Windham Rail Trail Alliance
December 31, 2022
Founded in 2004, the Windham Rail Trail Alliance is dedicated to the development and management of this remarkable 4.6-mile section of abandoned rail bed as a paved rail trail which is part of the Granite State Rail Trail. Connected with Derry and Salem, the 3 sections offer 12 miles of paved trail, the longest stretch along an abandoned rail bed in New Hampshire!
This year we presented our submission for the Windham Master Plan, which provides an operational overview, project status, and plans in 10-year window. The document is located on our website.
2022 provided a tremendous year for trail counts where for a 13-day period starting May 29 we recorded 5,890 trips with a daily average of 453. The use remained visibly high throughout the year.
The 2022 New Hampshire State Rail Trails plan, a legislative requirement, presented the current status, vision, and various trail topics of all the NH owned trails throughout the state. Windham holds the highest annual use count of 241,500 in 2021, and the highest economic numbers, combined with Derry, the yearly contribution of NH residents who visited the Windham Rail Trail reporting an astounding $2,435,000. The report is found at www.nhstateparks.org.
After a 2-year hiatus, a bright June morning welcomed the return of our 13th Annual Windham Rail Trail Flat n Fast 5K Race! Sam Fazoli of Derry was the overall winner and establishing a new course record with a time of 15:45.6, and for the women, the winner was his wife Jaclyn clocking a time of 18:03.2. They both hold the respective course records. Running in the 2022 Boston Marathon, Sam finished 44th overall, a tremendous performance. We look forward to the 2023 race scheduled for June 11.
For the second year we co-hosted the Millennium Running “Cheap Marathon” held in April. This race is so named as the registration fee is by distance run (26 or 13 miles). By co-hosting this Boston Marathon qualifying race, the WRTA received a donation for our efforts. For the event, Chief McPherson and his team lead the Safety Command center at the Windham Depot, showcasing equipment and capabilities.
Approximately 225 hours were spent on maintenance by the WRTA and trail volunteers on brush cutting, trash removal, and the clearing the trail and drainage lines of leaves. Included are over 50 hours of work at the Windham Depot including landscaping, gardening, and lawn upkeep. The Town maintenance team led by Dennis Senibaldi, also provides well appreciated assistance handling larger in scope work such as large tree removal, Depot building maintenance, and this year replacing the Depot maintenance gate. The WRTA always thanks those who contribute in their own way, picking up and keeping the trail clean, and always welcomes volunteers and sponsors, who may contact us through our website or phone contact.
The trail was also host to a “Couch to 5K” training series run by the Greater Derry Track Club and is also a popular destination for the Northeast Passage therapeutic recreation program.
The Windham Rail Trail Alliance is thankful for the support from town officials and accolades from Windham residents and many users from surrounding Communities. The economic and usage counts demonstrate the popularity, recognition, and need of the recreational opportunity that the Windham Rail Trail provides as the most renowned paved rail trail in the state! We are happy to serve as a continuing recreational outlet and Windham should take pride in the success of the Trail that has spread to the region. We remain the exclamation point for rail trail recreation in Windham and New Hampshire!
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Samsel, President, Windham Rail Trail Alliance
December 31, 2022
Founded in 2004, the Windham Rail Trail Alliance is dedicated to the development and management of this remarkable 4.6-mile section of abandoned rail bed as a paved rail trail which is part of the Granite State Rail Trail. Connected with Derry and Salem, the 3 sections offer 12 miles of paved trail, the longest stretch along an abandoned rail bed in New Hampshire!
This year we presented our submission for the Windham Master Plan, which provides an operational overview, project status, and plans in 10-year window. The document is located on our website.
2022 provided a tremendous year for trail counts where for a 13-day period starting May 29 we recorded 5,890 trips with a daily average of 453. The use remained visibly high throughout the year.
The 2022 New Hampshire State Rail Trails plan, a legislative requirement, presented the current status, vision, and various trail topics of all the NH owned trails throughout the state. Windham holds the highest annual use count of 241,500 in 2021, and the highest economic numbers, combined with Derry, the yearly contribution of NH residents who visited the Windham Rail Trail reporting an astounding $2,435,000. The report is found at www.nhstateparks.org.
After a 2-year hiatus, a bright June morning welcomed the return of our 13th Annual Windham Rail Trail Flat n Fast 5K Race! Sam Fazoli of Derry was the overall winner and establishing a new course record with a time of 15:45.6, and for the women, the winner was his wife Jaclyn clocking a time of 18:03.2. They both hold the respective course records. Running in the 2022 Boston Marathon, Sam finished 44th overall, a tremendous performance. We look forward to the 2023 race scheduled for June 11.
For the second year we co-hosted the Millennium Running “Cheap Marathon” held in April. This race is so named as the registration fee is by distance run (26 or 13 miles). By co-hosting this Boston Marathon qualifying race, the WRTA received a donation for our efforts. For the event, Chief McPherson and his team lead the Safety Command center at the Windham Depot, showcasing equipment and capabilities.
Approximately 225 hours were spent on maintenance by the WRTA and trail volunteers on brush cutting, trash removal, and the clearing the trail and drainage lines of leaves. Included are over 50 hours of work at the Windham Depot including landscaping, gardening, and lawn upkeep. The Town maintenance team led by Dennis Senibaldi, also provides well appreciated assistance handling larger in scope work such as large tree removal, Depot building maintenance, and this year replacing the Depot maintenance gate. The WRTA always thanks those who contribute in their own way, picking up and keeping the trail clean, and always welcomes volunteers and sponsors, who may contact us through our website or phone contact.
The trail was also host to a “Couch to 5K” training series run by the Greater Derry Track Club and is also a popular destination for the Northeast Passage therapeutic recreation program.
The Windham Rail Trail Alliance is thankful for the support from town officials and accolades from Windham residents and many users from surrounding Communities. The economic and usage counts demonstrate the popularity, recognition, and need of the recreational opportunity that the Windham Rail Trail provides as the most renowned paved rail trail in the state! We are happy to serve as a continuing recreational outlet and Windham should take pride in the success of the Trail that has spread to the region. We remain the exclamation point for rail trail recreation in Windham and New Hampshire!
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Samsel, President, Windham Rail Trail Alliance
