North Quabbin Trails Association collaborated with the Town of Winchendon to create a network of hiking trails for visitors to the brand-new Winchendon Community Park. This was especially important for residents of the Town of Winchendon, population 11,000. The park was developed after the town obtained the 53-acre plot of land, a mixture of forests and fields formerly owned by a private school, with frontage on Whitney Pond. About one and one-half miles of trails have been developed so far, some leading to the pond’s edge. Some of this work was done by volunteers from Winchendon and beyond.
The majority of NQTA’s significant work was done in the summer of 2020, consisting of:
- improving current trails
- clearing some vistas
- creating and installing nicely crafted signs
NQTA had also worked with the park committee in 2018 to organize community volunteers to open trails and assist with removal of glossy buckthorn, a persistent invasive species. NQTA was paid for this work. NQTA raises funds for its nonprofit work by providing professional, contracted trail development and maintenance services.
Visit the Winchendon Community Park website for more information and a more detailed map.