www.gbtrails.org

Great Barrington Trails and Greenways is a collaborative effort promoting the development of an interconnected townwide trail system that will support walking, biking, an boating. The envisioned trail system will provide us all with safe opportunities to actively explore Great Barrington’s rich historic and natural resources, promoting public health and fostering appreciation and support of our diverse community assets. "GB Excursions" is an ongoing program of community walks, bikes and boating outings designed to encourage commuhity trail use.

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Our Vision

Activities

Upcoming  Events ~ click on Activities for full details  GB Trails and Greenways next monthly meeting: Wednesday September 8th, 3PM Berkshire South ~ final planning for the GB Walk About All are welcome to attend.    The Great GB WALK-ABOUT Everyone is welcome! Saturday, September 11, 2010 10:00am – 12:30pm  Starting place: Town Hall Bandstand  Come show your support for a walk-able Great Barrington. Bring your water bottle and join the fun! Water stops along the way. Explore some great routes to get around town on foot!  Two walking routes: Choose the route that works for you.  • 1 mile route: Downtown and River Walk, accessible and family friendly! Guided Historic Tour available.  • 3.5 mile route: Downtown, River Walk, and further along the Housatonic, Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest, and connecting neighborhoods. Joyfully vigorous! (ch.wards@verizon.net) for more information. REGISTER YOUR WALK-ABOUT TEAM TODAY!  go to www.townofgb.org The Elder Berry Bash at Lake Mansfield September 13th, 2010 (rain date: Sept 20th) A celebration of our Sixty-Plus Community ~ All ages welcome! Join us at the time that works best for you. Meet at the beach area, bring a lawn chair if you haveone: 10am: Garden club Planting of blueberry and elderberry bushes 11:30am: Potluck picnic (hotdogs and fixings provided) 12:30am: Special Guest: ROGER THE JESTER!   Bryant in the Berkshires ~ Illustrated Talk Thursday September 23rd, Mason Library, 7-8pm provided by the Trustees of the Reservations www.TheTrustees.Org   Hiking a Poem Up a Waterfall Saturday, September 25th, 9:30-12 Noon Meet at Monument Mountain for a guided hike grounded in poetry. Enjoy poetry pauses on this steep climb to enjoy the words about this scenic landmark penned in 1824 by William Cullen Bryant. It is remarkable to discover how Bryant’s detailed descriptions of the streams, rocks, cliffs and birds match the terrain that is experienced today. This program is co-sponsored by The Trustees of the Reservations and Great Barrington Trails and Greenways. Trustees Members free, GB residents free, Children free. Others: $10   Monument Mountain Women’s Hike Saturday October 2nd, 8:30-11am This brisk hike on one of the Berkshires most magical places will be led by Christine Ward and Tammis Coffin and will include natural history, poetry and mountain top yoga. Hikers should bring water, a good level of fitness and their sense of wonder. Free. please preregister: ch.wards@verizon.net   Faded Tracks in History Sunday, October 17th, 9:30-11am With local hitorian and author Bernard Drew, cover 300 years of stgories along a mile of the Indian Monument Trail. copies of Drew’s book, Faded Tracks on Monument Mountain will be available for purchase. Please preregister: westregion@ttor.org or call: 413 298 3239 x3003 The Appalachian Trail Needs YOU! Ongoing work projects led on Tuesdays and Saturdays, April through September, go to http//amcberkshire.org/at    And Click on "getting involved".

GB Pilots A.T. Community Partner Program

Appalachian Trail Conservancy joins Great Barrington Trail Conservancy -         The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), a national nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Appalachian Trail and its surrounding lands, and the National Park Service (NPS) have selected Great Barrington, Massachusetts, as the third pilot project in their developing community-relations program.

Trail Building at Fountain Pond

Early last spring many community partners came together in an attempt to leverage resources and create a community trail. At the end of the 2009 trail season we are left with proof that the work is feasible, and a great amount a work completed.  All told, five organizations and twenty-four individuals gave 615 hours of work to the project.          See how you can help!

Partners

Alliance for a Healthy Great Barrington Appalachian Mountain Club Appalachian Trail Conservancy Berkshire Bike Council Berkshire Hills Regional School District Berkshire Natural Resources Council Berkshire South Regional Community Center Fairview Hospital Friends of the Du Bois Homesite (a project of GBLC) Great Barrington Historical Society Greenagers Housatonic Riverwalk (a project of GBLC) Lake Mansfield Alliance (a project of GBLC) Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation The Nutrition Center The Trustees of the Reservations Town of Great Barrington Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail Housatonic Heritage View All Partners

Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest Trail Project

Trails are developing within the Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest that will allow woodland exploration as well as walking connections between Lake Mansfield, surrounding neighborhoods and downtown. The project has been fueled by over 250 hrs of volunteer labor and is also supported by grants from the Berkshire Environmental Endowment Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the Berkshire Garden Club as well as by funding from Lake Mansfield Alliance and the Town of Great Barrington through the Conservation Commission.