WCLT opens new all-persons trail at Gilmore Pond

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By Jesse Kucewicz, Contributing Writer

WCLT opens new all-persons trail at Gilmore Pond
Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) walks across part of the new all-persons trail at Gilmore Pond in Westborough. (Photo/Jesse Kucewicz)

WESTBOROUGH – The new Gilmore Pond All-Persons Trail opened on Oct. 24 in Westborough. 

The property, which was originally purchased in 2003, has been renovated to become what the Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) hopes to be a universally accessible trail. The entire quarter mile path is covered in a smooth treadway, as well as a continuous hand rope, making it welcoming to people with mobility and visual limitations.

Stewardship Committee Chair Keith Martin was responsible for managing this project and said that over 1,000 hours of volunteer work have gone into this trail since the WCLT received a $93,000 grant through the MassTrails program in 2019.

“It was sort of a dream to build here eventually,” Martin said of the land at Gilmore Pond. “For a long time, it’s been a goal of WCLT to make it possible for everybody in Westborough to be able to get out and feel surrounded by nature.”

“By definition the lay of the land where we put our hiking trails are often over uneven ground, with slopes that are too steep for wheelchairs or strollers,” Martin continued. 

He noted that WCLT members were particularly inspired by an all-persons trail at the Broadmoor property of Mass Audubon. 

“They have a couple others around the state and we wanted to see if we could model that here.”

The trail entrance is located at 19 Quick Farm Road, in Westborough.

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