FAQ - Usage of the Recreational Path

What uses are proposed for the path?

Activities on the path are walking, cycling, running, dog walking, spending time in nature / birding and inline skating and cross-country skiing. Horses are prohibited by National Grid.

What are the benefits of the path?

Paving a trail through the heart of Georgetown will encourage greater activity and opportunities to meet and greet neighbors. It will revitalize the existing land corridor that was once the core of social and commercial life in Georgetown. The path will bring renewed usage and activity to the heart of Georgetown.

What is the purpose of the proposed path?

The proposed recreational path will help to preserve the rural character of Georgetown. It will make a healthful recreational option available to all residents and visitors. The proposed corridor will link Georgetown neighborhoods and adjacent towns, such as Boxford and Newbury, with Georgetown’s commercial areas. Within Georgetown it will serve as a non-motorized shared-use path that will link the schools, the Peabody Library, Camp Denison, American Legion Park, the Crane Pond Wildlife Management Reservation and the Parker River.

Does the path extend to other towns?

The Georgetown trail is part of the Border to Boston trail that runs from Boston to the NH border including the towns of Danvers, Wenham, Topsfield, Boxford, Newbury, Georgetown, Newburyport, and Salisbury.

This is in turn, part of the East Coast Greenway that runs from Key West, FL to Calais, ME.

What rules will govern usage?

The Recreational Path Committee will create a bylaw which will require town meeting approval. Suggestions and ideas are welcome. Once the bylaw is in place, it will be enforceable by the Georgetown Police Department.

What will be the hours of operation?

Path usage is planned to be from dawn to dusk.

Will lighting be installed along the path?

No. Path usage is currently planned to be from dawn to dusk and will be included in the Bylaw which will be created and presented to the town for approval.

Will the path be handicap accessible?

Yes, it will meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Will the path be used year round?

Yes. Current planning does not call for snow removal during the winter months. During winter months: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird watching and trekking are encouraged as wintertime nonmotorized uses.

Are dogs allowed on the path?

Yes, but under the control of their owner and in compliance with the town bylaws governing path usage and current leash laws.