We're going back to city hall
And then we're going deeper into Boston
Happy early fall, Boston!
We’re finally here. Our long nightmare of being sweaty and fatigued is finally over. I hope all of you have been enjoying the crispier temperatures and leaves, out in the Boston cityscape or beyond. And I’ve got some good news that’s fit for peak urban hiking season to share with you all today.
Thanks to the support of our allies on the Boston City Council, we are going back to City Hall this fall—with a direct proposal that the City of Boston recognize the WCT as an official Boston trail and allow some permanent trail signage in key locations!
Here’s a video of our lead sponsor, Councilor Henry Santana, introducing the order for the hearing. Thanks to Councilor Santana for taking this on, and to Councilors Gabriela Coletta Zapata and Benjamin Weber for co-sponsoring this hearing! It’s been a long time coming, since our inaugural visit to the Iannella Chamber back in March of 2023. That time, we talked about the Walking City Trail and the possibilities of urban trail-making in a more high concept way. (“Imagine a network of urban trails connecting all Boston neighborhoods.”) This time, our entreaty will be more concrete.
The hearing will be taking place in November, on one of these two dates: November 12th at 10am, or November 21st at 2pm. We hope to have the final date nailed down very soon, but the reason why I’m spreading the word now is because getting ready for the hearing is going to involve a lot of WCT community mobilization; to demonstrate public support for the Walking City Trail and the idea it represents. And to that end, I’m putting out the call for two specific kinds of support—letters and testimonies!
When we head back to City Hall in November, we plan to present the council with a bushel of supportive letters from Boston residents and visitors who would like to see the WCT formally recognized and supported by the city. If you’d like to contribute a letter of support for the hearing, we would be deeply grateful to share your words with the council. It can be as concise or elabroate as you’d like, but here’s my advice:
- If you’re a resident of Boston, it would be great if your letter can describe how you’ve utilized the WCT and/or why the idea of a connective urban trail resonates with you.
- If you live outside of Boston, it would be great to underscore why the WCT would inspire you to spend more time in Boston exploring different city neighborhoods.
To contribute a letter of support, you can reply directly to this email with your text.
Now, let’s say you want to add your voice to the WCT support crew in a more literal way. You can sign up to testify at the hearing itself! You can do this in-person at City Hall or remotely via video chat. Once the hearing gets closer, I’ll be able to share a set of instructions for taking either approach. But if you’re interested in testfiying, please consider blocking out the two potential dates/times for the hearing. Again, we aim to share the chosen date ASAP, and the news will be shared via the trail newsletter.
While this hearing will mostly focus on the city sanctioning the WCT and playing a supportive role in the future of the trail, at least a few minutes of the hearing will touch on that loftier idea again; the possibility of crafting more Boston trails that could form a network, connecting all neighborhoods. Wherever the upcoming city council hearing leads us, that idea is going to evolve from wistful allusion to planned project in 2025. I’ll be sharing more details soon, and I’m looking forward to doing so.
Finally, several of you have written to ask about the possibility of upcoming group hiking events on the WCT or in adjacent green spaces. Between work and travel of late, I’ve been too slammed to organize a ramble. But I’ve decided to set aside the evening of October 3rd for a sunset/night hike! The details will be announced next week, but since sundown is already happening sooner, the hike will start at dusk and finish under cover of darkness. Meaning, you’ll need to bring a flashlight this time.
Until then,
Miles Howard and the WCT crew
The Walking City Trail is a grassroots endeavor, powered entirely by community support. At this time, the project does not have institutional funding or support. While that may change in the near future, direct contributions to the trail fund make it possible to keep all of the WCT resources updated and accessible, while also setting the stage for future events and projects. CLICK HERE to find out how you can support the Walking City Trail initiative today.