About
Mission
To highlight regional connectivity, the history of completed trails, and the timeline for future trails. To connect people to local trail advocacy groups. To help you find trails.Additional Map Resources
I highly recommend checking out these other maps:- Trail Map | MAPC
- Massachusetts Priority Trails Network | MassDOT
- Bicycle Facility Inventory | MassDOT
- Mass Trails
So why make another map?
The maps above show existing and planned infrastructure in great detail. However, “planned“ can mean a lot of things: a project nearing the end of contruction; something that‘s been funded and designed; or simply an idea some residents are advocating for.I went down a rabbit hole Googling some of these planned trails, but the information is spread across websites from countless local newspapers, towns, and trail groups. So I wanted to create a legible user-friendly map that highlights the regional network of linear paths (e.g. rail trails), while also delving into how the gaps in that network were being filled.
A hub for local trail groups
Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns, and when we build a trail we tend to gradually contruct it town by town. The result is countless “friends of the ___ trail“ organizations, each with their own website detailing their trail‘s history and conditions. I want to collect this information in a single location so it's easy to find, allowing anyone to submit suggestions so the data is always timely and accurate. I want to enable these groups to share information about the trails they care about.