Trails

The Holyoke Revolver Club (HRC) has a long relationship with the Metacomit-Monadnock Trail (M&M). The M&M trail network was created in the 1950s and extends from Long Island Sound to the Canadian boarder. The trail both abuts and crosses HRC property and the HRC has always supported the existence of the trail and encouraged free and open access to the public. Since it’s creation, the M&M (which is mainly on private land) has been maintained over the years by non-profit organizations at no cost to the taxpayer. Also there has been no use restrictions on or near the trail like a ban on hunting, shooting, mountain biking, horseback riding etc. Should the trail become a National Scenic Trail expect to see use restrictions and considerable cost to the tax payer.

In December 2002 a public law was enacted which provided funding ($300,000) to the National Parks Service to study the M&M train system in Connecticut and Massachusetts for possible inclusion in the National Trails System as a National Scenic Trail. The HRC has a active interest in this study and has sent a delegation of club members to all public meetings to give our point of view. As a shooting sports club the HRC is concerned what impact the possible the designation of the M&M trail system as a National Scenic Trail will have on our activities and our land use. As taxpayers we question the wisdom of this expenditure of public money now and in the future.

More information on this matter can be had by writing Cinda Jones at PO Box 303 N Amherst Ma 01059. It was Cinda who brought this whole issue to our attention via a presentation to the HRC board of directors.

Basic study timelines, meeting dates and other study information can be found on the web site of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission www.pvpc.org and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments www.frcog.org .

The project manager for this study by the National Parks Service is Jamie Fosburgh. You can reach him at 617-223-5191 or email at

jamie_fosburg@nps.gov

The person to contact at the Pioneer valley Planning Commission is Chris Curtis. You can reach him at 413-781-6045 or email at

chcurtis@pvpc.org