Volunteers and others interested in supporting the new Alfred J. Lima Quequechan River Trail were invited to an organizational meeting of the "Friends of the Quequechan River Rail Trail" in the Government Center Hearing Room on January 30, 2017. Mass in Motion Fall River Coordinator Julie Kelly welcomed about two dozen people who attended the ninety-minute session to be updated on the current status of the Trail and to offer suggestions about how they and others can continue to maintain and improve this wonderful resource. The Trail is part of a larger effort by Mass in Motion Fall River to introduce people to the new Trail and the adjoining Britland Park as a way of improving their overall health. The Trail consists of a bicycle and walking path that runs over a former railroad bed to connect with Britland Park and Rodman Street. Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and by the Gateway City Park Program of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Trail will eventually open up nearly two miles of a natural habitat right in the middle of some of the lowest income sections of the City. Click here for a 93 -minute video of the meeting. For more information about walks in the City, go to www.WalkFallRiver.org. 

(Top row) Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) Prevention Coordinator Eric Andrade speaks with Flint Neighborhood resident and Healthy Neighborhoods Study surveyor Amy Blanchette, Community Maintenance Director John Perry speaks with Green Futures President Everett Castro, and SSTAR employee Janice Velozo, Fall River Mass in Motion Coordinator Julie Kelly, and City Planning Director Bill Kenney talk  before the meeting begins. (Row two) Ms. Kelly greets people and then introduces John Perry to give people an update on the maintenance of the Trail. (Row three) Mr. Perry finishes his remarks before Mr. Kenny speaks and Ms. Velozo presents the results of her survey of walkers. (Row four) Mr. Kenny, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Velozo ask for reactions and suggestions from the audience about maintaining and using the Trail for a variety of events. (Row five) Ms. Velozo and Ms. Kelly note the suggestions as Mr. Andrade records them on paper. (Row six) Richard Lamay, Nancy Fell, Karin Wood and Louise Kaczyski from the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program participate in the discussion along with Al Lima who was responsible for envisioning and creating early plans for the Trail. (Bottom row, center and right) Fall River Fire Department Chief John Lynch, center, gives his suggestions before the meeting ends and Ms. Kelly thanks resident Joseph Carvalho for attending.