Upcoming Events

5th Annual Great Tree Bicycle Tour

May 19 – May 30, 2023

Each year, the Friends of Northampton Trails (FNT) along with Tree Northampton (TN) invite you to join us on a self-guided tour through the neighborhoods of Northampton while experiencing 11 champion trees. Each stop features an audio description of the story and unique nature of these 11 champion trees, accessible by QR code.

Download the 2023 map here: Map

Download the route for GPS Here: GPS

CREDITS & HISTORY

The 2019 Great Tree Bicycle Tour grew out of a 2018 summer project by Smith College Botanical Garden Intern Madeleine Lombard who worked with both Smith College and the City of Northampton to highlight exceptional tree specimens in downtown Northampton and integrate them into Smith’s existing campus-wide “TreeSpeak” program.

TreeSpeak allows passersby to learn about a given specimen tree by scanning with their smartphone a QR label on the tree and access an audio file that teaches about that tree.

In Fall 2019, two local non-profit organizations, FNT and TN teamed up to expand the “Tree Speak” in Northampton and promote extraordinary trees–as well as biking–by co-sponsoring a city-wide “Great Tree Bicycle Tour”. Many talented TN and FNT volunteers, in coordination with Smith College and the Northampton Department of Public Works, researched and recorded more audio files, and created an interactive map and signage for biking the tour. Over 150 bicyclists joined the tour which highlighted three “state champion” trees as well as trees that have deep historic importance to Northampton.

In 2020, as part of Bay State Bike Month, FNT revised the brochure and made it freely available online.

FNT’s Highlights Through the Years…

“It’s My Rail Trail” Spring Cleanup Party | April 2022

More than 90 volunteers helped clean up 8 sections of the rail trail network this year. Certainly, the largest two-hour volunteer effort in the city in the past 10 years. We filled a 20-yard dumpster with more than 1.5 tons of litter. Special thanks to Budget Dumpster which provided that container at no cost to us.

None of this could have happened without our co-sponsor, the Northampton Kiwanis Club and our partners from Leeds Civic, enlite cannabis, Ward 3 Neighborhood Association, and Tree Northampton.

The “captains” of each section also deserve a shout-out: Tom Annese, Mollie Hartford, Becky Shannon, Steve McDonough, Tom Bassett,Parker Hawkins, Freeman Stein and Karen Beyel.

The Friends of Northampton Trails couldn’t ask for more dedicated volunteers, always at the ready to get their hands dirty while jostling and joking with their neighbors and new friends.

See you on the trails!

Annual Meeting | November 2021

On Nov. 16 2021, FNT celebrated 16 years of supporting Northampton’s stellar trail system. This year’s annual meeting highlighted our accomplishments (and challenges) this year, featured remarks from local VIPs, and provided a glimpse of FNT’s goals and projects for the coming year.

Video link:
Jeanette Sadik Khan on bike lanes: https://youtu.be/E85HMNJix_o

Featured:
George Kohout, FNT President
FNT Board of Directors
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz
Northampton Mayor-Elect Gina Louise-Sciarra
MA Representative Lindsay Sabadosa

Annual Meeting | November 2020

On Nov. 18, 2020, FNT celebrated 15 years of supporting Northampton’s stellar trail system. This year’s annual meeting highlighted our accomplishments (and challenges) this year, featured remarks from local VIPs, and provided a glimpse of FNT’s goals and projects for the coming year.

Video links:
REI “Pedal Through” https://youtu.be/uom8RGtCqWY
Vox on Bike Lanes: https://youtu.be/E85HMNJix_o

Featured: George Kohout, FNT President FNT Board of Directors Northampton Mayor Narkewicz Senator Jo Comerford Representative Lindsay Sabadosa

In addition, Wayne Feiden of the city’s Office of Planning and Sustainability presented on Trails and Transportation at the meeting:

1st Annual Art Wall | September 2020

FNT celebrated Bike Week by splashing color and creativity on a blank mural space alongside the rail-trail in Florence. Throughout the month, bicyclists, walkers, roller bladers, skaters, and others were encouraged to add to the wall with colored markers and street chalk to celebrate one of the best trails in the country!

Bikes for All | Summer 2020

Annual Meeting | November 2019

We hosted a light dinner followed by presentations on the status of local and regional trail development efforts, including the Mass Central to Boston, the Canal Trail to New Haven, and the Mill River Greenway to Williamsburg. The night was filled with meeting FNT directors, making new connections in the trail community, and discussing new trail initiatives.

Artist Rochelle Shicoff’s Mural Dedication Ceremony | November 2019

In early October, more than 30 volunteers assisted local artist, Rochelle Shicoff, in installing a large mural on the rail-trail behind the Smith College stables.

Thank you to the Northampton Arts Council and the Art Angels for sponsoring this project.

This afternoon, The Friends of Northampton Trails hosted a small celebration with refreshments to thank Shelly May and our volunteers for their hard work. A few words were said by Northampton Mayor Narkewicz, FNT President George Kohout, event coordinator Karen Beyel, and artist Shelly May Shicoff herself.

Thank you all for coming, and we hope to see you all at FNT’s Annual Meeting next Tuesday, November 19th!

In early October, more than 30 volunteers assisted local artist, Rochelle Shicoff, in installing a large mural on the rail-trail behind the Smith College stables.

Thank you to the Northampton Arts Council and the Art Angels for sponsoring this project.

Come check out the finished product on the rail-trail E’ton leg between Vets Field and Earl St.

Volunteers working on the mural in late October.

Rocky Hill Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | November 2019

On Tuesday, November 5, 30 Northampton residents and city and local officials joined FNT for snacks and photos to welcome the new multi-use Rocky Hill Trail to the Florence community.

The trail is a new addition to the Burt’s Bog Greenway conservation area, on the corner of Brookwood Drive and Stone Ridge Drive. It provides students of the Brookwood and Florence Road neighborhood a safe route to walk or bike to the RK Finn Ryan Rd School. This spur will eventually connect to the existing Northampton Rail Trail network and the New Haven and Northampton Canal Line Trail.

1st Annual Great Tree Bicycle Tour | October 2019

In October, FNT collaborated with another local organization, Tree Northampton, to offer the Great Tree Bicycle Tour. The Tour was an 8-mile, self-guided, community bike tour of Northampton’s most extraordinary trees.

The tour builded upon the “TreeSpeak” model of the Smith College Botanic Garden. Each tree had an associated QR code that took the participant to an audio recording about that particular tree. Recordings included fascinating history, botanical facts, and some broader lessons about tree threats and care.

The tour began at Pulaski Park and ended at Maine’s Field in Florence with lunch from a Local Burger food truck, music and family-friendly activities.

We look forward to making this an annual tradition!