbit Run Phase 4 Section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YJaj5pR1NQl-jFQams5uPszk0K2JqeBi/view?usp=sharing
June 27, 2023 Update: Howard Stein Hudson (HSH) provided a presentation on the Final Athol-Rabbit Run Trail Feasibility Study at the Open Space & Recreation Review meeting. A PDF of the Feasibility Study is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rP-lGiIyLs50zsxuSMHhw6t4DGIfy5Dr/view?usp=sharing. A recording of the HSH presentation is available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1by-71_wKBOEIoQ8h4yXkE6wfpac5C9Nz?usp=sharing.
Stay tuned for further updates and how you can get involved. If you have any comments, questions or would like further information, please send an email to: esmith@townofathol.org
