-advocating for the Lynnfield-Wakefield  Rail Trail project.

Lynnfield Rail Trail

Health is Wealth- Physical, mental and social health.
The closer you are to safe outdoor areas for exercise, connection with people,enjoying nature, the more benefit to us all as individuals, family and community!

We need your help to convert underutilized land...


Webpage and print materials are funded by volunteers 

to this!

from this...

“The most important perceived recreational need throughout the Town of Lynnfield is for additional multi-purpose trails for walking, biking, running, hiking and fitness. It is recommended that a multipurpose trail/path network be considered as part of any new recreational path development." 

From the 2013 Athletic and Recreation Facilities Need Survey to which over 400 residents responded.  CLICK TO VIEW REPORT 

It’s a great idea so what’s happening?

Fence and amenities and further design details such as crossings, parking and trailheads along with suggestions from residents are being reviewed and will be included with public input.

Five choices of privacy fence and  landscaping are included in the project at no cost to the abutters.


Current timeline of key actions-


March 13,2023

Lynnfield Town Engineer Lisa DeMeo is pleased to announce the creation of the RAIL TRAIL webpage, designed to provide an ongoing current status of the Rail Trail project. Please visit https://www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/conserv.../pages/rail-trail to see all the updated elements of the work, including BACKGROUND, FAQs, REPORTS, PLANS AND IMPORTANT LINKS.
https://www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/conservation-commission/pages/rail-trail


September 26, 2019 -  A convincing win for Lynnfield Rail Trail supporters !

Article 1 to fund Final Design, passes by  585 to 380 margin  at 

Special Town Meeting vote.

Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail brought this article via a citizens petition.


April 9,2019 - The Yes vote by Lynnfield Rail Trail supporters wins town wide non-binding ballot vote - “Are you in favor of the town of Lynnfield continuing to pursue efforts to develop a recreational path along the unused MBTA right-of-way, known as the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail project?” This ballot question was placed by the Lynnfield Selectman.


March 27,2018 - WorldTech and Lynnfield Recreational Path Committee workshop- Information and Resident suggestions for input on Design for the proposed Wakefield- Lynnfield Rail Trail.
https://vimeo.com/264621406.


April 24 2017  The Yes vote prevails on the Rail Trail Warrant article by 1 vote, which authorizes the Selectmen to take a lease with the MBTA and develop a recreational path on the abandoned rail bed.Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail brought this to town meeting via a citizens petition.


January  2017 - Lynnfield Rail Trail Leadership Team met with Fin Com; Selectmen all walked the trail from Town Hall past the Reedy Meadow Golf Course with public/ Planning Board includes Lynnfield Rail Trail on their Master Plan Survey DUE Jan. 28, 2017.


​November 2016 - An updated engineering report was presented to full input session at the Al Merrit Center. See updates for all the details collected. Abutters were also heard and given choices of five privacy barriers. Safety ideas included turnouts and slow downs.


June 2016- Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail forms group of volunteers to advocate for the Wakefield- Lynnfield Rail Trail and advance the project in a timely and prudent manner.


December 2015 - A preliminary engineering report from WorldTech was previewed by the Board of Selectman and Recreational Path Committee, a great exchange with the town leaders, engineers and residents.  

The complete presentation can be viewed- -see links tab at top( scroll to bottom)


Older timeline of key actions-

Early 2000’s: Wakefield and Lynnfield form volunteer committees

2002: Lynnfield master plan mentions desire by residents for rail trail/paths 

​2007: State allocates $30,000 and a Feasibility Study is completed 

2008: Senator Richard Tisei, Rep. Katherine Clark and Mark Falzone include $500,000 in the State Transportation Bond Bill for preliminary design and engineering work.  

2010:State releases funds for preliminary design and engineering work. Project on Mass DOT's  Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) list of priorities     

2010:Town receives RFP’s from MassDOT Prequalified Engineering firms

2012:Wakefield and Lynnfield informed that the project is eligible for Federal Highway Funds

2013:A survey of over 400 residents shows rail trails/paths as top desire (see report link on left)

2013: Town of Wakefield as lead agency enters into a design agreement with WorldTech Engineering of Woburn

Spring 2014:Preliminary Design phase begins.  Public informational meetings in Wakefield and Lynnfield

July - December 2014: 

Lynnfield Recreational Path Committee met with and residents and answered questions at public events.  We wrapped up outreach to abutters included 2 postcards, a survey followed by door to door visits to learn and document issues and answer questions. See more in the FAQ's




Officially known as the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail, this is a primarily State and Federally funded project using land leased to the towns of Lynnfield and Wakefield by the MBTA to convert the former Newburyport Railroad bed into a recreational trail that provides for safe off road connection to the towns key resources.


Where does it go?

Beginning near the Wakefield commuter rail station, this existing rail bed passes two Wakefield schools, under I-95 (128) into Lynnfield through a 0.6 mile section of Reedy Meadow, behind our Middle School/Fields, by the Reedy Meadows Golf Course and High School/Fields to the Peabody border. Total distance is 4.4 miles (2.5 in Lynnfield and 1.9 in Wakefield). We hope one day that our trail will connect with other linear paths.  See more on this in the FAQ's.   


about the proposed rail trail